Air traffic controllers calling out sick during shutdown may have acted illegally, FAA chief says

"Call outs of FAA employees led to major disruptions to air travel during the record-setting shutdown that ended last month, eventually leading the agency to mandate reductions in the number of fights taking place each day. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford defended that decision before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Tuesday, though he said in some cases evidence suggested employees may have taken organized action to exacerbate the situation."

"On a typical day, FAA takes action at a handful of facilities to correct for staffing issues. During the shutdown, that skyrocketed to a peak of 80 facilities per day. At some facilities, Bedford said, zero air traffic controllers showed up for work on some days. "None of the controllers showed up for work," Bedford said. "So we do have to ask some tough questions about: was that a job action.""

"Federal employees are statutorily barred from participating in strikes or work slowdowns and in 1981, President Reagan summarily fired all air traffic controllers when they organized a work stoppage. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association worked closely with the Trump administration during the shutdown and repeatedly told its members it did not condone any collective action. Bedford suggested there may still be some disciplinary action forthcoming."

FAA asked tough questions of air traffic controllers who did not report to work during the government shutdown and suggested potential organized unlawful job actions. Call-outs of FAA employees caused major disruptions to air travel and prompted the agency to mandate reductions in daily flights. Facilities requiring staffing corrections rose from a handful to a peak of 80 per day, and some facilities reported zero controllers on certain days. Federal employees are barred from strikes or slowdowns; the 1981 mass firing of controllers is cited as precedent. The controllers' union worked with the administration and denied condoning collective action; disciplinary probes may follow.

Read at Nextgov.com