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I don’t know US specifically but I know a bit about Canadian air traffic controllers. It’s a high stress but very well paying job with good pension etc. But I s

by andy99 11mo ago

I don’t know US specifically but I know a bit about Canadian air traffic controllers. It’s a high stress but very well paying job with good pension etc. But I suspect there’s not a lot of opportunity to change to another job and get the same pay and benefits. So I guess I wonder what the end game is in resigning? Is it just people taking some pre-specified early retirement option, is it early career people that just are cutting their losses? Unless I’m missing something it seems like for someone mid career at least, waiting it out seems like the only real option.

rainsford 11mo ago
Not really ATC specific, but at some point most people in most jobs can't deal with indefinitely not getting paid and will have to go do something else even if they don't have a good backup plan. Working retail, driving for Uber, etc, all have vastly better ROI at the moment than working ATC getting a $0 paycheck. In theory they'll get backpay and have better future earnings prospects than leaving for an uncertain career change. But that's probably not as comforting as it should be since it's uncertain when that will happen, or even if, since the government has unnecessarily gone out of its way to cast doubt on the promise of backpay.
- deleted 11mo ago
  [deleted]
- mrtksn 11mo ago
  If they are allowed at work when they are not being paid, why don’t the airlines create a fund where they just pay them something so they can survive the shut down? IIRC the shutdown isn’t happening that often, they probably can just put money in it and use it when needed
  - ndsipa_pomu 11mo ago
    Alternatively, why doesn't the government have an emergency fund for use to cover essential personnel/food etc during shutdowns?
    - dolmen 11mo ago
      Who manages emergency funds? Also, there are higher emergencies than allowing planes to fly.
      - ryandrake 11mo ago
        They don't need an "emergency fund". It's not like the government maintains this giant sack of money in the basement of Congress that they reach into to pay government employees. They are still buying and redeeming treasury bills and notes. They -could- pay government employees (see also: Congress is getting paid) but they won't because the strategy to grief normal people while they fight is deliberate.
  - dolmen 11mo ago
    Who should the airlines speak to? People in charge are either at home or very busy.
    - mrtksn 11mo ago
      They can speak to the people actually working on the job? Even if there's no one to give the airlines a list the pilots can deliver the message when they talk at take off and landing.

by andy99 11mo ago

rainsford 11mo ago

Not really ATC specific, but at some point most people in most jobs can't deal with indefinitely not getting paid and will have to go do something else even if they don't have a good backup plan. Working retail, driving for Uber, etc, all have vastly better ROI at the moment than working ATC getting a $0 paycheck. In theory they'll get backpay and have better future earnings prospects than leaving for an uncertain career change. But that's probably not as comforting as it should be since it's uncertain when that will happen, or even if, since the government has unnecessarily gone out of its way to cast doubt on the promise of backpay.

deleted 11mo ago
[deleted]
mrtksn 11mo ago
If they are allowed at work when they are not being paid, why don’t the airlines create a fund where they just pay them something so they can survive the shut down? IIRC the shutdown isn’t happening that often, they probably can just put money in it and use it when needed
- ndsipa_pomu 11mo ago
  Alternatively, why doesn't the government have an emergency fund for use to cover essential personnel/food etc during shutdowns?
  - dolmen 11mo ago
    Who manages emergency funds? Also, there are higher emergencies than allowing planes to fly.
    - ryandrake 11mo ago
      They don't need an "emergency fund". It's not like the government maintains this giant sack of money in the basement of Congress that they reach into to pay government employees. They are still buying and redeeming treasury bills and notes. They -could- pay government employees (see also: Congress is getting paid) but they won't because the strategy to grief normal people while they fight is deliberate.
- dolmen 11mo ago
  Who should the airlines speak to? People in charge are either at home or very busy.
  - mrtksn 11mo ago
    They can speak to the people actually working on the job? Even if there's no one to give the airlines a list the pilots can deliver the message when they talk at take off and landing.