Facility mood/morale during this Shutdown?

[PushingTin]

How is everyone's working environment now that we are firmly into a 2nd pay period with no end in sight? I am personally seeing coworkers noticeably on edge, prickly, and rather salty. Pay period 1 was kind of a novelty, but now its like ok.... sh*t is getting REAL enoughs enough. I don't blame them and I am not being critical; im just worried this is all going to get a lot worse before it gets better. I don't think the "system" can sustain much more than another pay period being missed without some kind of extreme watershed moment. I dont even mean just ATC and i am not implying anything nefarious. I just mean everyone's finances and ability to take working for free (yes i realize someday backpay will come...but at the moment that is very IFR no light at end of tunnel) are different and everyone has a breaking point. Controllers, Border Patrol, Coast Guard, TSA, contractors, everyone.

Could just be my biased perception, but It also feels like management is flexing their muscle. I'm not sure if that is a manifestation of their own pay anxiety, their daily kool-aid telcons (the ones where they compile their Sick Leave hit lists), a general fear that "something might happen" and they have to preemptively crack the whip to make sure its not on their watch at THEIR facility, or some combination of all. I mean stupid little things like break lengths suddenly back to be an issue and all the other cliche things that pop up a few times a year. I feel like... cmonnnnn give the ppl a break this has to be the worst time to play these games. It surprises me because I would assume everyone would naturally go easier on each other under the premise that "we're all in this thing together".

This shutdown has destroyed the morale of the workforce. It sounds like hyperbole in the moment since its years away, but ive heard ppl say "the second I am eligible to retire I vow to!". That our politicians can not or will not negotiate/compromise/govern makes me hate every one of them in all parties. The level of added stress this situation has added to an already stressful job, is through the roof. The meeting at the White House was cancelled today, the judge denied the TRO, and with no end in sight I think controllers are starting to be like ... wait, WTF... totally disrespected. Its very disrespectful to treat controllers like dogs.

The pizza and well wishes are amazing and somewhat inspiring, but at some point this has to actually end. How is the morale and mood at your facilities?

 

[g gunnels]

If there are any positives to take away from this shutdown, I actually feel like it is making us closer as a facility. Less internal bickering, instead we all complain about the same things together. Morale is low, but at least we are united in our misery.

 

[Dontbotherme]

We have non union members posting links to NATCA news articles. I honesty don’t know what to make of it.

 

[vectorwagon]

Definitely notice management flexing their muscle like our OM’s forgot that this isn’t the white book

 

[OKbusyB]

I’m only a few months into my facility, but even just as an A-side, my breaks are being scrutinized to the minute by some supervisors. I literally just monitor and put in pireps all day... It’s getting a little ridiculous. The controllers have been very considerate on the other hand and have been using it as a teaching opportunity since we’re so delayed at this point.

 

[GulfCharlie]

Could just be my biased perception, but It also feels like management is flexing their muscle. I'm not sure if that is a manifestation of their own pay anxiety, their daily kool-aid telcons (the ones where they compile their Sick Leave hit lists), a general fear that "something might happen" and they have to preemptively crack the whip to make sure its not on their watch at THEIR facility, or some combination of all. I mean stupid little things like break lengths suddenly back to be an issue and all the other cliche things that pop up a few times a year. I feel like... cmonnnnn give the ppl a break this has to be the worst time to play these games. It surprises me because I would assume everyone would naturally go easier on each other under the premise that "we're all in this thing together".

Pretty much hit the nail on the head here. They do have a furlough "Play Book."

 

[steakvendor]

If there are any positives to take away from this shutdown, I actually feel like it is making us closer as a facility. Less internal bickering, instead we all complain about the same things together. Morale is low, but at least we are united in our misery.

We had two people quit the union this week at my facility

 

[Mike Kilo]

They were probably already wanting out and to not pay dues. This was just an excuse. Trying to blame NATCA for this situation is ridiculous. They campaigned on supporting Hilary and on privatizing to fix this from happening. I don’t personally agree with either of those stances, but that puts the union on the right side of things as far as we are concerned.

I will say it is going to be interesting seeing what comes up with the sick leave usage etc when this ends and how the union takes the FAA to task for us.

 

[Stinger]

We had two people quit the union this week at my facility

They're still in natca until March 3rd I think this year.
For anyone that wants to, the form has to be turned in this month.

 

[MJ]

Don't know what's going on behind the scenes but I think NATCA's been doing a pretty good job with their public message.

 

[mspmn]

Constant one-liners about not being paid, made by controllers. But the mood is alright, so far. However, the pilots have been exceptionally pleasant to talk to/work with for the past week or two. I've received several "thanks for showing up" comments from pilots.

 

[Dontbotherme]

We had two people quit the union this week at my facility

If anything this should be bringing more people into the union. NATCA has been doing all they can to help us all out of this ridiculous event. After seeing that lawsuit filed, having people thank us for still showing up to work (when handing out leaflets and holding up signs), having other country’s controllers or pilots send food, I feel that every penny of my dues and PAC contributions have been worth it as they are both trying to make a difference in our work conditions and profession. I know we aren’t being paid, but I haven’t felt prouder to be an air traffic controller than right now.

 

[ATCJoe85]

No changes at my meager tower. Tough to complain when the last three days (that I've worked, anyways) your ops are in the single digits. We're working for no pay, but barely working for no pay.

Okay, really it's not tough to complain, it's all I do most of the time anyways.

 

[Hal9000]

My "working" environment is great! Got returned to my previous agency because I couldn't swear in, and have been on LWOP due to this. No backpay for me. So I'm doing no work for no pay. Technically fair. Only thing that sucks is med bills and moving to swear in only to have that canceled. But I don't live paycheck-to-paycheck, so hello unpaid vacation!

TLDR: better than I deserve, but I effectively have no working environment. :+)

 

[steakvendor]

If anything this should be bringing more people into the union. NATCA has been doing all they can to help us all out of this ridiculous event. After seeing that lawsuit filed, having people thank us for still showing up to work (when handing out leaflets and holding up signs), having other country’s controllers or pilots send food, I feel that every penny of my dues and PAC contributions have been worth it as they are both trying to make a difference in our work conditions and profession. I know we aren’t being paid, but I haven’t felt prouder to be an air traffic controller than right now.

I think they have been thinking about leaving for awhile as someone else mentioned. One guy doesn’t like how the union supports certain political candidates. He also has a defeatist attitude and considers the letter writing campaigns to be pointless. He was considering running for facrep last year but the outrageous things he says have guaranteed he won’t win.. things like atc is overpaid and that he would be okay with making 40k a year.. lol

 

[Dontbotherme]

My "working" environment is great! Got returned to my previous agency because I couldn't swear in, and have been on LWOP due to this. No backpay for me. So I'm doing no work for no pay. Technically fair. Only thing that sucks is med bills and moving to swear in only to have that canceled. But I don't live paycheck-to-paycheck, so hello unpaid vacation!

TLDR: better than I deserve, but I effectively have no working environment. :+)

LWOP is considered a pay status. During a shutdown, you either work or you are furloughed. If they returned you to your prior agency and they have no work for you, then they should be putting you in furlough status not LWOP.

I think they have been thinking about leaving for awhile as someone else mentioned. One guy doesn’t like how the union supports certain political candidates. He also has a defeatist attitude and considers the letter writing campaigns to be pointless. He was considering running for facrep last year but the outrageous things he says have guaranteed he won’t win.. things like atc is overpaid and that he would be okay with making 40k a year.. lol

Sounds like someone here who ran a smear campaign for VP, lost the election, wrote the NEB about potential violations in his “campaign,” had all allegations proven false, applied for a supervisor bid, got selected but not approved for a deviation request, and still walks around trying to call people brother and sister.

 

[Tom]

Gun emoji *shots fired

 

[liter a cola]

Sounds like someone here who ran a smear campaign for VP, lost the election, wrote the NEB about potential violations in his “campaign,” had all allegations proven false, applied for a supervisor bid, got selected but not approved for a deviation request, and still walks around trying to call people brother and sister.

People like that should be stomped out.

 

[LEAD004]

I’m in between facilities right now. In other words, furloughed.

 

[DL0509]

Morale is dropping at my facility. We did have a local GA pilot send pizza over one night but the Sup turned him away saying it would be seen as taking a bribe...