Airlines Step Up to Provide Meals for Aviation Workers Impacted by Government Shutdown

As the federal government shutdown continues, many aviation workers are facing the reality of not receiving their paychecks. In response, several airlines have stepped up to provide meals for these employees.

United Airlines has confirmed that it will be donating meals to air traffic controllers and other federal workers who are experiencing a delay in their pay. The airline will be providing meals at their hubs in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark, N. J. , San Francisco, and Washington, D. C. In a statement, United expressed their appreciation for the hard work of these employees in keeping the air travel system running.

Similarly, Delta Air Lines has arranged for a limited number of meals for transportation sector workers. However, they will be following the strict rules set for employees of federal government agencies. JetBlue is also joining in these efforts by offering meals at their airports as a gesture of support. They are working closely with TSA, U. S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Federal Aviation Administration to carry out this initiative.

The federal government shutdown began on October 1st, marking its first shutdown since 2019. This was a result of Congress failing to reach a budget agreement. As a result, nearly 11,000 air traffic controllers are currently working without pay. On October 28th, federal workers received their first $0 paycheck for two weeks of unpaid work. Prior to this, they had received a partial paycheck for work completed in September before the shutdown began.

During a press conference at LaGuardia Airport in New York City, Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy expressed concern for the workers who continue to show up. He stated that the pressure will only increase with each passing day as expenses continue to pile up. Duffy also mentioned that many employees are now turning to other sources of income, such as DoorDash or Uber, to make ends meet.

This sentiment was echoed by air traffic controller Joe Segretto, who stated that the pressure is real for these employees. With the added stress of learning a new job, these trainees now have to worry about how they will pay their bills. The impact of the shutdown is not only affecting the current workers, but also those in training who are not yet earning a high income.

As the shutdown persists, the generosity of these airlines is providing some relief for aviation workers facing financial strain. However, the pressure and difficulties for these employees continue to grow with each passing day.