The head of the US air traffic controllers’ union demanded Monday an immediate end of the record-long government shutdown, warning of rising risks as safety employees work without pay.
“Enough is enough,” Nick Daniels, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, said at a press conference as he called an emerging deal in Congress a “right step in the right direction.”
“Air traffic controllers should not be the political pawn during a government shutdown,” said Daniels, who has spoken in increasingly dire terms since federal funding first lapsed on October 1.
The press conference was wrapping up as US President Donald Trump took to social media to comment on mounting flight cancelations and delays as more controllers call in sick.
Trump suggested some controllers were shirking their “patriotic” duty, threatening that such alleged action “will be substantially docked,” he said on social media.
He said he was supporting a bonus of $10,000 to those with “distinguished service,” and that the group “that did nothing but complain” should be punished.
“I am NOT HAPPY WITH YOU. You didn’t step up to help the U.S.A. against the FAKE DEMOCRAT ATTACK that was only meant to hurt our Country,” Trump posted.
“If you want to leave service in the near future, please do not hesitate to do so, with NO payment or severance of any kind! You will be quickly replaced by true Patriots.”
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