Helping ATC
 

I was reading that several airlines and other companies are having the unused meals go to the ATC facilities. As a retired tower guy, I want to thank each and every one of you and your companies for the kind and generous offerings. I have several friends still working, and many of them are having trouble making ends meet (or should I say meat). This is what being an American is about,.... THANK YOU again! Cheers and happy holidays to all of you.....

Happy Holidays — It’s going to last that long?

aren’t controllers going through enough without having to eat leftover crew meals?

They aren't destitute.

At least they don’t have to eat our “boxed dinners” that late arriving crews get at some of our hotels. Your own dog would disown you if you tried to feed it to him.

In civil service circles it's well known that you need a month of cash on hand late in the fiscal year. Basic Ramsey stuff, just way more predictable, and you know exactly when.

For most GS, it's just a free vacation and they love every minute since they know they'll get back pay. Some of them even book open-ended refundable vacation plans every Oct just in case.

For essential workers it should just be a wash, minor nuisance.

But that's for Oct. Going beyond one month I would say is where many might reasonably start running out of free cash. Don't really want ATC controllers with 10 hours off between shifts driving uber instead of sleeping (they should still be able to use fatigue calls, which of course impacts staffing).

Most should not be destitute but if I were in their shoes the pain point would be pulling money out of qualified retirement accounts and paying tax and penalties.

This kinda helps the argument to raise the retirement age for ATC doesnt it?

There isnt a pilot shortage.
There is a controller shortage.

What are you talking about?

I think you're confusing people making the most out of a crappy situation they have no control over and thinking to yourself "well look! They must really like it!"

I know people who like it. $100k+ career professionals can easily plan ahead to take advantage of it, and it's almost like clockwork these days. CS is not like the military, not a pyramid, the majority are in the middle/higher grades. Even most of the TSA is in the mid-range.

I guess Trump has been making scary noises about eliminating the backpay, so that might be nerve-wracking. Although I'm nearly certain it could not be retro-active.