Muhammad Asim Saddiqi 
Washington: Following the longest Government shutdown in the history of US, President Trump has given an ultimatum to all Air Traffic Controllers to return to their duties immediately, or else their salaries will be deducted. The order comes at a time when thousands of flights across the country are being canceled and delayed as 20-40% of controllers have been absent at major airports.
In a social media post, President Trump threatened to “substantially dock” already unpaid Air Traffic Controllers saying, “All air traffic controllers should return to work immediately, those who do not come will have their salaries reduced.” President Trump has accused the already short-staffed, vital airport workers of having failed to ‘step up to help’ against a ‘fake Democrat attack’ during the shutdown.
He announced that employees who continued to work continuously during the shutdown will be given a USD 10,000 bonus ‘for distinguished service to the country’, while those who were absent will be accepted for their resignations.
According to reports, about 13,000 Air Traffic Controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Agents are working without pay due to the 41-day shutdown resulting in more than 2,000 flights being canceled and more than 5,000 delayed on Monday. Moreover, a blizzard in Chicago made matters worse.
Airlines, meanwhile, have urged the government to quickly enact a Senate-approved bill to end the shutdown so that air travel can return to normal. The CEO of American Airlines called it “unacceptable,” saying that “passengers and employees deserve better.”
