WASHINGTON — Pilots for major airlines are jumping into the fight over the federal government shutdown as three pilot unions called on Congress to end the stalemate by passing the Republican-backed continuing resolution.
The Coalition of Airline Pilots Associations, the NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots, and the Allied Pilots Association issued separate Oct. 23 statements urging Congress to pass a "clean" continuing resolution to reopen the government.
Their statements came after a fourth union, Southwest Airlines Pilots Association, endorsed the Republican-backed continuing resolution the previous day.
About 13,000 air traffic controllers ‒ considered "essential" workers ‒ are working without pay during the shutdown. Transportation Security Administration employees are also forced to work without pay.
"We have seen the stress and tension this year on the National Airspace System due to short-staffed air traffic controllers," the Coalition of Airline Pilot Associations said in a statement. "This shutdown only compounds the pressures they face as they now report to work without a paycheck."
The White House warned that Americans should expect airport delays and disruptions if the shutdown spills into the Thanksgiving holiday, when travel historically spikes.
"We fear there will be there will be significant flight delays, disruptions and cancelations across the country this holiday season," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said at an Oct. 23 briefing with reporters. "If Democrats continue to shut down the government, they will also be shutting down American air travel."
The Air Line Pilots Association, the largest pilot union with about 80,000 members, in an Oct. 15 statement called on lawmakers to find a solution to reopen the government, but it did not specify which bill Congress should pass.
The Coalition of Airline Pilot Associations has about 30,000 members. The Allied Pilots Association represents 16,000 American Airlines pilots. The NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots represents about 3,700 pilots who fly for NetJets, a private jet company.
Senate Democrats have 12 times voted passage of the Republican continuing resolution to fund the government through Nov. 21. Democrats have demanded the extension of expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies and reversal of Medicaid cuts be included in the bill to reopen the government.
The White House emphasized the broad support from pilot union not just to reopen the government, but to do so by voting for the Republican-backed continuing resolution.
"From pilots to flight attendants and air traffic controllers, their message is simple: the Democrats need to stop causing chaos and end the shutdown," Taylor Rogers, an assistant White House press secretary, said in a statement.
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