At least three unions from the United States aviation sector have called on Congress to vote on the budget and end the government shutdown
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The crisis over the federal government shutdown has added a new front of pressure against Congress: the pilots of the country's main airlines.
Three unions in the sector, the Coalition of Airline Pilots Associations (CAPA), the NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots (NJASAP), and the Allied Pilots Association (APA), issued joint statements on Wednesday demanding that Congress immediately approve the Republican-backed continuing resolution to reopen the government and ensure the stability of the U.S. air system.
The statements come a day after the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association (SWAPA) expressed its support for the same legislative measure, increasing pressure on Democratic lawmakers who continue to block its approval. Together, the unions that have backed the proposal represent more than 50,000 pilots across the country.
During the shutdown, more than 13,000 air traffic controllers and thousands of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees are being forced to work without pay, which has caused a wave of outrage against Democrats in the sector.
Miles de empleados aeronáuticos y del sector aeroportuario no perciben sus sueldos por culpa de los demócratas
In a statement, CAPA warned that "the lack of pay for controllers and essential workers only increases the pressure on an air system that is already facing a serious staffing shortage."
The White House also warned about the possible impact of the shutdown if it extends to the Thanksgiving holiday, one of the busiest air travel periods of the year. "If Democrats continue to keep the government closed, they will also be shutting down U.S. air traffic," said Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, anticipating delays, cancellations, and chaos at the country's airports.
The White House administration highlighted that the unions' support reflects a broad consensus within the aviation sector. "From pilots to air traffic controllers, the message is clear: Democrats must stop causing chaos and put an end to the government shutdown," said Taylor Rogers, presidential press assistant, in an official statement.
La secretaria de prensa estadounidense advirtió por graves consecuencias económicas en caso de que el cierre se prolongue
Despite the growing pressure, Democratic senators have voted twelve times against the Republican resolution, conditioning their support on the inclusion of additional subsidies for Obamacare and the reversal of cuts to Medicaid, demands that pilots and the air sector consider unrelated to the urgency of the moment.
Even the country's largest union, the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), with about 80,000 members, called days ago for a solution to be found to reopen the government.
The position of the pilots' associations has been clear: they are calling to immediately approve the current resolution to protect commercial aviation and prevent an operational collapse in the coming weeks.
El sindicato más grande del país llamó a los demócratas a terminar con el ridículo cierre gubernamental
Meanwhile, the effects of the shutdown are beginning to be felt at airports across the country. Delays and work overload among federal employees are increasing, while political tensions continue with no solution in sight.
With the airline industry warning of a possible national logistical collapse, the pilots' call highlights the sector's growing frustration with what they consider political irresponsibility on the part of Democrats, who are keeping a temporary solution blocked for partisan interests.
"Each day that passes without a favorable vote worsens the damage to the air system and to the country's essential workers," CAPA concluded in its statement.
Chuck Schummer, líder de la minoría demócrata en el senado
