If Tim Lindsey and his colleagues do their jobs correctly, you’ll never know they’re there. But even if you don’t see them, and if you plan to fly anytime in the next few weeks, you certainly want them showing up to work.
They’re the federal workers who investigate plane crashes, maintain the equipment on an airfield, ensure that the landing systems and radars used by pilots are working correctly and run the communications systems used by air traffic controllers. Until now, Lindsey says his coworkers have been showing up to work, despite not being paid. At the end of last week, though, $0 pay stubs began trickling in, marking the second missed paycheck since the government shutdown began on Oct. 1. Perhaps that might change soon, as the Senate voted on Sunday to approve a tentative deal to reopen the government.
Lindsey is based out of Waco and has worked in the federal government for 18 years, but he spoke with the Observer in his capacity as the local leader of the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists union. Down two paychecks, Lindsey said he believes now is the time when families will have to start making tough decisions about whether they continue coming in to work for free…