Air traffic controllers across the United States are expressing frustration and anger over a recently announced $10,000 retention bonus, calling the payment inadequate given the mounting pressures facing the profession and the critical staffing shortages plaguing the Federal Aviation Administration.
Controllers and union representatives have described the $10,000 figure as tone-deaf, particularly when compared to the high-stakes nature of their work and the severe consequences of staffing shortages. Air traffic controllers are responsible for safely managing thousands of flights daily, separating aircraft in crowded airspace, and making split-second decisions that directly impact passenger safety.
“It feels like a slap in the face,” said one controller who spoke on condition of anonymity. “We’re working six-day weeks, mandatory overtime, dealing with outdated equipment at some facilities, and they think $10,000 fixes that? Meanwhile, the stress is driving people out of the profession faster than we can train new ones.”
Don’t forget that the $10k bonus is pre tax so they’ll be looking at $6k.
Don’t forget that the $10k bonus is pre tax so they’ll be looking at $6k.
Unless that ATC is making over $197k they would keep $7600 of the bonus as up-to $197k annual income the tax rate is only 24% for 2025. Yes, the bonus withholding rate is higher, but when they file at the end of the year, they’d get back that difference in the withholding rate vs the income tax rate.
You are forgetting about social security (6.2%) and medicare (1.2%)
They’ll also have to pay state taxes.
They will definitely end up closer to $6,000 than $7,600.
The average pay for an ATC is $100,810. The recent shutdown lasted 43 days or 344 hours assuming 8 hours a day maximum allowed by the FAA.
$100,810 / 26 weeks = $3,877/two weeks $3,877 / 80 hours = $48.46/hour $48.46 * 344 = $16,670.24 gross pay, without overtime.
While all controllers should eventually be disbursed their back pay (Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019), only 776 controllers will receive this bonus.
Russel Vought, Christian Nationalist architect of P2025, and now director of the Office of Management and Budget, wants to traumatize the federal workforce to strong-arm his fascist theocracy into power and this is the result.
If Russel Vought believes you’ll go to heaven or hell based on your political affiliations, doesn’t it kind of make twisted accelerationist sense for him to try and kill you in an engineered airline disaster?
Not 100% sure, but they should have received all their back pay including OT.
There’s also a bill moving to use an FAA fund that pays for any damage done to commandeered airplanes to pay ATC during in future shutdown.
And like, our last budget was FY24, we already lapped without a budget before anybody paid attention. I legitimately think will keeping using “continuing resolutions” until trump’s out of office.
Even if Dems sweep in midterms, trump won’t sign it if it’s not exactly what he wants.
It’s a small percentage of them anyway. Trump treats the government like he’s paying everyone himself.:
Trump Denies Thousands of Air Traffic Controllers $10K Bonus
Donald Trump has snubbed thousands of air traffic controllers and technicians who kept the skies safe during the longest government shutdown in history, union officials told Axios.
Only 776, or seven percent, of the roughly 11,000 air traffic controllers and technicians who worked through the 43-day government shutdown will get a $10,000 bonus.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy described the “perfect attendance” bonus on X as a Santa moment, apparently ignoring that most workers were gift-less.
They’ll throw a mandatory pizza lunch-in next.
So…
Not actually rejecting it, just saying not enough
$10,000 isn’t making their job easier, isn’t making flying safer, isn’t training and recruiting, isn’t giving their time back with their families, isn’t fixing their equipment.
It’s tone deaf to think that throwing cash at people will make all the bad things go away.
America needs major infrastructure investments. The GOP is only interested in destroying the US government and taking back to the days before the New Deal including the white supremacist being immune from prosecution.
Obviously…
But the headline says they rejected it, which would be insane to turn it down
The logical choice is take it and say it’s not enough. Which is what’s happening
I’d argue they’d rather have more staff so they don’t have to work 6 days a week. I’d care less about a bonus if my job had literal lives at risk because I’m overworked and understaffed
If you’re drowning and someone throws you a rope that will let you get even a single gasp of air, are you going to reject it? Or are you going to tell them that you need more in order to survive?
I see this more akin to drowning and then someone brings you a cupcake.
I know what you’re thinking…
What could be stranger than a giant floating cupcake?
More like throwing you the rope and dropping the other end into the water.
Maybe the headline shouldn’t say “reject” then.
The commenter isn’t criticising the ATCs, they are criticising the headline.
Which is why I was shocked they rejected it, and felt like clarifying would help others…
Thinks more equal to throwing you a pool noodle with no other way of getting you out the water after. Yes it helps, but not saving anyone.
