US shutdown: Flight delays caused by staff shortages • Hacker News Board

Re: US shutdown: Flight delays caused by staff shortages

#191

Post by SamBam » Fri, Jan 25, 2019, 4:21 PM UTC

jazzyk wrote: post #72

rkochman wrote: post #7

I’m glad to see this. The shutdown has been too “business as usual” for most Americans, while others are expected to work without pay, which is ridiculous.

Strictly speaking, their pay is delayed - they will be paid for all the work, eventually. Still, regular employees should not be going through this, though.

Not necessarily those who have been furloughed from working. Those who are currently working without pay will almost certainly be paid, the others expect to be but there are no guarantees.

Re: US shutdown: Flight delays caused by staff shortages

#192

Post by benj111 » Fri, Jan 25, 2019, 4:21 PM UTC

toomuchtodo wrote: post #106

flyingpenguin wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The thing that really bothers me about that "They should have savings" logic, is the expectation that they should have to use them. Yes. They should have savings. EVERYONE should have min 3 months of income in savings. No one should be expected to use it.

In no first world country should you be afraid that your child will die because you can't pay your electric bill because you're not getting paid for a job you're forced to work . > A Kentucky family whose main source of income was lost because of the partial government shutdown worries they will soon loose the ability to care for their 15-month-old daughter who needs special equipment to stay alive. https://www.cnn.c…

On what level are they forced to work?

They have the freedom to go find another job no?

On some level we are all 'forced' to work, as we all need money.

To be clear, I don't disagree with you, it just detracts from your point, that's all.

Re: US shutdown: Flight delays caused by staff shortages

#193

Post by klq » Fri, Jan 25, 2019, 4:21 PM UTC

mikeash wrote: post #163

klq wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sometimes tough decisions need to be made. Especially those that are to improve things in the long term, even if it hurts in the short term. That's what being a man is, being able to make hard decisions.

Isn’t this the exact opposite? It helped in the short term but hurts in the long term.

No. In the short term, it hurt a lot because people had to be trained, etc. But in the long term, it sent a message. Maybe some federal employees would be on strike right now if Reagan hadn't done that.

Re: US shutdown: Flight delays caused by staff shortages

#194

Post by Cyph0n » Fri, Jan 25, 2019, 4:21 PM UTC

NeedMoreTea wrote: post #113

justaguyhere wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

they're explicitly prevented from striking Wow, is this true? Is this even legal (except maybe police and military)?

Reagan outlawed ATC strikes, after firing all of them during a dispute early in his presidency. Early 80s.

I highly doubt that any president would ever dare do that again. It took years for the US to recover...

Re: US shutdown: Flight delays caused by staff shortages

#195

Post by bdcravens » Fri, Jan 25, 2019, 4:22 PM UTC

jazzyk wrote: post #107

_djo_ wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

None of the contractors will be paid, as I understand it, only permanent federal employees.

Yes, that comes with the territory (contract cancellations or delayed/non payments are risks associated with running any business).

The narrative around government contract work is that it is more stable and the checks will never bounce.

Re: US shutdown: Flight delays caused by staff shortages

#196

Post by [deleted] » Fri, Jan 25, 2019, 4:22 PM UTC

throwaway5752 wrote: post #20

exogeny wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Very painful? Why not just take out a loan? Wilbur Ross whole-heartedly recommends it!

Oh, no! That wasn't what he meant. The president clarified that he meant to say that grocery stores and banks will work with you and extend you credit.

[deleted]

Re: US shutdown: Flight delays caused by staff shortages

#197

Post by Tsubasachan » Fri, Jan 25, 2019, 4:22 PM UTC

cr1895 wrote: post #131

wonderwonder wrote: post #24

Bearing in mind that ~40% of american's could not come up with $400 to cover emergencies, this is going to become more prevalent in the next few days / weeks as people will simply not be able to afford gas to get to their unpaid work. I read an article today discussing how TSA workers in HI are living in their cars in the airport parking lot as they cannot afford to commute. The FBI just cancelled its internship prog…

>An administration official recommended that all those affected simply take out loans but unfortunately banks don't lend to people without an income I think bills have been passed already guaranteeing back pay for federal employees, so it's a bit more complicated than "no income" for federal employees. However, everyone else who is a contractor or otherwise tangentially dependent on government employment... And of co…

Banks don't loan people money for free. They're not a charity. Besides it is pretty absurd that banks have to solve government mess that they have no part in.

Re: US shutdown: Flight delays caused by staff shortages

#198

Post by mikeash » Fri, Jan 25, 2019, 4:22 PM UTC

noer wrote: post #73

dentemple wrote: post #3

There'll be a lot of angry people if the same thing happens in Atlanta over Super Bowl weekend.

Atlanta is the busiest airport in the country, there will be a lot of angry people if this happens at any time. That's not even mentioning the networks effects of a delay at ATL causing delays at other airports around the country.

Not just the country, it’s the busiest airport in the world. I expect Beijing will overtake it soon, though.

Re: US shutdown: Flight delays caused by staff shortages

#199

Post by JohnJamesRambo » Fri, Jan 25, 2019, 4:22 PM UTC

lazyant wrote: post #137

NeedMoreTea wrote: post #87

I hope not too off topic, but I'm puzzled by shutdowns. Every other country I can think of has a system where if the finance is not agreed, the previous budget just continues. The budget sets the yearly amount for each department and it runs on until another budget changes how much everyone gets. Sometimes a new department gets created, sometimes something is abolished. Everyone gets their salary and services run on.…

In Canada it triggers a new election

Can we get this please? I can think of a really great way to stop this shutdown by removal of one person in particular.

Re: US shutdown: Flight delays caused by staff shortages

#200

Post by bertil » Fri, Jan 25, 2019, 4:23 PM UTC

exogeny wrote: post #12

mikenew wrote: post #5

I believe paychecks were due today. Missing two paychecks can be very painful for a lot of people. I would expect things to cascade pretty quickly from this point.

Very painful? Why not just take out a loan? Wilbur Ross whole-heartedly recommends it!

I like to pile up on Wilbur Ross as much as the next guy but I’m genuinely curious about that one. I understand that many people involved will be paid once the situation is resolved and that no one expects the US government to crumble in the near time.

Surely, an enterprising bank manager would love to offer (Federally?) guaranteed loans given the circumstances. There has been an explosion of peer-to-peer lending in the last decade, often supported by social bonds from professional relations; they could step up in theory. Charities give, but surely many Americans (less bleeding-heart) would love to make 1% over they spare savings the next weeks if it meant supporting deserving worker, and it came supported by a reassuring institution. Surely make-a-buck-when-you-can is more American than the American Dream itself.

I know very little about lending; I’ve never been in the US for longer than ten days at a time; I’ve never experienced financial hardship and I’ve never managed a bank, so I’m very willing to say that I’m not qualified to know.

What is preventing all those initiatives from unblocking the situation?