Will Rogers World Airport

[catch22]

Congress needs to revise what are critical government jobs that affect real people and those office (2nd level and higher mgmt, individual contributor) jobs that could withstand a shutdown/furlough.

In the DOT and DHS airport ops: FAA controller, investigator, and TSA agent (all non-management and 1st level management) roles are mission critical in my mind and should not be subject to furlough.

Not to be political but every government job is essential to somebody,

[Jersey Boss]

TSA agents need to walk off the job. Govt. will reopen within 24 hours. They should start by targeting a couple, three midsize airports and if that doesn't do it, hit O'Hare. JFK, or ATL.

[OkiePoke]

TSA agents need to walk off the job. Govt. will reopen within 24 hours. They should start by targeting a couple, three midsize airports and if that doesn't do it, hit O'Hare. JFK, or ATL.

TSA agents can't strike.

[jerrywall]

Yeah, the air traffic controllers probably can give them some good advice on that. Correction, the former air traffic controllers, since they all got lifetime bans from ever being rehired.

[Jersey Boss]

It's not a strike if they aren't being paid. Involuntary servitude is unconstitutional. Who would work for no pay if the feds fired them and tried to hire replacements? The agents have the leverage here. Another alternative for the agents would be a significant number calling in sick.

[bombermwc]

Oh come on, its not involuntary servitude because they are going to be paid once the government opens back up. The ruling already came down that those federal employees that are both working and not working, will get back pay. I believe the official statement was released yesterday. The real folks getting screwed are the contractors who will never get that recovered. That same ruling also said that BOTH parties qualify for unemployment. So if anyone that's not getting paid right now wants to, they can at least collect unemployment. Most places like rent/mortgage/bills/etc are being allowed to be deferred as well. That doesnt help for immediate needs like food/gas/medicine, but that's where that unemployment can help. But people do have to go out and do these things. I know its tough, but lets not exaggerate the situation to servitude.

[d-usa]

Essential workers can’t collect because they are still working.

[catcherinthewry]

Most places like rent/mortgage/bills/etc are being allowed to be deferred as well.

Do you have anything to back this up? Even if true, that just means the hardships are just passed on to landlords and creditors.

[CloudDeckMedia]

Two things: 1) My sister-in-law works for FAA. Their union sued because working without pay is illegal - the court refused to hear the case. 2) I own a self storage business and we've deferred payments for all customers who are federal employees. It's a small thing - certainly not a hardship - but it's one less bill they have to worry about.

[Plutonic Panda]

^^^ thank you for your gesture of kindness. It may be a small one, but it all adds up.

[jerrywall]

One thing, and this is not putting blame on people, that is shocking to me. I read an article that says the majority of federal workers only have an 8 day cushion of funds. I don't know if this is true, but if so, a lot of folks need some help with budgeting. Maybe it's because I've always worked in the private sector, and largely as a contractor, but I know periods without pay happen. The last stat I saw said the average time to find a new job is 3 months. How can someone not have at least a couple of weeks of cushion (I know there are exceptions - major medical expenses, disasters, etc can use up a cushion)? I know the 6 months cushion is hard for folks, but still. I know of so many people that get excited to get their tax return so they can make a large purchase or go on a vacation somewhere. Hopefully, those folks have a cushion already. If not, maybe they should put that money into a savings account. This all makes me want to go home and have yet another bills and budgeting lecture to my sons.

[MagzOK]

One thing, and this is not putting blame on people, that is shocking to me. I read an article that says the majority of federal workers only have an 8 day cushion of funds. I don't know if this is true, but if so, a lot of folks need some help with budgeting. Maybe it's because I've always worked in the private sector, and largely as a contractor, but I know periods without pay happen. The last stat I saw said the average time to find a new job is 3 months. How can someone not have at least a couple of weeks of cushion (I know there are exceptions - major medical expenses, disasters, etc can use up a cushion)? I know the 6 months cushion is hard for folks, but still. I know of so many people that get excited to get their tax return so they can make a large purchase or go on a vacation somewhere. Hopefully, those folks have a cushion already. If not, maybe they should put that money into a savings account. This all makes me want to go home and have yet another bills and budgeting lecture to my sons.

TSA's starting salary is $29K with small incremental raises that eventually tops out at about $44K. This is one example of many of the federal jobs held by employees which are not being paid. When I was first out of college earning about that, I couldn't save a dime because of all my expenses and student loans. Federal employees don't work for Uncle Sam to get rich, they work for Uncle Sam to help better the country or care for fellow citizens for little pay. Across the labor industry and regardless of political party affiliation, it is not an unreasonable expectation to work and get paid timely.

[CloudDeckMedia]

This is a glimpse into what lies ahead for those nearing retirement age. These federal employees have had years of full-time employment and the opportunity to save, but didn't. Individually they will become a burden on their families, but in a larger sense this group will become a burden on society. (Understand that I'm not being judgmental or faulting them - saving is just not something most people have adequately done.)

[HangryHippo]

This is a glimpse into what lies ahead for those nearing retirement age. These federal employees have had years of full-time employment and the opportunity to save, but didn't. Individually they will become a burden on their families, but in a larger sense this group will become a burden on society. (Understand that I'm not being judgmental or faulting them - saving is just not something most people have adequately done.)

It comes across as presumptuous because I know many federal employees that haven't had years of full-time employment - they were just starting out and this is a serious blow to them. But you're absolutely right about many people not saving adequately and it will be a crisis, if it's not already.

[jerrywall]

On a closer related note, anyone have any updates on the security lines at World Rogers? Have they gotten worse in the past week or two, or about the same?

[TheTravellers]

Sorry, off-topic, but have to mention that a huge part of the problem is 401(k) savings replacing pensions instead of supplementing them, because companies ended up better, while the employees got less.

https://www.cnbc.com/2015/03/20/l-it...a-failure.html

[CloudDeckMedia]

Sorry, off-topic, but have to mention that a huge part of the problem is 401(k) savings replacing pensions instead of supplementing them, because companies ended up better, while the employees got less.

https://www.cnbc.com/2015/03/20/l-it...a-failure.html

My company had a defined benefits pension plan that was expensive and cumbersome to administer. We bought 401(k) plans for the remaining employees & designees in accordance with rules by the USDOL, USPBGC and IRS. That gave them 100% investment control from that point forward. The only impact on us was no more reports to the feds, or fees to attorneys, accountants, actuaries and administrators.

[LakeEffect]

Let's move a lot of this to Politics, Pete...

[shawnw]

nm

[CloudDeckMedia]

My apologies - my post wasn't intended as political, just explanatory since the topic of 401(k) was mentioned and I have a little experience with a conversion. Didn't mean to sidetrack.

[Jersey Boss]

^^^ Geez who would have thought a post about defined pension plans v. 401's would be deemed political?

[stile99]

^^^ Geez who would have thought a post about defined pension plans v. 401's would be deemed political?

Or have anything to do with Will Rogers World Airport?

[bchris02]

Per Mayor Holt's Facebook page, the cow tipping t-shirt store will be going away.

[TheTravellers]

Per Mayor Holt's Facebook page, the cow tipping t-shirt store will be going away.

That's a shame, the shirt I got there always gets lots of comments when I wear it.

[Plutonic Panda]

Per Mayor Holt's Facebook page, the cow tipping t-shirt store will be going away.

You left out some rather important information.

I had not known this, but apparently Mayor Holt has a personal vendetta against these shirts. He said he personally sought to it that this company would be no more in the airport as a vendor.

I copied his tweet and will paste it here:

For the last decade or so, our redesigned OKC airport has made a beautiful first impression on visitors, with one notable exception: the awful cow-tipping t-shirts that bear no relation to actual life in OKC. Upon becoming Mayor, I made their removal a personal mission. (1/2)

I am pleased to report that the great team @fly_okc worked with me the last few months to sell out of the t-shirts & it was just reported to me they are officially gone forever. Efforts will continue to sell unique products that reflect the things that truly make OKC special.

We’re their products racist, homophobic, or just bigoted in anyway? If so I’m confused. Serious question, this is the first time I’ve ever heard of cow tipping. What is the issue here?

I think it’s rather weird that he went after a vendor because he didn’t like their products or maybe I’m missing something.

I don’t want to take a firm stance either way, but my support for Mayor Holt is fading with each new thing I learn about him.