CLEVELAND — A handful of workers impacted by the government shutdown held a protest at Cleveland Hopkins Airport demanding an end to the political battle.
It came as staffing issues forced delays at several major airports on Friday morning.
The protest included union members that represent TSA agents and aviation safety inspectors / technicians with the FAA.
James Norton with the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists issued the following statement: “We need to end this shutdown now. Aviation safety is not an additive to our country. It is what our country is. Here in Ohio, we are the birthplace of aviation. The Ohio Department of Transportation estimates the aviation industry to have a $13.3 billion impact to Ohio’s economic value. We’re here to represent that value. We’re here to say, end the shutdown. Stand with these folks. Stand with us as a nation to end the shutdown.”
We streamed their protest on Facebook live:
Some of their signs during the protest declared “United we stand” and “Don’t gamble with aviation safety.”
“With the government shutdown now exceeding a full month, aviation safety professionals are not able to perform their critical tasks and many other FAA and TSA employees are working without a paycheck,” according to their press release.