Rhode Island’s entire congressional delegation gathered at T.F. Green Airport Warwick Monday to condemn the partial government shutdown, now in its fourth week.
TSA officers and air traffic controllers are some of the many across the country have continued to work the nation’s airports.
The state’s two Democratic Representatives and two Senators took the opportunity to hammer President Donald Trump, on whom they lay blame for the shutdown, along with Republican leaders.
Rhode Island’s senior Senator Jack Reed, outlined services the nation is going without during the shutdown.
“There’s no effective enforcement of the securities laws,” Reed said. “Safety inspections are being postponed. Our food safety, our aviation safety, pollution going on unchecked because there’s no EPA inspectors.”
But all four lawmakers returned to the hardships felt by the TSA officers and air traffic controllers who are working without pay.
“I have no way to pay my mortgage when it comes due February 1st, unless they resolve this,” said David Langlais. “There’s a lot of people who are in the same boat. Who’s going to be out on the street, who’s going to lose their car, or roof over their head, or feed their families?”
Langlais handles baggage and works checkpoint screening, and right now he’s one of about 200 officers who keep coming in without the possibility of a paycheck. Why?
“Because I took an oath to protect America, and I believe in that. I served in the military, I do this. I do it for a reason,”
Langlais served in the air force and army national guard, and worked through the 2013 government shutdown. He makes about $60,000 a year, but now he says his bills are looming and he hasn’t received a paycheck in weeks.
If the shutdown doesn’t end soon he says, he’ll have to look for other, part-time work, while continuing what has essentially become full-time volunteer service at the airport.
“I have made some advanced planning decisions, consulting with people that I know that I may have to turn to for help,” Langlais said. Those people he may soon need help from: his parents.
As for a walkout or strike by TSA Officials or air traffic controllers still on the job in Rhode Island, labor leaders say it’s not going to happen.
