Many air traffic controllers who labored through US government shutdown won't get $10K bonus, and they're furious

In November, President Donald Trump said in a post on Truth Social (2) that he would recommend air traffic controllers who didn’t take time off during the shutdown be given a $10,000 bonus.

“Again, to our great American Patriots, GOD BLESS YOU - I won’t be able to send your money fast enough!” he wrote.

However, the bonus payments required workers to have perfect attendance, which included overtime shifts, and were disqualified for taking sick days or any other type of leave. The Journal reports that controllers who missed as much as an hour of work due to fatigue, military leave or time off that was scheduled as much as a year in advance are being denied a bonus .

“They are disappointed, as there were thousands of air traffic controllers that kept the system safe and running during the shutdown,” the National Air Traffic Controllers Association labor union told the publication.

In light of this revelation, here’s what you need to know about protecting your worker’s rights, especially in relation to promised bonuses.

The backlash over missed bonuses

The American Federation of Government Employees, which represents TSA officers, said the eligibility requirements for the bonus were unclear, while the controllers’ union worried about any negative effects of excluding thousands of workers from the bonus who consistently reported for duty during the shutdown, according to The Journal.

“We have to look and say ‘where’s the cutoff,’” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said at a press event at Newark Liberty International Airport. “If you got a 100% on your test, you get the sticker — that’s a scratch-and-sniff sticker from the administration.”

This kind of flippancy from the administration is indicative of broader issues with trust, workforce retention and fairness, especially for government employees. On Dec. 12, the TSA announced it would terminate the collective bargaining agreement with the officers’ union in January.

Getting your non-discretionary bonus compensation

If you are contractually obligated to receive a bonus, be sure you have written confirmation of the terms of the agreement and proof of your accomplishments in service of the stated performance objectives. Likewise, an employee who is working overtime should have clear documentation about their additional hours worked, and their employer’s overtime rate — by law, you must be paid at least time and a half.

Before you agree to go above and beyond for a promised bonus, be sure to get the new agreement in writing, which stipulates the goals, how performance will be measured, what the bonus will be as a percentage of your pay or as a dollar amount and when it will be paid to you. This will ensure that if your employer doesn’t conform to your agreement, you will have the necessary proof required to bring your case to a labor relations lawyer, if needed.

Article sources

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Wall Street Journal (1); @realDonaldTrump (2)