A few different reasons from what I’ve gathered lurking around various communities. Full disclosure: I’m not in the aviation industry, just someone with an interest.
- Controllers are extremely professional almost to a fault. If they walk that puts more strain on an already strained system which endangers the public
- Related to this, the public is still generally on their side or at least sympathetic to the situation. If they strike and there’s an incident, they will be blamed. the admin would love for this to happen. They’re already trying to turn public sentiment against them (see comments by the transportation secretary about starting salaries which are demonstrably false).
- Their current union is not in favor of any work action
- They are already being threatened with firing if they strike under the guise of sick leave
- For most of them, this isn’t their first shutdown
- The controllers that’ll feel the pinch first are those working at smaller, less busy facilities. One or more of these shutting down completely won’t impact much.
Again this is just my observation. Anyone with more insider knowledge feel free to correct me.
Yup. To you or I it’s blatantly obvious that the system is at the breaking point and there have been numerous close calls. The public that isn’t fully captured doesn’t have a strong opinion on the subject except that air travel is a PITA.
Remember that press conference after the DCA mid-air earlier this year?