Airport workers ‘held hostage’ in government shutdown as Oregon politicians call for action

More than 700 air traffic controllers and security officers continue to show up to work at airports across Oregon with no assurance of their next paycheck as the federal government shutdown hit the 18-day mark on Tuesday.

Some workers, however, are growing increasingly worried.

Transportation Security Administration staffers at Portland International Airport are circulating among colleagues information about how to file for unemployment. Union officials are directing the 380 TSA workers at the airport to local food pantries or grief counseling services as needed.

U.S. Reps. Suzanne Bonamici and Kurt Schrader, both Democrats, met with airport workers before speaking to reporters Tuesday. They hoped to draw attention to the plight of hundreds of airport workers in Oregon, who are just a fraction of the 10,000 federal employees who work in forestry, agriculture and other sectors across Oregon, Schrader said