Narrative:

On jun/tue/06; I was 1 of 11 persons assigned to work the north area; ZAU. Staffing levels; less than 1 yr ago; called for 14 persons; and we have lately been directed to work with as few as 8. There is overtime available; but the budget is the larger concern here at ZAU; so none was authority/authorized in this situation. Because of the enforcement of punitive work rules; we have consistently been forced to work in excess of contractual limits lately. Tuesday; however; I was forced to work 3 hours 40 mins without any break being offered. That session followed a 2 1/2 hour session and a 20 min break to start my shift. This riding of controllers is unsafe; and punitive. Bad things can happen when tired controllers are abused in this fashion.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZAU CTLR EXPRESSED CONCERN REGARDING NEWLY IMPLEMENTED REDUCED STAFFING STANDARDS THAT MINIMIZE AVAILABLE CTLRS FOR ANY GIVEN SHIFT.

Narrative: ON JUN/TUE/06; I WAS 1 OF 11 PERSONS ASSIGNED TO WORK THE N AREA; ZAU. STAFFING LEVELS; LESS THAN 1 YR AGO; CALLED FOR 14 PERSONS; AND WE HAVE LATELY BEEN DIRECTED TO WORK WITH AS FEW AS 8. THERE IS OVERTIME AVAILABLE; BUT THE BUDGET IS THE LARGER CONCERN HERE AT ZAU; SO NONE WAS AUTH IN THIS SIT. BECAUSE OF THE ENFORCEMENT OF PUNITIVE WORK RULES; WE HAVE CONSISTENTLY BEEN FORCED TO WORK IN EXCESS OF CONTRACTUAL LIMITS LATELY. TUESDAY; HOWEVER; I WAS FORCED TO WORK 3 HRS 40 MINS WITHOUT ANY BREAK BEING OFFERED. THAT SESSION FOLLOWED A 2 1/2 HR SESSION AND A 20 MIN BREAK TO START MY SHIFT. THIS RIDING OF CTLRS IS UNSAFE; AND PUNITIVE. BAD THINGS CAN HAPPEN WHEN TIRED CTLRS ARE ABUSED IN THIS FASHION.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.