Narrative:

The crew reported to work 1 person short for our shift. We are allotted 7 people during that timeframe; and 2 weeks prior to the date in question a controller retired forcing us to begin the shift with less than the agreed number for optimal staffing. During the course of the evening there was an operational error which forced that person off the boards (thereby reducing our staffing even further) and we also had to deal with 2 emergency aircraft all within a 3 hour timeframe. Never was there an attempt to bring in overtime to bring us to within numbers; and only after the operational error did they hold 1 controller over for 2 hours to provide any relief from the chaos. I feel that this was very unsafe and shortsighted and overtime should have been called in.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MCI CTLR EXPRESSED CONCERN REGARDING FACILITY STAFFING STANDARDS.

Narrative: THE CREW RPTED TO WORK 1 PERSON SHORT FOR OUR SHIFT. WE ARE ALLOTTED 7 PEOPLE DURING THAT TIMEFRAME; AND 2 WKS PRIOR TO THE DATE IN QUESTION A CTLR RETIRED FORCING US TO BEGIN THE SHIFT WITH LESS THAN THE AGREED NUMBER FOR OPTIMAL STAFFING. DURING THE COURSE OF THE EVENING THERE WAS AN OPERROR WHICH FORCED THAT PERSON OFF THE BOARDS (THEREBY REDUCING OUR STAFFING EVEN FURTHER) AND WE ALSO HAD TO DEAL WITH 2 EMER ACFT ALL WITHIN A 3 HR TIMEFRAME. NEVER WAS THERE AN ATTEMPT TO BRING IN OVERTIME TO BRING US TO WITHIN NUMBERS; AND ONLY AFTER THE OPERROR DID THEY HOLD 1 CTLR OVER FOR 2 HRS TO PROVIDE ANY RELIEF FROM THE CHAOS. I FEEL THAT THIS WAS VERY UNSAFE AND SHORTSIGHTED AND OVERTIME SHOULD HAVE BEEN CALLED IN.

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.