NEWARK/WASHINGTON, Oct 6 (Reuters) - The union

representing more than 13,000 air traffic controllers on Monday

urged workers to remain on the job during the ongoing partial

government shutdown that requires them to work without pay.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and the president

of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association are holding

a press conference on Monday at Newark Liberty International

Airport to discuss the impacts of the shutdown. The airport near

New York City is a major United Airlines hub.

The union told workers that "participating in a job action

could result in removal from federal service" and is illegal.

"It is more important than ever that we rise to the occasion

and continue delivering the consistent, high-level of public

service we provide every day," the union told members. "We

cannot stress enough that it is essential to avoid any actions

that could reflect poorly on you, our union, or our

professions."

About 50,000 Transportation Security Administration

employees who staff airport security checkpoints are also

required to keep working, but are not getting paid.

In 2019, during a 35-day shutdown, the number of absences by

controllers and TSA officers rose as workers missed paychecks,

extending checkpoint wait times at some airports. Authorities

were forced to slow air traffic in New York, which put pressure

on lawmakers to quickly end the standoff.

NATCA in 2019 said many controllers had reached "the

breaking point." Then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said at the

time the shutdown was "pushing our airspace to the breaking

point."

Airline trade group Airlines for America, which represents

United, Delta Air Lines American Airlines and

Southwest Airlines ( LUV ), warned that during a funding lapse

"the system may need to slow down, reducing efficiency" and

impacting travelers.

Congress in July approved $12.5 billion to begin a massive

overhaul over five years. A persistent shortage of controllers

has delayed flights and many are working mandatory overtime and

six-day weeks. The FAA is about 3,500 air traffic controllers

short of targeted staffing levels.