If the government shutdown doesn’t end by Tuesday, flights at Newark Airport will be reduced by 6%.

By Thursday, that number will rise to 10%, as mandated by the Federal Aviation Administration.

By late afternoon on Monday, the number of cancellations at Newark Airport had reached 101 with over 200 delays.

The president of the air traffic controller’s union said that his members are still on the job even though they’ve just missed out their second paycheck because they are essential employees.

Nick Daniels, president of NATCA, is calling for an immediate end to the government shutdown as he fears air traffic controllers are being used as political pawns.

He and Amy Lark - an air traffic controller - say some of her coworkers have taken on second jobs to make ends meet.

“Everyone is questioning if they can pay their mortgage. I have coworkers who cannot pay for child care. That uncertainty that fear creates a distraction that no ATC should have to carry,” said Lark.

Union president Daniels says when this shutdown is eventually over, ramping up flights to where they were is not be like, “flipping a switch.”

Daniels says it will take time.

There is a concern that if the shutdown lingers, it could affect holiday travel.