'Something's better than nothing': TSA not exactly jumping for joy over temporary deal

OAKLAND, Calif. (KTVU) - TSA workers at Oakland International Airport appeared relieved by the news the government would re-open temporarily and paychecks would be coming  in again. But no one was jumping for joy.

"Something is better than nothing, right?," said TSA worker Iveliz Rodriguez. Rodriguez is seven months pregnant.

"It's been scary. I've been like saving money then, 'Oh wow, second week of not getting paid.' So it's really nerve wracking," Rodriguez said.

These have been tough times for 800,000 federal workers, no paychecks in more than a month.

Relief agencies offered free lunches for struggling workers.

The Alameda County food bank delivered a hundred bags of groceries to federal employees for the fourth time since the government shutdown.

Every bit helps when nothing is coming in.

"I would probably be asking my family for help," said a TSA worker.

Oakland Airport has more than 300 TSA workers. The TSA says sick calls have been a little higher than normal recently, but the shutdown has not affected airport safety.

"If we can get them paid and some semblance of normalcy in their lives. That's good for everyone," said TSA supervisor Hadley Adams.

Passengers have been supportive.

"A lot of them drop off gift cards. We can't take cash but grocery gift cards have been handy. And they've been thanking us. People forget how important a thank you is every now and then," Adams said.

About an hour after President Donald Trump announced the temporary deal, more than a hundred union members with the Alameda, San Francisco and San Mateo Labor Councils marched through the terminals demanding a permanent end to the shutdown. 

"We are going to be struggling to get back on track, even within the three weeks to do what everyone expects us to do to keep our water clean, keep our air clean and clean up Superfund sites," said Bethany Dreyfus, an EPA employee. 

Some workers say they feel like pawns in a high stakes chess game playing out in Washington DC.

"I feel like a puppet. I feel like a little puppet sometimes. I do. It's scary to be in this situation," said Rodriguez.