In St. Louis, union workers, tourist sites hit hardest by partial government shutdown

Thousands of union workers, as well employees at the famed Gateway Arch, will be among those hardest hit in St. Louis, Mo., by the partial government shutdown, Fox2Now.com reported.

According to the station, an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 union workers will be off the job, tourists will be turned away from the famous Gateway Arch and about 75 employees of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial -- which includes the Arch and the Old Courthouse -- will not receive their paychecks.

The gates at the Arch entrance were locked at 6 p.m. Monday night, Fox2Now.com reported.

“We have about 30 employees that will still stay -- keep an eye on resources -- and public safety,” Ann Honious of the Park Service told Fox2Now.com. “We have about 2,000-6,500 visitors per day, about this time of year, with more visitation on the weekends than we do during the week.  So it could impact a lot of people traveling to or through St. Louis."

In addition, VA hospital workers and TSA screeners at area airports were told they "have" to work, pay or no pay, because they are considered "essential," the report said.

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