Date: 201712
Local time of day: 1801-2400
Location: ATL.Tower, GA
Light: Night
Aircraft: Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating under: Part 121
Airspace: Class B ATL
ATC / advisory: Tower ATL
Reporter organization: Government
Reporter function: Ground
Reporter qualification: Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Human factors: Situational Awareness; Communication Breakdown; Workload
Anomaly: ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Detector: Person Air Traffic Control
Result: General None Reported / Taken
Contributing factors: Staffing; Company Policy
Primary problem: Company Policy

Narrative: I was on Ground Control North position; we were working short staffed for the night due to the fact overtime was not called in and arrival pushes for after Christmas holidays caused Local 5 to be staffed for most of the night. I fully understand current budget issues and trying to save overtime money allotted; but there comes a point in time were safety should be the number one priority; and keeping controllers fresh and focused by having the correct staffing numbers and not allowing time on position at the world's busiest tower to complicate the operation and morale. Our current Operations Manager has been severely complicating the issue at the Tower by refusing to call in overtime; and instructing Supervisors to not call it in; and combine certain positions instead.On this particular shift; during the busiest push of the night; the Operations Manager just came up to me while I was working the position; and instructed me that I was taking the Clearance Delivery position combined with Ground. I had no say in the matter. This was purely a move to prevent himself on the books from looking bad because the Clearance Delivery Controller was approaching over 2 hours on position. No one was able to take it because of the landing configuration and the able bodies on break were eating lunch. Keep in mind; this is not the first time this Operations manager has undermined the safety of the National Airspace to make himself look innocent.So while I was issuing taxi instructions; I was also issuing clearances; as well as Ground Delay Program information to pilots; while he was stuffing flight progress strips into strip holders coming out of the printer; not even checking them for accuracy. This is very dangerous; because the Operations Manager is not certified on the Clearance Delivery positions; but was doing half of the duties; while having myself signed on to the position. This is an illegal operation; and something I had no say. The Operations Manager just came over to my position; keyed up the clearance frequency and told me 'You are getting clearance for a minute;' which ended up being 20 minutes until I was relieved by the next controller; who also received it combined. I was baffled by the fact that an Operations Manager; who constantly preaches safety in team training; would do this. I worked at the hardest tower in the FAA for 6 years and never experienced something like this; and we were extremely short staffed and got our heads kicked in on position every night. I also forgot to mention that the Operations Manager passed me duplicate strips; which he had no clue about; this could have been an issue. Keep in mind; later that night when clearance was still combined up; I observed the Operations Manager assigned to the OM desk with his back turned to the operation stuffing flight progress strips. He had his available supervisor working Local Control.Working at the busiest air traffic tower in the world; the correct number of controllers should be staffed; whether it be by overtime; or other means. This Tower may not be the most complex tower in the system; but it is always busy. Talking nonstop on position for an hour can make one lethargic and tiresome; prone to mistakes. We all understand that the Operations Manager is trying to save the facility money but SAFETY is the number one priority of the National Airspace. The Operations Manager should have communicated with myself asking me if it was okay for myself to take the Clearance Delivery position combined during a busy push. He could have worked the break board better to prevent this. But first; he should have called in overtime. Its time he be held more accountable for actions like this. We NEVER had this problem at my previous facility because we all worked as a team and communicated. I also would not want anyone else to touch the flight progress strips if they are my responsibility unless I ask for help specifically. Also; we need to have more money budgetedfor Overtime needs if needed for adequate staffing.




Synopsis: ATL Tower Controller reported working combined positions during a busy period while the unqualified Operations Manager performed some of the Clearance Delivery duties.