This week, PASS joined a coalition of federal labor unions calling on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee to move swiftly on the president’s nominees to the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA).

“We are well over a year into the Biden Administration, yet the President’s day-one commitment to resetting labor-management relations in the Executive Branch and pursuing collaborative and productive labor relations in federal government is hampered by a Federal Labor Relations Authority currently controlled by a 2–1 majority of anti-worker, anti-union appointees” held over from the previous administration,” the letter states.

Earlier this month, PASS member and union rep Martha Parish was one of several federal employees interviewed by Gov Exec on the impact of the pandemic on the federal workforce. Parish spoke on behalf of the union and not in her capacity as an aviation safety inspector for the Federal Aviation Administration.

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From PASS National President Dave Spero:

PASS was surprised as many were when FAA Administrator Steve Dickson announced his resignation last night. We thank him for his steady leadership during a difficult two-and-a-half years for the agency. He valued his labor partners and understood those collaborative relationships are vital to the safety of the National Airspace System and all those who travel through it.

I spoke to the Administrator last night and offered my appreciation for his service. He brought dignity to the position and is a credit to the role of federal service. Not long after he took the helm of the FAA, the Administrator met with the PASS Executive Board at our headquarters in Washington. He took many difficult questions, but it was a mutually beneficial conversation and set the tone for our relationship going forward. He told me he appreciates everything that PASS has been doing in service to the agency’s mission and thanked me for the recent paper we issued around 5G concerns and aviation safety.

Today, the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists, AFL-CIO (PASS), released a white paper analyzing the impact that 5G deployment could have on the National Airspace System (NAS) and aviation safety, and offers recommendations for mitigating risks.

“There has been a great deal of media attention and of course a congressional hearing on the subject,” said PASS National President Dave Spero. “It’s important to hear from frontline aviation employees and not just executives and senior leadership.”

PASS represents 11,000 employees at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Department of Defense who install, maintain, support and certify air traffic control and national defense equipment, inspect and oversee the commercial and general aviation industries, develop flight procedures, and perform quality analyses of complex aviation systems used in air traffic control and national defense. The crucial work these employees perform has the potential to be impacted by the deployment of 5G and is why the union felt compelled to turn to these experts for their first-hand experience with 5G and interference. “They have the knowledge and expertise to thoroughly examine the issues around 5G implementation in the service of aviation safety,” said the PASS leader.

Dave Spero, national president of the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists, AFL-CIO (PASS), issued the following statement on the impending retirement of Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.):

“As chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure, Rep. DeFazio has long recognized the importance of frontline employees working to secure the world’s largest, safest and most complex air traffic control system. His support of the dedicated public servants PASS represents at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Department of Defense (DoD) has been unwavering.

“In fact, he was one of our key allies in the fight against privatizing that system, a misguided scheme that would turn it over to a corporate entity.

“Rep. DeFazio leaves office with an incredible accomplishment: the infrastructure bill that was signed last month, a once in a generation investment in the nation’s aiports, seaports, roads and bridges. The influx of funds throughout the transportation sector will have a substantial and lasting impact on all Americans and the $25 billion provided for airports and air traffic control facilities will be critical for our workforce.

Today, the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists, AFL-CIO (PASS), released the following statement from National President David Spero on the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act:

On behalf of the 11,000 employees PASS represents at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Department of Defense (DoD), I applaud the bipartisan infrastructure bill signed into law by President Biden today. Our members and bargaining unit employees are aviation safety professionals who install, maintain, support and certify air traffic control and national defense equipment, and inspect and oversee the commercial and general aviation industries.