Member Spotlight: Tonya Otter

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18 Jun

As PASS’s organizing drive within Air Traffic Services from 2021–2023 marched toward completion, moving district by district, employees began joining PASS—district by district.

One of those employees was Tonya Otter, a management and program assistant at the Detroit Metro air traffic control tower. “I’ve been in PASS since our district voted to take part,” she said. Detroit falls under the FAA’s Cleveland District and in January 2023, employees voted overwhelmingly for PASS. As a matter of fact, Otter submitted her 1187 before she and her colleagues were officially moved into the PASS bargaining unit by the FAA!

Otter is still learning about PASS and the union’s efforts to protect employees in the workplace and how PASS enforces its two collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) with the FAA. “But I never had a question in my mind about joining and supporting PASS,” she said.

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Celebrating Federal Employees!

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04 May

Since 1985, Congress has designated the first full week of May as Public Service Recognition Week (PSRW) to show appreciation for the men and women who make up the nation’s civil service. PSRW has always been an opportunity for the country to acknowledge the important work PASS members and all federal employees do every day to keep our nation running.

But this year is different. Since January, there has been a barrage of memos and actions taken by the administration aimed at federal employees. Through executive orders and negative social media posts making false claims about professionalism and performance, a target has been placed squarely on the backs of our country’s civil servants.

“But that will not stop PASS from recognizing the federal employees we represent at the Federal Aviation Administration and Department of Defense,” said National President Dave Spero. “It doesn’t take away anything from celebrating the stellar government service they provide on a daily basis.”

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PASS on Reinstatement of Probationary Employees at FAA

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17 Mar

PASS National President David Spero released the following statement regarding the reinstatement of terminated probationary employees at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA):

"It is welcome news PASS received today that effective this week, the FAA is reinstating the 132 employees we represented who were summarily fired on February 14, 2025, while they were in their probationary period. They will receive back pay from February 15 and should return to duty status on March 20.

"While the agency is complying with a Maryland court ruling handed down last week that said the terminations at various agencies—including the Department of Transportation—were unlawful, this is a win for public safety and for a critical workforce dedicated to the FAA’s mission. Haphazardly eliminating positions and encouraging resignations creates a demoralizing effect on the workforce. The fact that these excellent civil servants, many of whom are veterans and all are members of our communities, can now return to duty and collect a well-deserved paycheck for their professional skills will lift their spirits and those of their colleagues immensely.

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PASS Testifies on Turmoil Directed at Feds & FAA Staffing

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04 Mar

Today, David Spero, national president of the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists, AFL-CIO (PASS), testified in front of Congress to address air traffic control systems maintained by employees PASS represents at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); the lack of adequate staffing among the airway transportation systems specialists workforce and the resources needed to maintain the world’s largest, safest and most complex air traffic control system.

President Spero began his remarks during the House Transportation and Infrastructure Aviation Subcommittee hearing on America Builds: Air Traffic Control System Infrastructure and Staffing, by addressing the chaos and turmoil aimed at federal employees over the last six weeks. “PASS is concerned by the confusing messages from the administration regarding deferred resignations, terminating probationary employees without cause and the efforts to purge the federal workforce,” he told lawmakers. “Haphazardly eliminating positions and encouraging resignations are having a demoralizing effect on the workforce. They are a distraction for employees performing safety-critical duties,” he continued. “All parts of this aviation ecosystem work together to accomplish a critical goal—the safety of the American flying public.”

Read the full testimony

President Spero then turned to the airway transportation systems specialists workforce represented by PASS. These employees in the FAA’s Air Traffic Organization Technical Operations unit ensure the functionality of communications, computers, navigational aids and power systems vital to safe air travel and the mission of pilots and controllers. “They touch nearly every piece of technology in the air traffic control system,” he said. “We cannot turn on the lights without them.”

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PASS on Firing of Probationary Employees at FAA

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15 Feb

Update: PASS received a list from the FAA on Feb. 18 of the probationary employees it represents who were terminated. The total as of now is 132.

Washington, D.C.—David Spero, National President of the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS), AFL-CIO, issued the following statement today on the termination of probationary employees at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA):

We are troubled and disappointed by the administration’s decision to fire FAA probationary employees PASS represents without cause nor based on performance or conduct. Several hundred employees have been impacted with messages being sent from an ‘exec order’ Microsoft email address, not an official .gov email address. Messages began arriving after 7 pm ET on February 14 and continued late into the night. It is possible that others will be notified over the weekend or literally barred from entering FAA buildings on Tuesday, February 18.

These are not nameless, faceless bureaucrats. They are our family, friends and neighbors. They contribute to our communities. Many military veterans are among them. It is shameful to toss aside dedicated public servants who have chosen to work on behalf of their fellow Americans.

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PASS Statement on January 29 Crash at DCA

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30 Jan

As are many in the tight-knit aviation community, PASS is shocked and saddened by the collision over National Airport in Washington, DC last night. It appears there were no survivors among the passengers and crew aboard American Eagle Flight 5342 and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter.

With heartfelt compassion, we mourn the lives of all the souls who perished last night and send our sympathies to their loved ones.

PASS extends its deepest condolences to our fellow unions—the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA and the Air Line Pilots Association—who lost crew members in the crash. PASS represents many Army veterans at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Department of Defense. They are saddened to see three of their own killed during a training exercise.

Before anyone speculates on the cause of the crash, the union asks that everyone allow first responders to continue their recovery mission and federal investigators to do their critical jobs. PASS stands ready to assist the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board with their probe into the accident and to continue to improve the world’s largest, safest and most complex air traffic control system.