President Perrone participated in a labor-management roundtable discussion where the main topic was the proposed privatization of the nation’s air traffic control system, which would spin off the Air Traffic Organization of the FAA into a not-for-profit corporation.

Perrone stressed that the bill proposed by Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) in the U.S. House of Representatives is vague in several critical areas. In the current bill, a convoluted hybrid of Federal Labor Relations Authority and National Labor Relations Board rules will cover employees. This system could be challenged in court and be bogged down from the start. Perrone cited PASS’s efforts in opposing privatization through the union’s legislative efforts and calls to action. During the conference, NHCFAE President David Dominguez went on the record stating that the coalition also opposes privatization. Perrone and Dominguez agreed PASS and NHCFAE will collaborate on efforts in this battle. The bill is expected to come up for a vote on the House floor next month. Follow PASS’s efforts to fight privatization.

Also on the panel were FAA Managers Association National President Andy Taylor and NATCA Executive Vice President Patricia Gilbert.

PASS members Mark Chavez, Chapter FL1, Mario Pelati, Chapter PR1, and Carlos Aguirre, PASS Region 1 national assistant, also attended the conference (left to right in photo, with FAA Administrator Huerta).

The annual conference consists of training, career and skill advancement sessions, presentations, and discussions on a variety of topics of importance to FAA employees. Find out more about NHCFAE and how you can get involved.