PASS WA3 Power!
- Details
- Published: April 07, 2016
By Monika Warner, Chapter WA3 President/Region III Assistant/PR Committee Chair
PASS WA3 once again emerged as a legislative power hitter in March by attending four events in just five days! PASS WA3 is willing to work as long and hard as needed to educate Congress and defeat the privatization effort, which could end the federal careers of up to 38,000 FAA employees.
The week began with the “Golden Tennis Shoe” awards luncheon hosted by Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) with guest speakers Vice President Joe Biden, Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Washington Governor Jay Inslee (D). PASS WA3’s eight attendees and the speakers shared a common drive to advocate for workers’ rights and all dedicated public servants, as well as being passionate about the safety of the National Airspace System.
The work then turned to visiting the congressional offices of Murray and Cantwell. During my meeting with a congressional staffer at Cantwell’s office, I was able to thank the senator, a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, for cosponsoring the bipartisan Senate version of the FAA reauthorization legislation (S.2658), which offers many needed improvements to training, staffing, and funding for the FAA and omits the controversial privatization language contained in H.R.4441. At both offices, I specifically asked for continued vigilance during markup of the bill to ensure the passage of S.2658 without allowing privatization language to be added. Please click here to ask your senators to support S.2658.
I was also joined by Chapter WA3 member Kerry Mayfield at an event for Rep. Denny Heck (D-Wash.). We thanked the congressman for his continued support of PASS and asked him to urge his colleagues to oppose air traffic control privatization and say NO to H.R.4441.
The most powerful tool PASS members have is our protected and collective voice. Remaining silent is not an option. In fact, it’s dangerous because many in Congress have no idea about the work PASS members do every day to keep our aviation system safe. As a fellow union sister, I’m asking all PASS members in each chapter to do the same as we are doing in Chapter WA3—make your voice heard! Not one of us can win this battle alone. It may very well be the most impactful few hours of annual leave you will ever take.
Pictured:
Chapter WA3 group at the "Golden Tennis Shoe" awards luncheon.
Chapter WA3 member Kerry Mayfield, Rep. Denny Heck (D-Wash.) and Chapter WA3 President Monika Warner.