STATEMENT FROM PASS PRESIDENT TOM BRANTLEY ON THE PASSAGE OF THE FAA REAUTHORIZATION BILL
- Details
- Published: July 18, 2013
“On behalf of the 6,100 systems specialists represented by the Professional Airways Systems Specialists, I want to express our extreme disappointment that the House approved an FAA reauthorization bill that threatens the safety of the flying public by not prohibiting privatization of the air traffic control system.
“There are two important functions of the air traffic control system that keep the system safe – operations and certification. Protecting the functions performed by air traffic controllers and systems specialists is critical to maintaining the safe and efficient air traffic control system that the flying public enjoys today. In fact, the Senate overwhelmingly voted to include language in their version of the bill that would protect all of these functions. Unfortunately, the White House and Republican conferees are more concerned with ideology than with protecting the safety of the flying public.
“I also want to express PASS’s disappointment that Republican conferees did not address other issues of concern for our sister unions – most notably, last minute changes that will gut flight attendant security training and subject domestic air carriers to unfair foreign competition. PASS stands firmly behind the AFL-CIO and our sister unions as their fight continues.
“Finally, I want to thank the Democratic leadership in the House – Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, Ranking Member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Jim Oberstar and Ranking Member of the Aviation Subcommittee Peter DeFazio – for their passionate fight to preserve the safety of the flying public. We are grateful that they recognize the important role that federal employees play in maintaining the safety of our nation’s air traffic control system.”
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PASS represents more than 11,000 employees of the Federal Aviation Administration and the 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 the aviation systems. For more information, visit the PASS website at www.passnational.org.