OUTRAGE CONTINUES OVER FAA CONTRACT MOVES
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- Published: July 18, 2013
Agency’s Strong-Arm Tactics Sends Wrong Message to Employees
WASHINGTON, DC—The Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) outrageous decision on June 10 to unilaterally impose contract terms on several National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) bargaining units continues to stir outrage within the aviation community and among other FAA employees.
The agency’s action will take place while NATCA and PASS are challenging the agency’s application of FAA personnel reform laws before the U.S. Court of Appeals.
“The FAA’s choice to forgo negotiations with our friends at NATCA is very disappointing and sends a chilling message throughout the federal workforce, especially within the aviation community,” said Tom Brantley, national president of Professional Airways Systems Specialists (PASS), the union that represents FAA systems specialists, technicians and safety inspectors. “We know that PASS members are next in line to have a one-sided contract forced down their throats.”
PASS and the FAA remain at impasse over contract negotiations in four critical bargaining units comprised of skilled professionals who inspect and oversee commercial and general aviation industries, develop flight procedures, and perform analyses of the aviation systems.
In a letter of support to NATCA president John Carr, Brantley wrote, “All of PASS supports NATCA in opposing the agency’s action, and we will continue to stand with your organization in any effort to counteract the agency’s unprecedented and contemptible decision.”
“The FAA has acted in haste and is sending the wrong message to its dedicated employees, who are already working under atrocious conditions because of limited staffing,” said Brantley, who referred to a recent Inspector General report that questioned the FAA’s plans to cut the number of safety inspectors overseeing the aviation industry. In exchange for the right to strike, federal law provides for impartial ways to resolve bargaining impasses. Unfortunately, the FAA has ignored these important rights and plans to move forward unilaterally.
“We will continue our good faith efforts to work with the agency to resolve any and all unresolved contract matters, and we can only hope that the FAA will do the same,” said Brantley.
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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.