FAA Extension Returns Employees to Work, Permanent Solution Still Needed

Details: Published: July 09, 2013

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Tom Brantley, national president of the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists, AFL-CIO (PASS), which represents over 11,000 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) employees,

made the following statement today regarding Senate passage of an FAA extension:

"PASS is relieved that a bipartisan compromise has been reached that allows 4,000 FAA employees and over 70,000 construction workers to return to their jobs and important work on aviation modernization projects and initiatives to resume. It is completely unfair that FAA employees had to suffer due to partisan politics unrelated to funding of the agency. The uncertainty faced by furloughed employees during this time is something I hope is never revisited.

"PASS thanks the Senate today for their efforts to ensure that this standoff did not continue through the remainder of the summer. PASS also wants to thank the administration, in particular Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt for their dedication to calling attention to the impact of the standoff and the importance of passing this extension.

"FAA employees represented by PASS and other labor organizations play a pivotal role in ensuring the safety and efficiency of this country's aviation system. I am thankful that this impasse has been resolved, and I am hopeful that there will not be a repeat of this situation when the extension expires in September. PASS encourages members of Congress to work to pass comprehensive FAA reauthorization that meets everyone's needs. This legislation is important not only to FAA employees and the safe modernization of the National Airspace System, but to the thousands of Americans who rely on that system every day."

For more information or questions, please contact Kori Blalock Keller at (202) 293-7277 x110.

###

For 36 years, PASS has represented 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.