PASS Members Do Their Part: Get Orlando Airport Open

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15 Sep

In an operation most likely undertaken throughout Florida, the Texas Gulf Coast and the Caribbean over the past two weeks, Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS), AFL-FIO members in Orlando spearheaded the response efforts to get their airport, Orlando International Airport (MCO), back online after Hurricane Irma shut it down on Sunday night through Monday. These Federal Aviation Administration employees—like their counterparts at other affected airports—have been instrumental in getting aviation back up and running in the affected areas.

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President Signs Legislation Funding Government Through Dec. 8

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11 Sep

On September 8, the president signed a $15 billion disaster aid bill that also included short term funding for the federal government, through December 8. While a shutdown on September 30 has been averted for now, Congress will still need to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration before the end of the month. It's possible that the House version of FAA reauthorization could come to the floor for a vote this—H.R.2997 includes a provision that would privatize the nation's air traffic control operations. The Senate bill does not include such language. Both bills would need to be reconciled before going to the president for signature. PASS will continue to monitor the situation. Find out more.

Labor Unions, Civil Rights and Progressive Groups Unite to Reject Air Traffic Control Privatization

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08 Sep

Today, the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS), AFL-CIO, along with 36 other unions, civil rights groups and progressive associations representing thousands of employees across the country, united to send a strongly-worded letter to lawmakers on Capitol Hill opposing any efforts to privatize the U.S. air traffic control system. In addition to PASS, the letter was signed by the NAACP, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME), American Federation of Teachers (AFT), Service Employees International Union (SEIU), United Steelworkers (USW), the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and many more. Download release.

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Perrone Talks Privatization at NHCFAE 2017

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24 Aug

This week, PASS National President Mike Perrone attended the 2017 National Hispanic Coalition of Federal Aviation Employees (NHCFAE) Annual Conference in Torrance, Calif. The conference is a gathering of NHCFAE members representing every level of the agency from entry-level employees to senior-level executives—FAA Administrator Michael Huerta was also at the conference.

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PASS Congratulates Ali Bahrami, New FAA Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety

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25 Jul

WASHINGTON – The Professional Aviation Safety Specialists, AFL-CIO (PASS) issued the following statement welcoming Ali Bahrami to his new position as Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA):

“PASS congratulates Associate Administrator Bahrami in his new position at the FAA, overseeing the largest, safest and most complex aviation system in the world. His hands-on experience at the FAA, his skills as an engineer and his work within the industry make him uniquely suited to carry out this critical mission of aviation safety.

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Don't Gamble with Aviation Safety

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05 Jul

PASS National President Mike Perrone has written an opinion piece that was published July 2 in the New Jersey Star-Ledger, the largest newspaper in the state. New Jersey also has one of the most unique and complex aviation systems in the country. The op-ed clearly lays out the argument against privatizing the nation's air traffic control system. "Rather than creating upheaval in the world’s safest and busiest aviation system, we should continue to invest in improvements to technology, stabilize federal funding streams and ensure adequate staffing."

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