One Shutdown Ended, Another Looms Over Federal Employees

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30 Jan

As PASS-represented employees went back to work this week at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), joining their colleagues who have been on the job without pay, PASS National President Mike Perrone reminded his members that the three-week continuing resolution signed January 25 was only a short-term respite. In a message yesterday, Perrone commended the workforce on the number of informational pickets held at airports across the country over the last month to highlight the effects of the government shutdown on aviation safety. “Friday’s news was only a temporary reprieve and we could be back on those picket lines in three weeks, so the fight isn’t over,” Perrone said.

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PASS, Federal-Postal Coalition Urge Senate to Reopen Government

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24 Jan

On January 23, PASS, along with other members of the Federal-Postal Coalition, sent a letter to the Senate encouraging them to end the shutdown and allow all federal employees to get back to work and be fairly compensated.

“Funding the government is one of the most fundamental responsibilities of Congress and the President,” stated the letter. “A lapse in government funding compromises critical federal services, including our national safety and security. Each day that the shutdown continues, more Americans begin to feel the effects of having a government that is only partially operating."

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PASS Joins Lawsuit Against Federal Government

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16 Jan

Today, the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS), AFL-CIO, took legal action against the U.S. government for its failure to pay employees during the current government shutdown. In an act of solidarity, PASS is joining a lawsuit with other unions of the Federal Workers Alliance, including the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE), National Association of Government Employees (NAGE) and the National Weather Service Employees Organization (NWSEO).

“We need this shutdown to end,” said PASS National President Mike Perrone. “We want to ensure that employees receive pay for the tremendous work they do in keeping our air traffic control system the safest in the world. And they are continuing to do that under extremely challenging circumstances.”

PASS plans to continue exploring every possible legal and legislative avenue. In the meantime, PASS believes it is in the interest of all federal employees to work with fellow unions who are also representing workers being harmed and disrespected by this furlough.

PASS Rallies Against Partial Government Shutdown On Capitol Hill

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10 Jan

Today, the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists, AFL-CIO (PASS), the union that represents aviation safety inspectors, systems specialists and other aviation professionals at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), joined other labor unions and congressional leaders to rally on Capitol Hill against the partial government shutdown. With the government shutdown approaching three weeks, aviation safety inspectors are not able to perform their critical tasks and many other FAA employees are working without a paycheck.

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PASS, Union Coalition Call on Congress & White House to End Shutdown

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04 Jan

This week, the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists, AFL-CIO (PASS) joined a coalition of 30 federal labor unions in sending a letter to every member of the new Congress and the president asking them to find consensus to end the partial government shutdown.

“The costs of a shutdown only add to the financial sacrifice imposed on the federal workforce in recent years,” wrote the Federal-Postal Coalition. “Since 2011, federal employees have had more than $200 billion taken from their pay and benefits as a result of pay freezes, furloughs, and increased retirement contributions. This number will only grow if the federal pay freeze for 2019 remains in effect. In 2013, when the government shut down for 16 days, it cost American taxpayers nearly $24 billion. Federal employees and the American people should not have to pay for another shutdown.”

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Aviation Safety Inspectors Grounded During Government Shutdown

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22 Dec

PASS National President Mike Perrone released the following statement regarding the partial government shutdown’s impact on aviation safety.

“Once again Congress has missed funding deadlines for the federal government and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) aviation safety inspectors are off the job as of midnight last night. These PASS-represented employees—more than 4,000—are responsible for the oversight, certification and surveillance of the entire American aviation system, including all general aviation and commercial aircraft, pilots and flight instructors, and repair stations both in this country and abroad. Furloughing this critical workforce during the busy holiday travel season is neither in the best interest of the nation’s economy nor the oversight of the U.S. aviation system."

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