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Flight controllers take labor dispute to travelers
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WASHINGTON (Map, News) - Air traffic controllers at Reagan National and a dozen other airports across the country are taking their heated labor dispute with the Federal Aviation Administration straight to passengers.
As the June 5 deadline looms for the implementation of a new cost-cutting contract that the National Air Traffic Controllers Association calls “unfair” and says could force a mass exodus of experienced workers, controllers have begun handing out leaflets asking passengers to convince Congress to intervene. The union says retirements could lead to massive delays across the nation.
FAA spokesman Jeff Basye calls the leaflets “propaganda” meant to further delay negotiations.
The two parties had been in labor negotiations since October before an impasse was declared last month. If Congress takes no action by June 5, the FAA can begin enforcing the proposed contract.
“We want travelers to know that we are a dedicated, highly skilled group of professionals that always puts their safety first,” NATCA President John Carr said in a statement. “The public has the ability now to protect the future levels of safety and efficiency of the system by supporting us and conveying that support to their representatives in Congress.”
The union contends that the contract contains salary cuts that could cause almost 25 percent of the 20,000 controllers nationally to retire. The FAA says the contract “grandfathers” the pay scales of current controllers while saving more than $1.9 billion over the next five years to pay for technology upgrades.
“The union wants us to mortgage the future of the national airspace system,” FAA Administrator Marion Blakey said in a statement. “Their proposal is a Trojan horse that will spring costs on the taxpayer at a critical juncture when we need to fund a safer, satellite-based system and hire a new generation of controllers and inspectors.”
Despite the impasse, Blakey said the nation’s aviation system will continue to operate safely and efficiently.
mrupert@dcexaminer.com
Comments from Examiner Readers
2:13 PM MST on Thu., May. 10, 2007 re: "County workers union rejects pension changes"
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5:24 AM MST on Wed., May. 9, 2007
re: "County workers union rejects pension changes"
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6:36 AM MST on Fri., May. 4, 2007
re: "Union rejects health care offer"
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Examiner Reader said:
I am not sure where Ms. Malarkey is getting her information from, There is no "Law requiring governments to prefund retirement benefits." There is however GASB which is an accounting standard that has governments accounting for and paying for other post employment benefits, ie. health care, so they will be able to maintain their AAA bond ratings. Within GASB there is no mention of pensions. I sure do wish that reporters would verify their facts prior to printing such information. It should also be noted that this article depicts the union memebers in a positive light, which is good, but recent artcles about the BCFPE appeared to show the union as the "BAD GUYS". Thank you Ms. Malarkey for your true and honest information. Not.
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Examiner Reader said:
finaly, a union that has sence to protect their members rather than line the pockets of a few. Thank You ASCME How many of the members of the other Unions voted to ratify because they were strong armed . Every employee out there should be writing to their Councilman right now and letting them know how this retirement proposal affects their family .and demand that the portion affecting prior and existing employees be removed..not approved, whether you voted to ratify or not.
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Examiner Reader said:
I am a little confused by Johnny Olzewski's comment --- The future action hings on the FPE vote? There are 6 unions in Baltimore County, why does the future of all employees depend on this one vote? The contract was ratified by a vote of 152 to 146! Since the majority of the members (corrections and 911) were given a two step upgrade, those numbers say a lot. 146 people were willing to give up the upgrades to protect their benefits. And what about the other 1300 employees represented by this union, many who are on the low end of the pay scale and can not afford to join for the right to vote. These changes affect them also. Remember councilman, you are in an elected position. These are not just employees, they are tax payers!
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