Union Says Barack Obama Is Committed To Aviation
Safety, Workers' Rights
On Thursday, Professional
Aviation Safety Specialists, AFL-CIO (PASS), the union that
represents over 11,000 employees at the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) and Department of Defense (DoD), announced its
support for Senator Barack Obama for president of the United
States.
With a focus on matters that impact union members and aviation
safety, such as privatization of the aviation system and supporting
the workers who keep the system safe, PASS’s Executive Board
decided that Sen. Obama displayed a record of commitment to the
issues critical to the PASS membership.
"After weighing the positions of the candidates on several
important issues that affect the work life of PASS members, PASS is
confident in its support of Senator Obama," said PASS National
President Tom Brantley. "Senator Obama has proven himself to be a
champion of aviation safety and workers’ rights. FAA
employees are in need of that type of support, and PASS believes
that, as he has done in the past, Senator Obama will continue to
recognize the important work PASS members perform everyday to keep
this country safe."
Obama responded that he was "honored" to receive the union's
endorsement. "With their support, I’m confident that in this
election, we’re going to bring about a new day for
America’s workers and the real change our working families
need," he added.
PASS notes that in 2006, Obama led lawmakers calling for changes
to the contract negotiations process at the FAA, by sponsoring
legislation that would allow a neutral third party to determine the
outcome of impasses. Negotiations over collective bargaining
agreements for four PASS bargaining units have been at impasse for
over five years. In the fifth bargaining unit, Technical
Operations, it remains unclear when the negotiations process will
begin again... after over 98 percent of represented employees
rejected the FAA’s proposed agreement.
"Ensuring a fair contract
negotiations process at the FAA is imperative to retaining and
recruiting the best employees to continue protecting this
country’s aviation system," said Brantley. "Senator Obama has
made his views on the broken process currently in place at the
agency perfectly clear. Without a doubt, he will work to improve
the process, which will in turn improve the overall morale of FAA
employees."
In addition, PASS says Obama has indicated a firm stance
on privatization of air traffic control system functions,
indicating on a survey issued by the Transportation Trades
Department, AFL-CIO, that he would oppose legislation that would
allow the transfer of these function to private interests. He is
also a proponent of improving standards at foreign repair stations,
an issue extremely important to PASS aviation safety inspectors,
and recently cosponsored a bill, the Safe Air Act of 2008 (S.
3090), aimed at increasing and improving oversight of the critical
maintenance work performed overseas.
"There are a number of varied issues facing the aviation
industry and its workforce today," said Brantley. "It is extremely
significant that we have a president who understands these issues
and the measures that must be taken in order to protect the safety
of the system. We also need a leader who comprehends the value of
the workforce and the rights of each employee. PASS is excited to
endorse Sen. Obama for president, and we are ready to give him our
support."
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.