Mon, Aug 30, 2004
FAA Ordered To Immediately Correct Staffing Shortage In
Safety-Related Positions
The Federal Labor Relations
Authority (FLRA) last week unanimously upheld an arbitrator's
decision ordering the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to
immediately bring systems specialist staffing to a minimum of 6,100
nationwide. The arbitrator's decision upheld by the FLRA was the
result of a grievance filed by Professional Airways Systems
Specialists (PASS), the union that represents FAA systems
specialists.
PASS President Tom Brantley explained that the FAA agreed in
2000 to maintain at least 6,100 systems specialists nationwide -the
minimum staffing required to safely certify and maintain the air
traffic control system. Unfortunately, because the FAA considers
systems specialist staffing a low budget priority, the staffing
number has been well below 6,100 for over two years.
"There are serious safety issues for operating the air traffic
control system without enough systems specialists," said Brantley.
"PASS urges the FAA to immediately begin hiring systems specialists
in order to comply with the arbitrator's decision."
The FAA could appeal the FLRA's decision to the United State
District Court. Brantley, however, said that an appeal would have
very little likelihood of success and would merely be a delay
tactic by the FAA.
"Aviation safety will continue to suffer as long as the FAA
continues to delay hiring systems specialists," Brantley argued.
"The agency needs to stop wasting resources on frivolous appeals
and spend more resources on keeping the air traffic control system
safe."
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