Blakey Says That's News To Her
ANN REALTIME REPORTING 03.31.06 1945 EST: Aero-News
received the following message Friday afternoon from the National
Air Traffic Controllers Association, regarding what the
organization calls the "break down" of contract talks between the
two entities.
Those talks have been going on since July of 2005. While most of
the articles were agreed to by both parties, NATCA says the FAA has
called impasse in an attempt to impose its contract on
controllers.
First, we present what NATCA has to say on the matter, followed
by FAA Administrator Marion Blakey's response -- in which she says
the impasse is news to her. Both comments were edited only for
spacing -- none of the text has been altered.
NATCA Statement
Contract talks between
the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Air Traffic
Controllers Association broke down today as the FAA rejected an
offer that would have saved taxpayers $1.4 billion. A drastic pay
cut now looms as the FAA attempts to force its offer on employees,
ignoring bipartisan Congressional calls for an agreement that
serves the flying public and the taxpayer.
The FAA’s offer now means veteran controllers would be
penalized for remaining in their vital jobs, forcing them to
retire. By the end of next year, one in four controllers –
over 4,000 – could retire, worsening an existing staffing
crisis and leading to fewer and fewer controllers guiding more and
more planes.
"We offered to meet the FAA’s stated goals and they said
no. We offered $1.3 billion in taxpayer savings and the FAA still
said no. We received bipartisan Congressional support for an
amicable resolution, and still the FAA said no.” said John
Carr, President of NATCA (above). "And now, because the FAA
has chosen an ideological battle over fairness and safety,
we’re facing a desperate situation where one in four
controllers will be penalized for staying on the job. More than
ever, it’s time for Congress to act now to protect the safety
of the flying public."
In response, FAA Administrator Marion Blakey (below,
right) issued the following statement:
"John Carr has yet
again proven himself out of touch with what is really happening at
the negotiating table between the FAA and NATCA. Our negotiating
team has not rejected NATCA's terms nor has it even seen the
proposal Mr. Carr referenced in his release today."
"Where is this missing offer? Neither party has submitted its
last and best offer and neither side has declared impasse. In fact,
just today both parties agreed to take the weekend to review
several outstanding articles, to include those dealing with pay and
work rules, and to reconvene on Tuesday with the hopes of reaching
a voluntary agreement."
"To say talks have stalled or concluded, as Mr. Carr did today,
is simply wrong. From the beginning, the FAA has made clear its
intentions to work with NATCA to achieve a voluntary agreement that
is fair to the taxpayer, rewards performance, and promotes equity
among our workforce. We look forward to resuming talks next
Tuesday."