Mon, May 08, 2006
"Support The Ones Who Guide You Home"
After failing to
convince the FAA to reopen talks on a new contractfor air traffic
controllers -- leaving the possibility the FAA could unilaterally
impose new terms on controllers -- the National Air Traffic
Controllers Association (NATCA) is taking its message to the
streets... or more accurately, the airport concourses.
NATCA reports that hundreds of air traffic controllers
nationwide are attempting to bring their message of fairness in
collective bargaining with the Federal Aviation Administration
directly to the people who, according to NATCA, stand to feel the
impact of a forced contract upon controllers the most –- the
American traveling public.
To that end, controllers will be distributing a leaflet to
travelers at dozens of airports asking them to call 1-877-FAIR-FAA,
and urge their member of Congress to join with lawmakers that have
either supported bills to stop the FAA from unilaterally imposing a
contract on controllers after June 5, or have asked FAA
Administrator Marion Blakey to resume contract negotiations with
NATCA.
As Aero-News has reported, if
Congress doesn't act by June 5, the FAA could subsequently impose
its contract offer on controllers -- and cut their pay. NATCA has
stated that could cause as many as one in four controllers -–
nearly 4,000 total –- to retire upon reaching their
eligibility date... exacerbating a staffing shortage, and likely
leading to flight delays.
"Controllers take their responsibility to the flying public very
seriously and we feel it’s vitally important that travelers
are informed about the possible ramifications of this contract
situation," NATCA President John Carr said. "The FAA has a big
staffing problem on its hands already; it’s more than 1,000
controllers short nationally from 2003 workforce totals. This new
round of retirements would create safety and delay problems."
"We want travelers to know that we are a dedicated,
highly-skilled group of professionals that always puts their safety
first," added Carr. "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."
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