Bush Had Threatened Veto

By a vote of 271-148, the US House of Representatives rejected an attempt late Wednesday night to force yet another round of negotiations in the long-running contract dispute between air traffic controllers and the FAA.

The vote marked the end to NATCA's final stand in its attempts to force the FAA to return to the bargaining table, after FAA Administrator Marion Blakey declared an impasse in the contentious talks earlier this year.

Wednesday's vote in the House -- which was preceded by a White House threat to veto such a bill, had it passed -- means the FAA's final contract offer to the National Air Traffic Controllers Association stands. As Aero-News reported, the FAA imposed that contract Monday, after the mandatory 60-day deadline for Congress to act on the matter passed.

To be phased in over a period of months, the FAA contract will cut new controllers' pay by about 30-percent.

On Tuesday, President Bush made clear his threat to strike any legislation that would send the dispute between the FAA and its unionized controllers to binding arbitration.

The move was unusual in a couple of respects. First, President Bush rarely threatens a veto. Second, the subject of that threat is legislation proposed by a Republican -- Ohio Congressman Steven LaTourette.

In a statement issued by the White House earlier in the day, the President said LaTourette's legislation would have put on hold almost $2 billion in savings on controller salaries and benefits -- and would, therefore, threaten to increase the federal deficit.

NATCA has threatened as many as one-third of the nation's air traffic controllers would chose to retire early, instead of accepting less-favorable pay arrangements under the new contract.

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.natca.org