Sat, Nov 19, 2005
Union Says Sick Employee Forced To Stay On The Job
The National Air Traffic
Controllers Association, an organization representing more than
20,000 ATC operators across the country, has accused an FAA
supervisor at Gulfport Air Traffic Control Tower in Gulfport, MS of
ordering a sick controller to report for work Thursday, even after
the employee said he was incapacitated.
NATCA said in a news release the controller involved followed
proper procedure in notifying supervisor Ron Burrus to request sick
leave due to a sinus infection. However, Burrus told the controller
to show up anyway. When the controller arrived at the tower --
still claiming he was incapacitated due to his illness -- NATCA
maintains Burrus assigned the employee to work an operational
position controlling live air traffic.
"This is an example of a supervisor out of control," said NATCA
Southern Regional Vice President Andy Cantwell. "This... supervisor
has absolutely placed lives in danger by ordering an incapacitated
employee to perform ATC duties."
The employee remained on position for over an hour while NATCA
officials attempted to contact Burrus's supervisors. After a flurry
of phone calls over the incident, Burrus released the employee on
sick leave to visit the doctor -- just as he was legally required
to do in the first place, said NATCA representatives.
According to the union, the NATCA/FAA contract contains specific
language dealing with this situation: Sick leave shall be approved
for an employee who is incapacitated for the performance of his/her
duties.
Burrus was unavailable for comment.
"There is no room for interpretation," Cantwell said. "The FAA
assumed a huge liability when Burrus assigned the employee to an
operational position responsible for the lives of many pilots and
passengers."
"There is no excuse for this type of stupidity," Cantwell
added.
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