"Change Is Clearly Needed" In Employee Relations
Tom Brantley, national president of
the Professional Airways Systems Specialists, AFL-CIO (PASS),
testified Thursday before the House Transportation and
Infrastructure Committee, Subcommittee on Aviation, to discuss
contract negotiations between the FAA and its unions, including the
issues of staffing of technician and inspector workforces, the
FAA's application of its designee programs, and the FAA's
reauthorization proposal.
Primary among issues highlighted by Brantley are contract
negotiations with the FAA, where four of PASS's five bargaining
units are at impasse.
During his testimony, Brantley emphasized that "change is
clearly needed to guarantee FAA employees access to an equitable
contract negotiations procedure," which ultimately is key to morale
for aviation employees.
Brantley also called attention to the need for the FAA to
address staffing levels for both technicians and inspectors.
"Inadequate technician staffing has resulted in more unplanned
outages, a dramatic increase in restoration times, and a move
toward a 'fix on failure' approach where preventive maintenance and
certification of National Airspace Systems (NAS) and equipment are
significantly reduced," said Brantley.
With regard to the inspector workforce, Brantley testified
"staffing levels are at an alarming low, and with nearly 50 percent
of FAA inspectors eligible to retire by 2010, the situation will
soon become even more critical."
Brantley asked Congress to
direct the FAA to develop a staffing model to meet the demands of
the industry while satisfying safety requirements. He pinpointed
FAA's reliance on its designee program and the increased trend of
outsourcing maintenance and use of non-certificated repair stations
as reasons behind the driving need to ensure an adequate inspector
workforce.
"The United States has the largest, safest and most efficient
aviation system in the world. This reputation is kept intact
through the work of experienced and trained FAA employees whose
goal is to ensure and promote the safety of air travel," said
Brantley. "PASS is solely focused on making sure this country
maintains its standing as having the safest aviation system in the
world; the employees we represent give us confidence that this is a
possibility."
PASS represents more than 11,000 employees of the Federal
Aviation Administration and the Department of Defense who install,
maintain, support and certify air traffic control and national
defense equipment, inspect and oversee the commercial and general
aviation industries, develop flight procedures and perform quality
analyses of the aviation systems.