But Some Labor Organizations Remain Staunchly Opposed To The
Measure
Response to Monday's passage by the U.S. House and Senate of a
long-term FAA funding bill continues to be overwhelmingly positive,
though some labor organizations are still unhappy with some
provisions of the measure.
One labor group, the National Air Traffic Controllers
Association, (NATCA) cheered Congressional approval of the bill,
saying that enactment will lead to an even safer and more efficient
U.S. aviation system. "NATCA couldn't be happier with Congress'
important action today," said NATCA President Paul Rinaldi. "A
long-term reauthorization bill will help ensure a safe, reliable
aviation system and clear the way for implementation of much-needed
technological advances like NextGen."
"This bill guarantees that the impacted workforce – the
FAA employees – will finally have a fair, collective
bargaining process at the Agency," NATCA Executive Vice President
Trish Gilbert said. "The final bill contains an essential
collective bargaining provision (Sec. 601), which addresses the
personnel management issues that permeated the FAA and soured its
relationship with its workforce for much of the past decade. This
critical provision ensures that the entire FAA workforce will never
again have work and pay rules imposed upon them without a fair
collective bargaining process."
Consumer advocate organization FlyersRights.org was also
effusive in its praise for passage of the bill. "We would like to
thank all our supporters across the U.S. and our champions in the
Congress for making the Passenger's Bill of Rights a reality
including: Senators Barbara Boxer and Olympia Snowe, Senator Chuck
Schumer, and Congressman Mike Thompson," said Kate Hanni, Founder
and Exec. Director of FlyersRights.org. "Airline consumers are now
protected against a host of abuses and the skies are safer and more
efficient today."
The new FAA Bill contains several provisions advocated by the
group, indluding:
- A Tarmac Delay law, leaving it to the DOT to manage the
rulemaking's for 3 hours domestic and 4 hours on the tarmac for
international flights.
- Musical instrument provisions to allow musicians to bring
instruments on board or checked at no extra charge
- A smoking prohibition
- "No Child Left Unbuckled" air carriers must now require seat
dimensions be disclosed so that parents can choose seating that
will fit an infant safety restraint
- Establishment of an Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer
Protection: There will be one appointed from each of the
categories: Airports, Airlines, Government and one Consumer
Advocate with Expertise in Aviation issues.
The bill also provides a requirement for airport weather
contingency plans. FRO says many long tarmac strandings occur
during extreme weather conditions. FlyersRights has long noted that
those events demonstrate, time and again, this key provision will,
for the first time, foster the kind of communication, coordination,
and cooperation between the many players in our complex air travel
system.
Airlines for America (A4A) president Nicholas Calio said "We
commend Congress for passing a responsible bill that recognizes
that commercial aviation is central to America's global
competitiveness and a key enabler of job growth and U.S.
productivity. Holding the line on federal aviation taxes and fees
paid by airlines and their customers enables carriers to work
toward being sustainably profitable, so they can maintain jobs and
service to communities and invest in their product. This bill also
recognizes that safety is our highest priority and includes several
provisions that help us build on our strong safety record." Callio
singled out Senators Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) and Kay Bailey
Hutchison (R-TX), a well as Congressmen John Mica (R-FL), Nich
Rayhall (D-WV), Tom Petri (R-WI), and Jerry Costello (D-IL) for
their work on the bill. The group also thanked Senator Harry Reid
(D-NV) and John Boehner (R-OH).
AIA president Marion Blakey called passage of the bill
"critical" to the long-term stability of the FAA, but also sounded
a warning. "We have been advocating strongly and consistently since
2007 for a full reauthorization bill. This bill, which we urge
President Obama to sign, will help make our skies safer, cleaner
and less congested. Its management reforms and new policies will
provide much-needed changes in the implementation of the Next
Generation Air Transportation System, helping to spur the economy
by generating thousands of private sector jobs while ensuring our
national air transportation system remains second to none.
"However, not to spoil the party before it's even started, a
major concern on the horizon is the specter of sequestration in
January 2013. Because most of FAA's funding pays for daily
operations of the national aerospace system, NextGen will be
vulnerable to a disproportionately larger share of cuts if
sequestration takes effect. It's imperative that Congress not
ignore this issue – avoiding sequestration needs to be a
priority now."
Several labor groups were opposed to the bill because of changes
it makes in union organizing rules which they say will make it more
difficult to put unions in place at airlines. Among those is the
Association of flight Attendants (AFA), which in a statement called
the bill a "vicious attack on bargaining rights for workers in the
aviation and rail industries"
"AFA has long been a proponent of passing a comprehensive
funding bill that allows the FAA to move forward on vital safety
and airport improvement projects that help to enhance the world's
greatest aviation system. Corporate interests and right-wing
ideologues took this vital piece of legislation and used it to
destroy collective bargaining affecting workers across the
country.
"The 157 House Democrats and 15 Democratic Senators who stood up
for collective bargaining should be lauded as heroes. Still, the
sneak attack against American workers slipped through this
Congress. Elections have consequences and this vote will too.
We will not forget and we will continue to build a movement of the
99% to stand up and fight back."
President Obama is expected to sign the long-term FAA funding
measure.