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The FAA is unique among federal agencies in that its employees can collectively bargain. Equally unusual is a provision in current law, enacted as part of the FAA's 1996 reauthorization (PL 104-264), that allows the FAA, after certain conditions have been met, to send stalled contract talks to Congress for its review.
Under current law, if Congress fails to act within 60 days, the FAA can impose its contract offer without further negotiations.
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) has accused the agency of "checking off the boxes" so it can say its negotiations are at an impasse, giving the FAA the authority to send its contract dispute to Congress. "There is progress to be reported at each and every session," said NATCA President John Carr. "Unfortunately, FAA management seems to be less focused on good-faith bargaining and more determined than ever to . . . send their negotiations to impasse." Carr said that so far 91 out of 152 articles have been completed.
FAA spokesman Greg Martin said some progress has been made on the "low-hanging fruit," but that substantive disputes about pay and work rules are unresolved. He said the FAA is dedicated to reaching a solution, but that NATCA's current proposal is too expensive.
The controllers' union has proposed a 5.6 percent pay increase.
The FAA has proposed a pay freeze, including halting premium pay differentials, which the union says amounts to a pay cut.
Last week, a day after a contentious exchange between the controllers union and the FAA over overtime, sick leave and other issues at a major New York air traffic control facility, four Senate Democrats introduced a bill that would modify the law that allows contract disputes to be sent to Congress.
The bill (S 2201), by Barack Obama of Illinois, Daniel K. Inouye of Hawaii, Frank R. Lautenberg of New Jersey and Patty Murray of Washington, would still allow a contract dispute to be sent to Congress. But instead of letting the FAA impose its last offer if Congress failed to act, it would send the dispute to a binding arbitration panel.
Obama said in a statement that he introduced the bill "to help [defuse] the growing management-labor tension at the FAA."
The Air Transport Association, the major airlines' lobby group, has opposed the bill, citing budget pressures and labor costs. However, it seems unlikely that the bill will be enacted before talks conclude. FAA Administrator Marion C. Blakey has said she hopes talks can finish early this year.Continue Reading Here at Airport Business
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Do you want underpaid, overworked, stressed out controllers keeping your planes apart whilst flying over some of the world's busiest airways? Contact your represenative to tell him/her that you want the best for your safety!
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