Aero-News Network has said that the FAA and the NATCA have taken their battle cries to the field of public court and opinion. The NATCA leasing paid television ads, and the FAA holding press conferences, such as the one in Birmingham, AL. where they state that local controllers make almost three times as much as police and firefighters there.
Several main sticking points include money, compensation, and even dress codes.
The Chart below shows the annual Compensation by Air Traffic Control Facility in 2005.
These amounts may seem large; And they are. However, the level 12 air traffic controllers handle more stress, more planes, than any other location a day. Their skills keep your plane from crashing into the other 120 planes in the sky that are just around your plane. They deserve to be compensated for their skills.
The Union proposed the idea of having all federal student loans taken out to pursue an air traffic control degree up to $60,000. The FAA rejected this because they believe that there is no issue in recruiting and retaining individuals.
I would love to see this proposal go into effect but my student debt load is not keeping me from becoming an air traffic controller. I realize that the pay and benefits will be worth the effort and student load debt at this point in time.
Leave Time is another sticking point with the union and the FAA. Three major points of contention:
1) the continuation of a “prime time” leave periods at each facility with a guarantee of two weeks of consecutive vacation at the height of the busy summer travel season;
2) eligibility to earn credit hours to cover for another employee whose annual leave request was denied;
3) the work schedule of a controller who cancels annual leave.
And finally the dress code:
The Parties could not reach agreement regarding dress code for controllers. The Agency’s Personnel Management System requires that all employees, “[m]aintain a clean and neat personal appearance to the maximum practicable extent during working hours. Employees are expected to dress appropriately in order to reflect the level of professionalism commensurate with their duties and responsibilities.”
Controllers are the highest-paid non-supervisory workforce in the FAA, earning more than engineers, architects, and accountants. They are responsible for a vital aspect of the Agency’s safety mission. The Agency believes that the controller workforce should dress in a manner commensurate with their high pay levels and important duties and responsibilities of their profession.
I agree with this one. The FAA is not going to require ties and dress clothes, but a nice shirt, say a polo or button shirt with jeans would be nice. It is a place of business and a government job, so a nice appearance should be had. Wearing pj pants and ripped up tee shirts would not be acceptable.
If you would like to read the entire proposed contract with the union, check out the FAA website.
NATCA
FAA.gov
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