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Return to Article: Senators try a new tactic to reopen FAA's negotiations with controllers

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  What the public does not understand here is that this was NOT a cost savings initiative by the FAA...it was a first and only a union busting tactic...the proof is the fact that the first line superviors who throughout all of government normally make about 5% more than those they DIRECTLY supervise. In a remarkable trick, the FAA left the first line and all those abouve them OUT OF this so called cost savings effort....so now because controllers above the new pay band which was instantly 95% of all controllers on the books as of Sept. 2006 are now 20-30% behind the pay of those supes...in other words...about 11,000 or more controllers unlike the rest of the 3 million FED and military workers..have not gotten COLAS since essentially January of 2006..that was their last pay raise. The FAA has rewarded these supes with this exemption thinking they would need them if there was a strke...which NATCA will never do. So this was a union busting/anti worker bush admin move...not a cost saving move as they so loudly promote...nowhere in all of government will you find such disparity between worker pay and first line supe'pay. I had to get out to get my COLAS under CSRS....it was a losing proposition staying in the FAA after 40 years....Those last two years from every point of view were the worse in my entire career. I am not alone in that opinion either...Hopefully Obama will do something about this.

  Antony Posted November 26, 2008 5:09 PM
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  Aside from the labor issue- whether you believe that unions are good or evil- there is one burning fact that cannot be ignored. The current (and past ) FAA management KNEW , without a doubt that large numbers of controllers would be retiring. This is a result of the PATCO action and Reagan's reaction. The people hired in then are rapidly approaching Mandatory retirement. The FAA "know-it-alls" seemed to have forgotten this fact. It is public record that they KNEW they would be needing from 3000 to 6000 personnell. They hired few (if any) in the recent years knowing full well that it takes YEARS to train controllers. Add to that a couple years seasoning before they are effective and safe! Now after they have pissed off their workforce;they are trying to hire "off the street" and pay low wages! That is P Poor management ANY way you cut it!

  FAA technician Posted September 3, 2008 11:31 AM
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  But seriously folks. Where was the impetus to negotiate in good faith when the FAA always knew (make that "eventually figured out") that they could offer squat and say take it or leave it. Congress doesn't have the time or the unity of purpose to refute the one-sided presentation of how negotiations went and finally broke down. If you've watched any of the reauthorization sessions you'll realize that this legislation is only being introduced because Congress now knows, without a shadow of a doubt, that the FAA was nothing short of disingenuous.

  Joe Controller Posted August 11, 2008 8:12 PM
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  When this story is told in retrospect, the historians will scratch their heads in amazement, as to how the 2008 FAA gang of mental midgets that couldn't fly straight - Bobby-The-Eel Sturgell, Hank Krakowski, Ruth Leverenz, Ventris Gibson, Nick Sabatini, and the whole remaining gang of elvers - could possibly have thought that abusing its air traffic controller (ATC) work-force to this dramatic extent and degree, was somehow actually a good idea.

  John J. Tormey III, Esq. Posted August 11, 2008 3:21 PM
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  I've retired from the controller ranks just 1 month of being eligible. My original plans were to work for another 7 years but the Nazi-like tactics of the FAA forced me out. The "last best offer" of the FAA in their contract negotiations two years ago was their first and only offer. The collective bargaining rights of the controllers were violated and ignored. I've been embarrassed and angered by the way the FAA has conducted themselves throughout this process, and even more so that this can't be resolved. What they did was wrong. They know it, NATCA knows it, and all of lawmakers know it. Why does it have to take so much time and resources to fix this mess.

  Raymond Stanton Posted August 9, 2008 1:14 AM
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  long on tooth, short on action. over and over like a roller coaster, we are going to fix this and then nothing, cautiously optimistic is a euphemism that we are tired of hearing is rings completely hollow with the rank and file members. FAA has had its way for the past two years with air traffic controllers they have turned the hiring process into a joke and their ability to retain talent has been greatly reduced so much so that they now actually have to offer bribes to keep people working. it is time and rather than the senate and house stalling and offering alternates to the alternates...start passing some laws instead of passing the buck.

  gregory Posted August 8, 2008 8:45 PM
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  This entire situation is absolutely ludicrous and should never have come to this level. However, problems have been insurmountable for Air Traffic Controllers, particularly when working with antiquated equipment dating back to an era of air traffic control system of the 1950s. In 2001, IAW the GAO testimony, it was cited the NAS faced capacity problems resulting in 1 of every 4 flights nationwide being cancelled, diverted, or delayed in 2000 affecting 163,000,000 passengers. Attributing to these problems were inefficiencies in ATC systems and insufficient runways and weather. Modernization of equipment as well as other changes to the ATC system would help to improve the NAS between 5 and 15 percent. In 2004, the NY Times reported on not only equipment but, ATCs as well and the conditions under which they operate, which is less than ideal. In 2006 it was suggested in order to meet the challenges of the 21st Century and the unprecedented growth of operations from 2006 to 2016. Projections provided by FAA Aerospace Forecasts indicated that from 1986 flight operations were at 36.3 increasing to 45.1 in, and by 2016 jumping to 61.4. Solutions posed were modern technologies (which the FAA began in 1981, which has been affected by cost overruns, delays in schedule while encountering some success after restructuring and modifying requirements) such as transformation from analog ground-based architecture to a 21st century digital, satellite suite of tools, which would improve operational reliability and enhance the ability of meeting the unexpected growth in travel and shipping by air. In addition, this situation is exacerbated by the number of Air Traffic Controllers (e.g., 686 retirements as opposed to 435 hired). Air Traffic Controllers undergo rigorous training and testing, as well as hours of mentoring by veteran ATCs. Furthermore, of about 40% applying for an ATC position, only 15% will be approved. As for retirements of ATC personnel, who can blame them having to work under the conditions imposed, I'm surprised more have not walked out the door. The best thing that can happen not only for ATCs but, the country as a whole is 'King' George's reign of terror coming to an end. Congress has kowtowed to 'King' George on many issues....they are just as much to blame for the current situation with ATCs as the administration.

  CAE Posted August 8, 2008 9:34 AM
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  Congress continues to undermine management and the constitional authority of the Executive Branch. Why would any union agree to any management proposal, work rule or performance metric if they are sure that Congress will offer them a better deal. Its just Taxpayers money. Isn't this a commercial function everywhere else in the world?

  Taxpayer Posted August 8, 2008 8:28 AM
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  Putting aside the pros and cons of this labor dispute, the critical issue is that air traffic controller staffing is hurtling to a dangerous imbalance of trainees vs. experienced controllers. FAA is incredibly disingenuous in implying that hiring replacements will solve the problem. It will be years before the new hires become even marginally proficient journeymen controllers. The current acting administrator and the pig-headed air traffic management now in charge will have faded away when the crisis peaks in another year or so.

  been there/done that Posted August 8, 2008 8:14 AM
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  The ONLY place Unions are still in control is the Govt. Membership in private sector is declining - and for good reason - they dont work. Talented workers dont need representation - if you have talent you can shop your wares elsewhere. Unions are outdated and only hurt workers. Union bosses are fat cats. The workers should disband the union immediately - if they had any smarts

  Dean O Posted August 8, 2008 8:03 AM
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  The whole idea behind imposing this contract was to make veteran controllers, like myself, retire in hopes of breaking the UNION. The whole time telling the taxpayes and window dressing to the aviation community as a savings to everyone. Controller pay was cut, retirements increased rapidly and new hires are being paid $8.00 per hour. If you dig deeper, you will find that almost every controller at the busy airports are now working 6 days a week and 10 hours a day. The overtime costs have far exceeded any "savings" the FAA got from controllers retiring and paying "B" scale wages to the new hires. That combined with a very low certification rate for the new hires you have a recipe for disaster. BUT NO, the Bush administration is playing Russian roulette with the flying publics safety rather than negotiate a fair and equitable contract with the controllers. Only after there is a major air disaster will any of this get fixed.

  Retired Air Traffic Controller Posted August 7, 2008 6:53 PM