Imagine if one out of every four air traffic controllers were to stop working, all at once. How would that kind of shortage affect the safety of air passengers? That’s exactly what might happen if the Federal Aviation Administration moves forward with plans to unilaterally impose a contract in bargaining with the nation’s air traffic controllers.

Tell your U.S. representative to stop the FAA from forcing a contract on our air controllers. Ask him or her to support H.R. 5449, a bipartisan bill that would give air traffic controllers access to the same contract resolution process available to other federal employees.

The FAA administrator is exploiting a loophole in the law to unilaterally impose pay cuts and work rules on our nation's air traffic controllers. Despite the union’s efforts, which included an offer of $1.4 billion in cost savings, the FAA broke off negotiations in order to force implementation of its one-sided proposal.

The FAA proposal cuts pay for current controllers, slashes pay rates for the next generation of controllers and reduces pensions for experienced controllers if they stay on the job. 

The air traffic system is already critically short-staffed. Imposing pay and work rules that encourage existing controllers to leave long before their replacements can be trained is simply not good for America.

The FAA has consistently opposed fair collective bargaining with its unions. Next week, Congress will vote on H.R. 5449, which will restore fairness to the bargaining process for air traffic controllers by giving them the same rights other federal workers enjoy. Take action today to protect the safety of our aviation system by asking your representative to vote “yes” on H.R. 5449.