Support HR2881 - FAA Reauthorization Act of 2007

The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Aviation Subcommittee marked up the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Bill (HR2881) on June 28th, 2007.    In order to introduce it as a bipartisan bill, two labor issues were removed from the original draft and were offered as amendments at the insistence of Congressman Mica.  The issues were the NATCA language on dispute resolution; as well as another labor issue.

After extensive debate on the amendment, NATCA's issue won overwhelmingly with strong bipartisan support (53-16).

 

The bill (HR2881) is scheduled to be brought to the floor on or about September 19, 2007.   We would like to garner as much BIPARTISAN support as possible for this bill.

 

This is not just a NATCA issue, it is an AFL-CIO priority.  The AFL-CIO, PASS, AFSMCE and NATCA are supporting HR2881.  This clause would cover 12 imposed “contracts” by the FAA on their employees represented by NATCA. 

 

The Administration is already exaggerating costs and misleading Members of Congress on the impact to system, taxpayers and industry.

 

Chairman Oberstar and Chairman Costello are committed to helping FAA workers by restoring a fair collective bargaining process.  A reauthorization bill which includes a retroactive clause would allow the employees an ability to fairly negotiate a contract, instead of having it imposed. 

 

 This letter can be edited.  If you do so, please proof read the letter to prior to submitting. 

 

 

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Vote "yes" on HR2881!! FAA Reauthorization Act of 2007

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I am writing to ask for your support and affirmative vote on HR2881, the "Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Act of 2007".

The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure marked up HR2881 on June 28th, 2007. During the markup an amendment was introduced that adds language to correct the unfair collective bargaining process at the FAA. The amendment, sponsored by Chairman Costello (IL-12), won with overwhelming BIPARTISAN support (53-16). If enacted, HR2881 would allow the employees the ability to fairly negotiate a contract, instead of having it unilaterally imposed on them by the FAA.

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), the Professional Airways Systems Specialists (PASS) and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), who together represent over 30,000 employees of the FAA all support HR2881. They support the bill because the FAA has refused to use a fair collective bargaining process with its employees.

* The FAA has imposed new work rules on nearly all of NATCA's bargaining units without the consent of the union or ratification by any of the covered employees.

* Four out of five Professional Airways System Specialists (PASS) contracts have been at impasse for over four years.

* In PASS's technicians unit, the FAA's proposed agreement was rejected by 98% of the voting members, but the agency refused to return to the bargaining table.

* The FAA reached agreement in 2001 with AFSCME, but refused to implement it.

I believe a legislative remedy is required because the Agency has refused to negotiate in good faith during the collective bargaining process. NATCA has made every effort to resolve these issues with the FAA. Just recently, the Agency and NATCA held discussions at the request of Chairman Oberstar and Chairman Costello. The bottom line is the FAA asked for $1.6 billion in savings. NATCA offered $1.6 billion in concessions yet the FAA rejected it. NATCA has bargained in good faith and the FAA continues to hide behind a flawed interpretation of impasse procedures and bargaining.

The negative effects of the imposed work rules are real and exacerbating a staffing crisis in the FAA. For example, the pay freezes imposed on a majority of the air traffic controller workforce are causing many to retire as soon as they become eligible. We are losing an average of three controllers per day in a workforce of less than 15,000. Newly hired trainees take 3 to 5 years to certify and are not certifying soon enough to adequately replace those retiring. The employees of the FAA need your help restoring fairness at the FAA. I am asking for your support and an affirmative vote on HR2881.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
September 16, 2007


Background Information

 

NATCA estimates the retroactive cost of restoring 2003 NATCA/FAA agreement pay plan to beginning of FY 2007 is $16.3 million.

 

NATCA, along with the Professional Airways Systems Specialists (PASS), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and the Transportation Trades Department of the AFL-CIO (TTD), proposes to amend title 49, United States Code, Section 40122(a)(2) to modify the bargaining dispute resolution process for proposed changes to the personnel management system of the Federal Aviation Administration.  The suggested legislative language would eliminate the mediation section and replace it with a new dispute resolution section, including mediation, binding arbitration, ratification/agency head review, and an effective date that resolves the current disputes.   Specifically, the language requires that if mediation with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) is unsuccessful, bargaining impasses be submitted to binding interest arbitration before a three-person board appointed under authority of the Federal Service Impasses Panel (FSIP).  The parties would be bound by the decision issued by the board in accordance with existing law.  The agreement would be subject to employee ratification and agency head review under 5 U.S.C. Chapter 71.   The bill also clarifies that U.S. District Courts would have jurisdiction to enforce the requirements of this section, and provides for the restoration of the status quo ante with respect to any changes implemented on or after July 10, 2005, under the then existing process. 

 

Authorizing legislation establishes, continues or modifies federal transportation programs and sets program amounts and formulas. Authorizing legislation also establishes discretionary spending programs and provides funding guidance for those programs.   The FAA is authorized via multi-year legislation.  The last bill, a four-year reauthorization, Vision 100 – Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act, was enacted in 2003 and will expire September 30, 2007.  Prior to Vision 100, FAA reauthorization was achieved through the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century, commonly known as AIR-21, in 2000.  This year’s reauthorization process offers NATCA a germane vehicle to move our issues through Congress.