typer922 Rookie Oklahoma City

Couldn't find any talk about this here. Sorry if re-post.

Bill would lift pay restrictions for air traffic controllers
By ELISE CASTELLI
August 08, 2008
A new bipartisan bill would reverse pay restrictions for air traffic controllers that were imposed by the Bush administration in 2006.
Backers of the bill say it will help the Federal Aviation Administration retain air traffic controllers who are eligible to retire. The agency faces possible shortages of controllers because many are approaching retirement eligibility.
The Federal Aviation Administration Employee Retention Act, introduced in the Senate on July 31, also would give full collective bargaining rights to affected FAA employees.
The bill, sponsored by Sens. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., and James Inhofe, R-Okla., would reverse the 2006 pay restrictions until a collective bargaining agreement can be reached. The legislation also proposes a 45-day deadline for the sides to reach an agreement on pay. Disputes exceeding the deadline would have to be resolved by mediation or binding arbitration.

“The FAA’s unilateral imposition of work and pay rules has forced our veteran air traffic controllers into retiring earlier than they had planned,” Patrick Forrey, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, said in an Aug. 6 statement. “Passage of this bill will provide the incentive for controllers to remain on the boards so that the safety of the flying public can be restored.”
In September 2006, the administration froze the pay for many veteran controllers and reduced pay scales by 30 percent for new controllers. The administration also eliminated rules that required breaks and allowed employees to take sick leave if they weren’t rested. That led to fatigue, the union said.
Under the new rules, the attrition of air traffic control staff has outpaced FAA projections. According to the FAA inspector general, in the first month alone, retirements were three times as high as FAA predicted. The union claims that between September 2006 and March 2008, one-fifth of the work force — 2,687 employees — departed.
“The [Bush] administration’s heavy-handed tactics have forced experienced air traffic controllers out the door in record numbers,” Lautenberg said in an Aug. 6 statement. “By giving all FAA employees fair labor rights, we can recruit and retain the number of safety professionals our air travel system needs to run smoothly and safely.”
FAA spokeswoman Tammy Jones declined to comment on the legislation, but said the agency had made numerous offers to the union, all of which were rejected before the agency moved to imposing a contract.
“FAA would have preferred a voluntary agreement,” Jones said. “FAA put real money on the table, but the union was not interested.”

Article Link
Bill Link

atcadvocate Newcomer Kentucky

So they want to pass a bill to make the FAA treat it's employees fairly. LOL

You can't enforce ethics and decency! That's a learned behavior. The FAA cronies will never change! Piss on em!

polo708 Epic Member tower

I think this kind of thing gets put on the desk of higher ups pretty often... until something is signed its meaningless. Im far from holding my breath.