FAA - NATCA Labor Agreement Announced

Raydon · Posted: 08-13-2009, 01:20 PM

The FAA and National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) have reached a labor agreement after nearly three months of mediation.

“This marks a new day between the FAA and the air traffic controllers as we move forward with a spirit of cooperation,” said FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt. “We are hopeful that once the review and ratification are complete, we can accelerate our efforts to adopt NextGen, the next generation air transportation system.”

"This tentative agreement marks a turning point in the relationship between the FAA and its air traffic controller, and traffic management employees,” said Patrick Forrey, president of NATCA. “We look forward to working with the FAA and the aviation industry and community in a collaborative process to develop and implement the much-needed next generation aviation system."

The mediation process used to reach the agreement will serve as a model for future contract negotiations with all FAA employee unions. More than 100 issues were settled through the process. Five issues were decided by the arbitration team. NATCA members have 45 days to ratify the mediated issues that were settled during negotiations. The five issues decided by the arbitrators are not subject to ratification by NATCA members.

The three-year agreement provides controllers with greater flexibility in their work schedules, childcare support, and a new grievance review process, among other gains. The FAA retains the flexibility to more effectively redeploy controllers to congested airports using incentive pay.

The agreement also restores a more equitable pay standard for new hires and veterans nearing retirement.

The cost of the agreement will be phased in over the three years of the contract so that the agency will not have to tap into its budget for critical capital investments.

The full contract will be posted online at about 1:15 p.m., EDT. The links will be added to this story when they are made available.

********We will be updating this thread as news comes out, to the minute********
Please see below posts for additional information.

Admin · Posted: 08-13-2009, 01:38 PM

Here is the Intro:

Admin · Posted: 08-13-2009, 01:41 PM

Article 3 Rights of Union Officials

Admin · Posted: 08-13-2009, 01:42 PM

Article 17 - Position Descriptions

Admin · Posted: 08-13-2009, 01:43 PM

Article 14 - Annual Leave

Admin · Posted: 08-13-2009, 01:44 PM

Article 108 - Pay

Admin · Posted: 08-13-2009, 01:45 PM

Article 106 - Duration

ATC_MacGyver · Posted: 08-13-2009, 01:51 PM

Attached is the Arbitrators Decision:

page 85 has the new paybands.

Admin · Posted: 08-14-2009, 09:19 AM

Frequently Asked Questions, Article 108 (Pay)

1) So if we are above the band, are we getting lump sums still or an increase to our pay?

3% increase to Basic Pay (which does not include locality) and then the new locality rate is also applied. The only thing that would prevent you from getting 3% is the 177K pay cap.

2) I am a CPC-IT that just transferred two months ago from a level 6 to a 12. Does this mean I am getting half of the difference starting from when? I walked in the door still getting my level 6 pay only. Or is this only for those that happen to transfer after the New Year?

In January 2010 you will get 3% or CPC band minimum whichever is greater. Future Transfers (after the effective date) are covered under the Arbitrator's Decision.

3) How is this going to affect Facility XXX after the downgrade from 10 to 9? Most of the veteran controllers are way above the pay bands?

The 3% applies unless you are at the cap (177K)...section 10 only applies to future downgrades...not ones that happened 20 years ago...or two.

4) Does Article 108, section 7 mean that in addition to the 3% increase that the increases to the pay bands will increase in the same manner as core comp pay bands? Am I to interpret that to mean the annual presidential increase without locality? If I am correct the total increase to pay bands for each of the three years would probably be closer to 5%, (3+2 presidential).

Don't confuse an individual raise (ie 3% or band min) with band movement. The 2011/2012 bands are as awarded plus any core comp band increases. This is somewhat in our favor because before they could treat IWR bands different than Cored Comp bands. Band movement has nothing to do with the Presidential increase or OSI/SCI.

5) If I am still above the pay band, will I be getting the full 3% or just 50% of that into my base and the other 50% in lump sum?

3% in basic pay (exclusive of locality) plus any change to locality. Pay Retention only applies to a facility that is downgraded during the term of the Arbitrator's Decision.

6) I'm a B-scaler a couple years in. Am I reading things correctly to believe that I'm going to be riding the pay band minimums for the next few years or will my salary be BASED on these new minimums with the raises I've received factored into them?

3% or new band min whichever is greater.

7) Where does that 177k cap come from? I can't find it anywhere, certainly not appendix 3. Are you sure about that?

Yes, it comes from Title 49.

8) To make sure I am reading this correctly. As one of the 1440, and put at the bottom of the IWR bands after CPC, I get a 8% pay raise Jun 10. Then when the bands raise by 8% every year, and I get a 3 % raise, by the Jan 2012 raise I will be back to the bottom of the band?

Yes. We proposed to make everyone whole including back pay. The FAA proposed the 8% rule knowing it would most likely evaporate.

9) Did I read correctly that we will be reverting back to CIP? If so, when does it begin, and do you have a breakdown of those rates?

Yes....first full pay period in Jan 2010. A new process will be developed also....rates are athttp://atpayplan.natca.net/mous/pay_rules_mou.htm scroll down to the bottom...this is a Green book pay rule web site so don't use it for rules (although most will be back intact) use it only for the CIP rates that were in effect in 2006

Admin · Posted: 08-14-2009, 01:03 PM

More details about Arbitration Results

Basic Pay and Base pay were defined because in the past our work rules said we received differentials on Basic Pay?not correct we receive them on Base (inclusive of locality) except CIP which has been paid on Basic.

Traffic Count Index- The old Position Classification Standard was reworked to eliminate the "classification" part to avoid negotiability issues. It is now a complexity formula to establish a facilities ATC level.

The bulk of the pay rules are Greenbook?not what the FAA wanted.

ATC 13 and ATC 14 have been eliminated

Locality Pay is preserved. DOD under the NSPS has already had their locality renamed and frozen at 2007 levels. This was a bush initiative that could have impacted us.

Night differential is 10% for the work regardless of training or administrative work week language in FAA orders.

Transfer to a higher level was 6.7% or band min under Greenbook..it's 6% up to ATC 10 and 8% for ATC 10 and lower going to ATC 11 or higher under the decision?not to exceed the top of the band (so caution is still in order).

Pay retention has been retained as under Greenbook and the 4% pay cuts for downgrades are dead.

Upgrades are capped at the top of the pay band which Greenbook did not have.

CIP is restored effective the first full pay period of FY 2010 (Oct 11 2009), except ASE was increased from 7.5% to 8%, C90 was increased from 1.4% to 8%, FAI was added at 8% and GCN was added at 8%

MSS 1 to CPC in same facility- no change in pay.

All employees will receive a 3% increase to Basic Pay or band minimum whichever is greater and any changes in locality in Jan 2010, 2011 and 2012. This increase is regardless of position in or above pay bands up to the statutory cap (currently 177K).

The bands could also increase in 2011 and 2012 by the cored compensation band increases, if any.

The ARTCC training benchmarks are improved from IWR. Devs will receive their increases quicker than the IWR 25% 50% 75%.

Someone who goes to the next dev level on Saturday before the bands change should receive the new band increase plus 3% which would result in them making more than someone who checked out earlier?we saw this under IWR also?.not under Greenbook.

FAA - NATCA Labor Agreement Announced

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