Get ready for an exodus of ATCers....

They still have their original Fair FAA bill in committee with 280+ co-sponsors I believe. Today's vote was for a retroactive bill which would have negated the June 5th deadline and sent the two parties back to the table.
 
cessna2351 said:
They still have their original Fair FAA bill in committee with 280+ co-sponsors I believe. Today's vote was for a retroactive bill which would have negated the June 5th deadline and sent the two parties back to the table.
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I remember reading an article about your situation not too long ago. It basically said that the ATC guys don't even want to resume talks, because of the automatic pay raise language that is in the current contract.

For those who don't really follow this too much, in simple terms, what does your quoted response actually 'mean'? Are you being force fed a contract? Is your current contract alive and well?
 
wheelsup said:
I remember reading an article about your situation not too long ago. It basically said that the ATC guys don't even want to resume talks, because of the automatic pay raise language that is in the current contract.

For those who don't really follow this too much, in simple terms, what does your quoted response actually 'mean'? Are you being force fed a contract? Is your current contract alive and well?
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That article or your recollection of it is off. Basically there is a loophole in the law which allows the FAA to implement its final/last/best offer (which didn't change from their initial offer) if impasse is declared (which the FAA did) and if Congress doesn't act within 60 days (they didn't). This is an unfair loophole in collective bargaining law. What is the point of even having negotiations if one side knows they can implement whatever they want?? The bill NATCA has tried to push would send impasses to binding arbitration (delegated by a panel of the Prez's choosing) if Congress doesn't act within 60 days.

No why would the FAA oppose this legislation if they had a fair offer (which they claim) in the first place? Nowhere in the LaTourette bill did it provide an unfair advatage to either side in such cases.
 
Oh, boy. Talk about crapping on your employees and expecting them to just keep on smiling. This is going to cause a lot of problems.
 
tonyw said:
Oh, boy. Talk about crapping on your employees and expecting them to just keep on smiling. This is going to cause a lot of problems.
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Now THAT sounds familiar! ;)
 
I called my congressman on this one and asked him to vote yes, and he did....didn't matter in the end I guess.
 
Alchemy said:
I called my congressman on this one and asked him to vote yes, and he did....didn't matter in the end I guess.
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Same, I didn't think anyone would answer when I called. They caught me off guard!
 
First, I want to thank everyone on this board, be it someone who just lurks and went to FAIRFAA.com to the 30 year Capt's who pledged support for us on frequency... those that actually use the ATC system have been incredibly supportive.

We may have lost the latest battle but the war is far from over. If you called your congressman for support and they voted yea, drop em' a line and thank them, I already did. If they voted nay ... remember that and speak with your vote this November.

This is not about controller pay... that is a smoke screen, it's about breaking the workforce so they can then sell it all off to the lowest bidder (Lockheed). They are already moving in that direction... there is a lot going on that I can't post on a public board. These are the same steps that other countries took in their move to privatization.

For those interested the workforce is not happy but we stand unified... we will fight for the next 5 years if we have to. And... to the users of the system, today, next week, next year, you will get the same high quality safe service you have recieved from myself and my fellow controllers our entire careers.
 
Fox Xray said:
First, I want to thank everyone on this board, be it someone who just lurks and went to FAIRFAA.com to the 30 year Capt's who pledged support for us on frequency... those that actually use the ATC system have been incredibly supportive.

We may have lost the latest battle but the war is far from over. If you called your congressman for support and they voted yea, drop em' a line and thank them, I already did. If they voted nay ... remember that and speak with your vote this November.

This is not about controller pay... that is a smoke screen, it's about breaking the workforce so they can then sell it all off to the lowest bidder (Lockheed). They are already moving in that direction... there is a lot going on that I can't post on a public board. These are the same steps that other countries took in their move to privatization.

For those interested the workforce is not happy but we stand unified... we will fight for the next 5 years if we have to. And... to the users of the system, today, next week, next year, you will get the same high quality safe service you have recieved from myself and my fellow controllers our entire careers.
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PM'd.
 
Fox Xray said:
This is not about controller pay... that is a smoke screen, it's about breaking the workforce so they can then sell it all off to the lowest bidder (Lockheed). They are already moving in that direction... there is a lot going on that I can't post on a public board. These are the same steps that other countries took in their move to privatization.
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Post it.

Even if I was subpoenaed by the feds, I don't know who you are so your anonymity is safe.
 
I think this might actually be a good calling for an ATC forum! I'm assuming you guys have a forum community already, but if you needed more anonymity...JC might be able to help with that!

I feel for ya'll.. we'll be checking to see how our congressman voted!! In any case, I think it's really crappy that the feds want to dump all over you guys...there's just no incentive to doing a good job or staying on the job when that happens and that would be bad for all of us!!

Stay strong! You've got JC behind ya! :)

edit: well, JD Hayworth ain't getting re-elected in my book...
 
You'd think the airlines would be lobbying pretty heavily toward keeping ATC under governmental control.

Let's see: Option A - good pay, good benefits, good work environment = good and hard working controller

Pros: Efficient ATC system, controllers that look out for pilots (and even apoligize for some crazy reason every now and then about the rides!), professional service

Cons: Slightly higher aviation fuel taxes and landing fees

Option B - Lowest bidder employees working to the bone, being pushed by management to "get the job done", pissed off ex-SATCO guys running the scopes ("stupid airplanes, why I outtta"...j/k).

Pros: Slightly cheaper fuel (less tax) and less landing fees

Cons: 5 hour sits in the box at PHL (compared to usual 1.5-2 hour sits), 8 hour sits in the box at LGA, 17 hour sits in the box at ORD. A bazillion canceled flights do to the inefficent operation of ATC.

I guess the pros for the pilots would be a windfall in block or better pay, at least until the airlines go ch. 7...
 
Folks.

If the ATC system goes to Lockheed, trust me, it's going to be fire and brimstone.

Trust me, you don't want any part of Lockheed-Martin on a safety-related mission like ATC.

Notsofrickenever.
 
Unfortunatly LM isn't really known for coming through in mission critial situations. There track record in the ATC is certainly less then steller.
 
Fox Xray said:
First, I want to thank everyone on this board, be it someone who just lurks and went to FAIRFAA.com to the 30 year Capt's who pledged support for us on frequency... those that actually use the ATC system have been incredibly supportive.

We may have lost the latest battle but the war is far from over. If you called your congressman for support and they voted yea, drop em' a line and thank them, I already did. If they voted nay ... remember that and speak with your vote this November.

This is not about controller pay... that is a smoke screen, it's about breaking the workforce so they can then sell it all off to the lowest bidder (Lockheed). They are already moving in that direction... there is a lot going on that I can't post on a public board. These are the same steps that other countries took in their move to privatization.

For those interested the workforce is not happy but we stand unified... we will fight for the next 5 years if we have to. And... to the users of the system, today, next week, next year, you will get the same high quality safe service you have recieved from myself and my fellow controllers our entire careers.
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I have had several disscusions with controllers from Philly and Boston. They all tell me the same thing. I am greatfull that you guys are sticking in there. I havnt officialy used the system yet, but I know it is the greatest system in the world. Why they want to screw it up for the controlers and totaly control them I have no idea. They seem to be making the career less desirable for newer controlers digging their own hole by them not letting them do what they want. Its tough, but I thank you for staying with it.
 
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