Labor & Employment Law

Time to Clear Aviation Bill for Take Off

By Mike Hall

Congress returns to work this week and one of its top priorities, say the nation?s aviation unions, is to break the gridlock that has held the vital aviation safety and investment bill hostage.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization is now on its 15th temporary extension since 2007 and that expires Sept. 30. Both the U.S. Senate and House have passed versions of the aviation bill. But with so little time until Congress adjourns for the fall elections, it?s time to tell your lawmakers, ?Pass the FAA Bill Now!?

The bill funds air traffic control modernization, airport expansion and makes air travel safer for the flying public and for workers. The legislation would create an estimated 300,000 jobs because of the investments in air traffic control modernization and airport improvements. It also addresses important labor-management and workers? rights issues.

Edward Wytkind, president of the AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department (TTD), says:

Airports are already operating at capacity, 1950s-era, radar-based air traffic control systems are still in use. FAA staffing is failing to keep pace with projected demand, and in the end, passengers live with the consequences.

The bill also, says the Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA), requires the FAA and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to resume their work on developing workplace safety and health protections for flight attendants, including combating contaminated aircraft air, acting on the recommendations from the recent flight attendant fatigue study and permanently banning cellular telephone use in-flight.

National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) President Paul Rinaldi says the bill will also:

permanently ensure a fair NATCA-FAA collective bargaining process and avoid future disputes and future disruptions to the stability of the workforce.

Wytkind says the ?flying public shouldn?t have to wait any longer for Congress to make air travel safer and more reliable.?

Needed safety reforms have been staring us in the face for years, and it?s time to get them done….Obstructionists have transformed the Senate into the place that most good ideas go to die. For the sake of the flying public, let?s hope that critical air safety reform and investment are not among them.

Click here to send a message to your lawmakers and here for a radio ad from NATCA.

Full post as published by AFL-CIO NOW BLOG on September 14, 2010 (boomark / email).