July 11, 2002

Mr. Walter W. Pike, President
National Association of Air
Traffic Specialist
11303 Amherst Avenue, Suite 4
Wheaton, Maryland  20902

Dear Mr. Pike;

Regrettably, I must inform you that due to a severe budget shortfall for the current fiscal year (FY-2002) within the Air Traffic Services organization (ATS), the agency is providing you with this notification that we are finalizing contingency plans to furlough all employees funded by the operations appropriation for ATS.

In spite of efforts to curtail spending to the extent possible, we are facing a shortfall of about $100 million, as a result of unanticipated security expenditures following September 11th. Air Traffic Services has taken a number of cost cutting measures to partially absorb these higher costs. We have already identified offsets of about $90 million including a total freeze on hiring and reductions to travel, training, supplies and contracts. Although we have enacted cost savings measures, we face insufficient resources to cover our payroll costs for all of FY-02. President Bush has requested supplemental appropriations to cover these obligations; however, the prospects for timely approval by congress are uncertain. We are hopeful that Congress will provide support needed to prevent these furloughs.

Absent budgetary relief from Congress, it will be necessary to furlough each covered employee for up to eight days prior to the end of the fiscal year. If such action becomes necessary, we will provide you detailed information on the timeline for implementing the furloughs.

In implementing these furloughs, the agency will observe the procedural requirements contained in its collective bargaining agreements, where applicable, or in its Performance Management System, Chapter III, Performance Management paragraph 3.(1).

I hope that it will not become necessary to take these steps and that Congress soon provides the money that we need. I place the highest value on the work done by employees impacted by this action and cannot say enough positive things about the work they have done during my time at FAA.

For additional information concerning this matter, the point of contact for the national unions is Melvin Harris, Director of Labor and Employee Relations. For Technical Center unions, the contact is Thomas F. Wood, Labor Relations Specialist. For unions at the Aeronautical Center, the contact is Walter L. Brinkley, Labor Relations Specialist.

Sincerely,

 

Steven J. Brown
Associate Administrator for Air Traffic Services