National Association of Air Traffic Specialists

Aviation Safety is Our Business

NAATS HEADQUARTERS EMAIL UPDATE

This week I met with ATS-1 Steve Brown and we discussed a number of matters including the status of pay negotiations and the new FAA Performance Based Organization (PBO). It was a good discussion and we agreed to work closely together in the future.

I attended a briefing on the PBO by ATS-2 Peter Challens. Bottom line is that no one really knows all the ramifications of the Executive Order at this time but we agreed to develop a process that will include NAATS involvement at the pre-decisional stages. This is expected to begin in January and, of course, we don't waive any of our bargaining rights by participating. It does give us an excellent opportunity to influence the structure and direction of the PBO. The impact to us could range from minimal to significant.

I also met with Administrator Garvey yesterday on this topic and discussed the same concept of early union involvement. I applaud her decision to engage us at the very beginning in this change.

Congress is basically through for the remainder of this year. We know the game and we'll be ready when the new 107th congress begins next month. As previously discussed, we'll keep you advised of all the details.

A word on the general pay increase this year. NAATS bargaining unit members will receive an average 3.7% increase that includes locality. You have probably heard that the FAA employees in core comp, including some unions, will receive 5.3%. The 5.3% figure is arrived at by using the 3.7% and then adding the 1% FAA OSI and the .6% SCI which has not been distributed this year. Some will tell you that this amounts to an additional 1.6% that NAATS bargaining unit members won't receive. But, as is usually the case, it isn't that simple. The average increase between the steps of a GS-12 is 1.6%. NAATS bargaining unit members still receive step increases while those in the core, of course, do not. Add to that the fact that our bargaining unit still collects the 5% ATRA figure instead of the 4.1% base pay roll-in that NATCA and PASS receive. An argument can be made that we are actually receiving more than the core employees; it's all in your perspective.

Happy Holidays to all,

Wally Pike

Walter W. Pike, President

This page was last updated on 20 December, 2000