NAATS HEADQUARTERS EMAIL UPDATE
Volume 2, #12
December 14, 2001
It turns out that there will be a number of things that I will talk with the Administrator about Monday in addition to the pay impasse. Earlier this year the DOT OIG issued a report recommending consolidation of a number of our AFSSs. The report is based on the work of the old AFSS architecture workgroup findings, which we successfully discredited. Now the OIG suggests that somehow this would save $300 million a year and make the agency more efficient. Fortunately both ATS and Air Traffic have disagreed with this report but OMB has endorsed it and asked the FAA to begin implementation.
Discussions with several senior FAA managers have indicated that the FAA will disagree with OMB based on both operational and technological grounds. Operationally our bargaining unit members have proven their essential worth to the Air Traffic system and any objective analysis substantiates this. Technologically AFSS consolidation isn�t possible because of voice switch constraints (see NAATS Voice Switch Tech Rep Steve Glowacki�s report in the next edition of the NAATS Bulletin which goes to the printers next week). Nevertheless I feel it�s critical to get the Administrator�s position and her response to OMB.
Another agenda item is the recognition for our bargaining unit�s efforts since September 11. In discussions with AT-2, Air Traffic�s feeling is, given the mood of the country and the current crises, now is not the time to discuss awards. Air Traffic also states that a number of controllers don�t want awards for doing what they feel is their job. Air Traffic fully acknowledges the bargaining unit�s efforts and accomplishments but they think it would be better to address this sometime after the first of the year. Although we reassure Air Traffic that our bargaining unit will continue to do their job as they always have, our position is that further delay creates problems for two reasons:
Therefore we disagree with Air Traffic on this and I�ll see what the Administrator�s position is on recognition.
The major item for the meeting is, of course, the discussion on how to break the pay impasse. Clearly Chairman Young and his staff feel the FAA should negotiate in good faith and I�m to report back to them on the results of this meeting. I�m prepared to discuss several options to break this logjam including neutral third party hearings. I have a number of follow-up meetings relating to this next week so I plan to wait until the smoke clears and send out an update with all the details toward the end of the week.
I received some questions regarding the 4.6% general increase next month. Our bargaining unit will continue to receive these government-wide increases until we reach final agreement on pay.
Wally Pike