For Immediate Release
For Further Information Contact
TTD- AFL- CIO
202.628.9262
WASHINGTON, DC — The following statement was issued today by Edward Wytkind, president of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), regarding the action taken today by the Federal Aviation Administration to unilaterally impose a contract on its 14,500 Air Traffic Controllers without Union consent:
“The FAA has demonstrated contempt for the bargaining rights of its workers and an arrogant disregard for the law and the views of an overwhelming majority in Congress who will vote Wednesday on legislation to send this dispute back to the bargaining table where it belongs.
“Fortunately, as the FAA pursues this reckless strategy in defiance of Congress, lawmakers in the House are mobilizing behind the LaTourette bill (H.R. 5449) that will restore sanity to a bargaining process that is broken at the FAA. The LaTourette bill will negate today’s action by simply referring the unresolved contract issues to negotiations, mediation and, if necessary, binding arbitration. This bill does not take sides in this bargaining stalemate but it does ensure fairness for air traffic controllers and all FAA employees who engage in negotiations with the agency.
“The FAA is pursuing a dangerous course. Imposing contracts with no real bargaining will only create additional acrimony and distrust among FAA employees who are so critical to the safe and efficient movement of aircraft. It is unconscionable that the FAA would be so short-sighted to put cost-savings ahead of safety. The FAA is pursuing a course that maligns its workers and will impose draconian pay and working conditions outside the normal bargaining process. This week Members of the House will have a chance to ensure fairness in bargaining at the FAA.”
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About TTD
Transportation Trades Department- AFL- CIO (TTD), a Washington, D.C. based labor organization, represents several million transportation workers in the private and public sector. The 31 member unions of TTD work in aviation, bus, mass transit, rail, trucking, highway, long shore, maritime and related industries. TTD works with Congress and the Executive Branch including the transportation related Federal Agencies to protect good jobs, increase wages, defend workers’ rights, increase transportation safety plus security and ensure adequate funding for our nation’s transportation infrastructure. Under the umbrella of the AFL-CIO, which represents more than 9 million workers in the United States, TTD handles policy and legislative issues related to transportation. Visit ttd.org for more information.
