Air traffic controllers are gathering support from lawmakers to help their bitter negotiations with the Federal Aviation Administration.
Sen. Barack Obama, Illinois Democrat, yesterday introduced a bill the union of controllers says will make it harder for the FAA to impose a new collective-bargaining agreement on the union if talks break down.
Controllers and the FAA opened talks last year on a new labor contract, and discussions on a new five-year deal for controllers have included regular verbal attacks by both sides -- from charges that controllers are overpaid to assertions that the federal agency hired a union-busting negotiator.
John Carr, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, said the 14,525-member union is pressing for the new legislation because it believes the FAA has little interest in negotiating. Instead, the agency wants contract talks to stall, declare an impasse and have its last offer approved by Congress, Mr. Carr said.
"We're hoping this bill gets the FAA back to the negotiating table," he said.
FAA officials say they are frustrated by the slow pace of negotiations, and last month FAA Administrator Marion Blakey called on the union to allow federal mediators to help contract talks.
Asking for help from mediators was not a first step toward declaring an impasse, Ms. Blakey wrote Jan. 13 to Mr. Obama, but an attempt to bridge differences.
If the union were serious about completing negotiations, FAA spokesman Greg Martin said, it would agree to mediation.
Washington Times
Sen. Barack Obama, Illinois Democrat, yesterday introduced a bill the union of controllers says will make it harder for the FAA to impose a new collective-bargaining agreement on the union if talks break down.
Controllers and the FAA opened talks last year on a new labor contract, and discussions on a new five-year deal for controllers have included regular verbal attacks by both sides -- from charges that controllers are overpaid to assertions that the federal agency hired a union-busting negotiator.
John Carr, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, said the 14,525-member union is pressing for the new legislation because it believes the FAA has little interest in negotiating. Instead, the agency wants contract talks to stall, declare an impasse and have its last offer approved by Congress, Mr. Carr said.
"We're hoping this bill gets the FAA back to the negotiating table," he said.
FAA officials say they are frustrated by the slow pace of negotiations, and last month FAA Administrator Marion Blakey called on the union to allow federal mediators to help contract talks.
Asking for help from mediators was not a first step toward declaring an impasse, Ms. Blakey wrote Jan. 13 to Mr. Obama, but an attempt to bridge differences.
If the union were serious about completing negotiations, FAA spokesman Greg Martin said, it would agree to mediation.
Washington Times
