Please take simple online action on this FAA issue

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/HR5449?rk=2pLP2Dp1HuIuE

Thank you for again taking the time to help your Nation's Air Traffic Controllers by sending another email to your elected leaders in Washington DC. This letter will only go to your Congressman in order to garner support for new legislation in the House of Representatives that will restore good faith bargaining in the FAA.

We have been working with a bipartisan coalition of Congressional representatives from across the country to ensure that our issue remains a congressional priority. Now, Congressman Steve LaTourette,a Republican leader from Ohio, has introduced a new bill, HR5449, to restore fairness and accountability to the bargaining process at FAA. The LaTourette Bill would not create new law, but simply amend existing law by eliminating the section that allowed for the interpretation that created the unfair and one-sided impasse procedure. The FAA Administrator has used this provision in the past, is using it now, and shows every indication of using it to avoid all collective bargaining in the future. The FAA Administrator unilaterally declared impasse in contract negotiations, sent the impasse to Congress, and is planning to use her interpretation of the impasse provision to impose her unwelcome pay and work rules on an unwilling workforce.

If passed, the LaTourette Bill would be retroactive to April 1, 2006, and our contract impasse would then be resolved using the provisions of Chapter 71 of Title 5, United States Code, just like every other union-management dispute in the federal sector. Congressman LaTourette has reached an agreement with the Speaker of the House, Congressman Hastert, to bring this bill to the House floor for a vote the week of June 5th. The bill will be voted on under a "suspension vote" rule, meaning it will require 2/3rds present to vote in the affirmative for it to pass. Our friends on Capitol Hill believe this is achievable if we seize the day.

If this bill passes with overwhelming support the momentum will not only carry into the Senate, but it will present our friends and us with a host of legislative opportunities for resolving this problem once and for all.

Thank you for all your support and dedication to this cause.


Send a letter to the following decision maker(s):
Your Congressperson

Below is the sample letter:

Subject: Support HR5449

Dear ,

After nine months of intense negotiations, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) walked away from the bargaining table with the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) and declared impasse on April 5th, 2006. Now the 60 day review process is coming to an end, but Congress must still act to address this issue. If the FAA starts imposing their work and pay rules on an unwilling workforce, we are going to see immediate and negative impact on the air traffic control system. NATCA and their many supporters are not prepared to let this happen and will continue to campaign until this issue is properly and fairly addressed. With majority support in the House (HR4755), and growing momentum in the Senate (including numerous Republican Senators calling on the Agency to get back to the table), the will of Congress must be respected. It's simply irresponsible and unfair for the FAA to continue to ignore the chorus of voices from Capitol Hill calling on the Agency to return to the bargaining table.

Congressman LaTourette (R-OH) has introduced H.R. 5449, a law that repeals paragraph (2) of section 40122 (a) of Title 49 USC. Instead of transmitting impasses to Congress, the FAA would be required to use the provisions of Title 5 USC to resolve collective bargaining disputes. Title 5 USC allows the U.S. government to retain control over collective bargaining disputes, and this is the existing provision for other government employees. Congressman LaTourette has reached an agreement with the Speaker of the House, Congressman Hastert, to bring the bill to the House floor for a vote the week of June 5th. Since the bill will be voted on under a "suspension vote" it will require 2/3rds present voting in the affirmative to pass.

A voluntary agreement is in the best interest of all stakeholders: the taxpayers, the FAA, Congress, and the affected employees. On April 5th, the parties were within $500 million of reaching a voluntary agreement over the term of the 5 year contract. NATCA has offered $1.4 billion in cost savings, while the FAA has demanded a minimum of $1.9 billion, a position they have maintained from the beginning of negotiations. The $500 million gap, in a 14 billion dollar a year budget, can be closed and a voluntary agreement is absolutely attainable.

At a time when 1 in 4 controllers will be eligible to retire within a year, the National Airspace System can hardly withstand an involuntary agreement that encourages controllers to retire.

Thank you for your time and dedication in serving this country. Please support the dedication of this nation's air traffic controllers by protecting their right to a fair process and voice in a workplace so critical to this country and viability of the national airspace system.

Vote for H.R. 5449, and you'll be voting for fairness and safety!



Sincerely,

Your name

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