Bring S1300 to the Senate floor and vote YES!!!

[TangoJuliet]

Text

During contract negotiations with NATCA in 2006, the FAA chose to walk away from the bargaining table and instead imposed its will upon the air traffic controller workforce. This has resulted in FAA employees leaving the controller ranks at an unprecedented rate of 6 per day. The system has already experienced an increase in delays, runway incursions and errors due to a critically understaffed and inexperienced controller workforce. Our nation's policy should be to provide more incentives to build up the rapidly-depleting FAA workforce. Unfortunately, the work and pay rules unilaterally imposed by the FAA are having the exact opposite impact, creating a disincentive for new controllers that join the FAA ranks to stay on the job and leaving those eligible to retire a better annuity by leaving their profession.

If the fine people of ATOT could help out and just go to the website and fill in your info it takes all of 30 seconds to complete. I would really appreciate if you could pass this info to everyone as we really need this to pass.

Thanks!!

Edit: Some more info on the bill itself

S.1300 and the House companion bill (HR2881) are key to addressing the many needs of the National Airspace System (NAS). HR2881 overwhelmingly passed the House of Representatives in September 2007. The users of the system need S1300 to pass the Senate so it can be reconciled with HR2881, then sent to the President for signature. Both FAA Reauthorization bills contain many provisions integral to our nation's aviation infrastructure, such as funding and modernization for the NAS. There are also provisions for fair collective bargaining, and a transparent process, that includes all stakeholders, which is urgently needed to guide the realignment of facilities and services within the FAA.

 

[daniel1113]

I'd rather have the government removed from controlling air traffic.

 

[vi edit]

Doesn't a typical air traffic controller bank over 100k a year?

Are they looking for more money?

 

[TangoJuliet]

Originally posted by: daniel1113
I'd rather have the government removed from controlling air traffic.

leave your thread craps some place else

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

I know I could do 100k/yr and be happy 🙂

 

[TangoJuliet]

Originally posted by: vi edit
Doesn't a typical air traffic controller bank over 100k a year?

Are they looking for more money?

no, there are some that make that much but the majority are well below that. it depends on the size of the facility, complexity and traffic as to how much you make. you are also limited to the amount of years you can work (25).

most people can work as long as they want but controllers are pretty much forced to retire at 56.

controllers also have to have medical physicals every year in which we have to be in tip top shape. certain conditions can have your medical certificate taken away and you can lose your job.

 

[Lorax]

Originally posted by: alkohoLiK
Text

If the fine people of ATOT could help out and just go to the website and fill in your info it takes all of 30 seconds to complete. I would really appreciate if you could pass this info to everyone as we really need this to pass.

Thanks!!

i feel uncomfortable supporting someone in this field of work named alkohoLiK.

 

[pstylesss]

Originally posted by: alkohoLiK

Originally posted by: daniel1113
I'd rather have the government removed from controlling air traffic.

leave your thread craps some place else

Just because his opinion doesn't align with yours it doesn't make his post a thread crap.

 

[TangoJuliet]

Originally posted by: Lorax

Originally posted by: alkohoLiK
Text

If the fine people of ATOT could help out and just go to the website and fill in your info it takes all of 30 seconds to complete. I would really appreciate if you could pass this info to everyone as we really need this to pass.

Thanks!!

i feel uncomfortable supporting someone in this field of work named alkohoLiK.

oh give me a break its alkoholik not alcoholic - clown

 

[polarmystery]

.

 

[Double Trouble]

Support a union? Yech, that's the last thing in the world the country needs more of......

 

[George P Burdell]

Bear in mind that our economy is already/nearly in a recession:

Air traffic controllers earn relatively high pay and have good benefits. Median annual earnings of air traffic controllers in May 2004 were $102,030. The middle 50 percent earned between $78,170 and $126,260. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $57,720, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $139,210.

The average annual salary, excluding overtime earnings, for air traffic controllers in the Federal Government?which employs 90 percent of the total?in nonsupervisory, supervisory, and managerial positions was $106,380 in May 2004. The Air Traffic Control pay system classifies each air traffic facility into one of eight levels with corresponding pay bands. Under this pay system, controllers� salaries are determined by the rating of the facility. The higher the rating, the higher the controller�s salary and the greater the demand on the controller�s judgment, skill, and decision making ability.

Compared to:

The overall median personal income for all individuals over the age of 18 was $25,149 ($32,140 for those age 25 or above) in the year 2005. If all races, employment status and other demographic characteristics are disregarded the overall median income for all 233 million persons over the age of 15 was $28,567.

 

[dougp]

Originally posted by: George P Burdell
Bear in mind that our economy is already/nearly in a recession:

Air traffic controllers earn relatively high pay and have good benefits. Median annual earnings of air traffic controllers in May 2004 were $102,030. The middle 50 percent earned between $78,170 and $126,260. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $57,720, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $139,210.

The average annual salary, excluding overtime earnings, for air traffic controllers in the Federal Government?which employs 90 percent of the total?in nonsupervisory, supervisory, and managerial positions was $106,380 in May 2004. The Air Traffic Control pay system classifies each air traffic facility into one of eight levels with corresponding pay bands. Under this pay system, controllers� salaries are determined by the rating of the facility. The higher the rating, the higher the controller�s salary and the greater the demand on the controller�s judgment, skill, and decision making ability.

Compared to:

The overall median personal income for all individuals over the age of 18 was $25,149 ($32,140 for those age 25 or above) in the year 2005. If all races, employment status and other demographic characteristics are disregarded the overall median income for all 233 million persons over the age of 15 was $28,567.

Sorry, but you can't compare that to median jobs. Those stats also include people who work full time as a waiter, or fast food, etc. What's required to be an ATC is far more than most people are willing to do, and just as stressful as an ER doc.

 

[Scouzer]

The American way to treat their ATC is the worst in the first world. New controllers have a separate pay scale now, so they are paid massively less than old controllers. In fact, they are probably some of the most poorly paid controllers in the first world.

Combine that with the FAA who treats them like shit, a union that can't bargain because the FAA just forces contracts, and you have an overworked unsafe work force.

Say what you want about unions, they are critical in ATC to force organizations to spend the money required to keep the industry safe. With an impotent union like the ATC one, they cannot do that.

As a Canadian controller, when shitty stuff happens at work, it's not uncommon to hear something like "At least we're not American controllers" or "We need to make sure we don't end up like American controllers"

 

[TangoJuliet]

Originally posted by: George P Burdell
Bear in mind that our economy is already/nearly in a recession:

Air traffic controllers earn relatively high pay and have good benefits. Median annual earnings of air traffic controllers in May 2004 were $102,030. The middle 50 percent earned between $78,170 and $126,260. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $57,720, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $139,210.

The average annual salary, excluding overtime earnings, for air traffic controllers in the Federal Government?which employs 90 percent of the total?in nonsupervisory, supervisory, and managerial positions was $106,380 in May 2004. The Air Traffic Control pay system classifies each air traffic facility into one of eight levels with corresponding pay bands. Under this pay system, controllers� salaries are determined by the rating of the facility. The higher the rating, the higher the controller�s salary and the greater the demand on the controller�s judgment, skill, and decision making ability.

Compared to:

The overall median personal income for all individuals over the age of 18 was $25,149 ($32,140 for those age 25 or above) in the year 2005. If all races, employment status and other demographic characteristics are disregarded the overall median income for all 233 million persons over the age of 15 was $28,567.

September 2006 salaries were cut 30%. So someone making 100k is now making 70k. Like I said earlier you are forced to retire after 25 years. The job is stressful, we work shift work, holidays and have yearly physicals. Our benefits are not very good either. I came from the private sector where my benefits were much better.

Whether or not you agree with this bill its not about salary but fairness. We did not agree on a contract but had one forced on us. All we want is to go back to the bargaining table and work something out.

 

[TangoJuliet]

this will be brought to thefloor this Monday. So if you could just fill out the form (it only takes 30 secs) it would really be appreciated!!

 

[TangoJuliet]

Originally posted by: Scouzer
The American way to treat their ATC is the worst in the first world. New controllers have a separate pay scale now, so they are paid massively less than old controllers. In fact, they are probably some of the most poorly paid controllers in the first world.

Combine that with the FAA who treats them like shit, a union that can't bargain because the FAA just forces contracts, and you have an overworked unsafe work force.

Say what you want about unions, they are critical in ATC to force organizations to spend the money required to keep the industry safe. With an impotent union like the ATC one, they cannot do that.

As a Canadian controller, when shitty stuff happens at work, it's not uncommon to hear something like "At least we're not American controllers" or "We need to make sure we don't end up like American controllers"

Thank you. I couldnt have said it better myself. Newly hired ATC employees earn $18000/yr and have to spend months training away from home in Oklahoma. Employees at high level facilities often take years to certify keeping them in the lower developmental payscale.

Most new hires are quitting because they can't afford to live in high cost of living areas such as NY and CA making $35,000/yr and not seeing a raise for years. Combine this with the imposed rules forced in 2006 many of the older controllers are retiring because it effects their retirement. It is not a good scenario and just wait until the summer and You will see the effects. Hopefully you are stuck in an airplane for hours and you will maybe understand what is going on.

 

[Old Hippie]

Done! :thumbsup:

 

[slsmnaz]

Originally posted by: tagej
Support a union? Yech, that's the last thing in the world the country needs more of......

:thumbsup:

 

[JS80]

Just say no to unions.

 

[fishmonger12]

Give me a break. The controllers lobbied for a huge (think 30%) pay increase and limitation of hours to 35 per week a while back, and the government generously met them halfway with a 15% pay increase and some other benefits. That's about the most successful negotiation I've ever heard of. And guess what the traffic controllers did? Rather than take the generous offer, they went on "strike", which isn't even fucking legal for federal employees.

They should blame themselves for the current under staffing and overworking.

 

[mitchel]

Supply and demand will solve the problem.

 

[quikah]

Why do we even need ATC still? I would think it would be pretty easy to computerize the whole thing?

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: vi edit
Doesn't a typical air traffic controller bank over 100k a year?

Are they looking for more money?

QFT....

They did great with 9/11, I think we should have docked them a bit.

Right now the housing market needs all the focus on help that could be had...along with something to fix the fucking food prices that are going out of control and seriously killing the 'working man'.

I am so glad I am fortunate enough that when milk, eggs and rice go up in price it's not going to cause me to sacrifice stuff.

My wife works mall retail designing the store layouts, she comes across a lot of associates that are making only $7-12/hr and trying to raise families. The milk thing esp is causing them a lot of hardships. The spanish people she knows are also having trouble budgeting because of the rice is almost double now.

 

[TangoJuliet]

Originally posted by: fishmonger12
Give me a break. The controllers lobbied for a huge (think 30%) pay increase and limitation of hours to 35 per week a while back, and the government generously met them halfway with a 15% pay increase and some other benefits. That's about the most successful negotiation I've ever heard of. And guess what the traffic controllers did? Rather than take the generous offer, they went on "strike", which isn't even fucking legal for federal employees.

They should blame themselves for the current under staffing and overworking.

What are you talking about? Controllers went on strike in 1981 which is basically the cause of all the problems now. Those hired after the 81 strike are now eligible for retirement leaving the current workforce staffed from 15,000 to 11,000 right now.

Again, we are not looking for insane pay raises infact we are looking to just go back to our old contract. We are looking for fairness so that the FAA just cannot impose their payrules on the workforce. Go back to the table - work something out and let us sign the contract.

Originally posted by: quikah
Why do we even need ATC still? I would think it would be pretty easy to computerize the whole thing?

Sure and then you end up with something like THIS!!!!

Have you ever flown before?? Are you willing to take the chance that a computer will do everything for you. Hopefully microsoft doesnt develop this program - God knows you dont want to see a blue screen of death in flight!

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: vi edit
Doesn't a typical air traffic controller bank over 100k a year?

Are they looking for more money?

QFT....

They did great with 9/11, I think we should have docked them a bit.

WTF are you talking about???