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Sep 26, 2011

14 Leading Labor Unions Continue To Pressure GOP to Deliver Benefits of FAA Reauthorization Minus Union-Busting NMB Provision

WASHINGTON D.C. – Leaders from 14 labor unions sent a letter to Congress urging members of both parties to complete a multi-year FAA Reauthorization bill, the Communications Workers of America announced today.

The letter underscored these leaders’ belief in the safety, job, and economic benefits of a long-term FAA Reauthorization bill, while also reiterating their resolve that such a bill uphold fair and democratic elections and not include an unrelated provision regarding National Mediation Board (NMB) elections.

While a recent short-term funding extension funds FAA operations through January 2012, a multi-year reauthorization bill remains on hold due to the insistence of Rep. John Mica (R-FL) and his ideological colleagues that the final bill include an unrelated provision to count non-participating voters as “no” voters in union elections.  This impasse over the NMB provision led to the FAA shutdown this past summer and remains the sticking point.

Despite rhetoric claiming desire for a long-term FAA Reauthorization bill, Republican leaders have not yet bothered to appoint conference committee members to reconcile the House and Senate versions of the legislation. 

“This issue can only be resolved when Rep. Mica and Republican leadership recognize that the benefits of the larger bill are too numerous to delay in favor of John Mica and Delta Air Lines’ extreme ideological pet cause,” said CWA Communications Director Candice Johnson. “We will know that Republican leadership is serious about delivering the jobs and economic growth afforded by the FAA Reauthorization when and if they actually appoint conference committee members.  Until then, they are complicit in Rep. Mica’s willingness to place extreme ideology over vital upgrades and job growth.”

In their letter to Congress, the 14 labor leaders wrote:

“Passage of an FAA bill is critical to air safety, will create more than 300,000 good jobs and will modernize our aging air traffic control system. Failure to complete an aviation safety bill due to issues that have nothing to do with the safety and expansion of our aviation system, will be a major setback for the 757 million annual air travelers who rightfully expect their elected leaders to be responsible stewards of our aviation system…Furthermore, any attempt to repeal National Mediation Board (NMB) union election rules for aviation and rail employees or to amend the Railway Labor Act does not belong in FAA reauthorization. These efforts have absolutely nothing to do with aviation safety or job creation, and the new NMB election rules simply allow for a majority of those voting in a union election to decide the outcome.”

The heads of the following labor unions signed the letter to Congress: Association of Flight Attendants-CWA; AFSCME; Air Line Pilots Association, International; Communications Workers of America; International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers; International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers; National Air Traffic Controllers Association; Laborers’ International Union of North America; Office and Professional Employees International Union; Professional Aviation Safety Specialists; Transport Workers Union of America; Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO; United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union; and United Transportation Union.

To access the full letter, visit: http://files.cwa-union.org/national/PressReleases/FAABillSignOnLetterSeptember2011Senator.pdf

Immediate Release: Contact: Chuck Porcari, 202-434-1121 cporcari@cwa-union.org or Elizabeth Schilling, 202-434-1344 eschilling@cwa-union.org

September 26, 2011