Press Release: Reps. Kelly, Costello Introduce Legislation to Restore Fairness in Aviation Contract Negotiations

WASHINGTON - Congresswoman Sue Kelly (R-NY-19) and Congressman Jerry Costello (D-IL-12) today introduced H.R. 4755, theFederal Aviation Administration Fair Labor Management Dispute Resolution Act, to correct inequities in the current contract negotiating process between the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Air Traffic Controllers' union.

The Kelly-Costello bill helps provide an additional step of fairness in the negotiations process. Under current law, in the case of an impasse in contract negotiations, the FAA can unilaterally impose its contract upon the controllers if the agency sends the contract to Congress and there is no legislative intervention within 60 days.

Under theFAA Fair Labor Management Dispute Resolution Act, the contract negotiations would instead be referred to an impartial third party for binding arbitration. The bill has more than 30 co-sponsors.

"This bipartisan legislation underscores the importance of ensuring fairness at the negotiating table," Kelly said. "This is a common-sense approach that will strengthen efforts to establish the kind of constructive, good-faith negotiations that will result in mutual contract agreements." 

Costello said, "The current negotiations between the FAA and NATCA have made it clear that the process as currently designed is not promoting good faith negotiations on either side. Our bill would introduce arbitration into negotiations between the FAA and its unions to create a more constructive atmosphere for reaching a fair resolution. Both management and labor should embrace this balanced approach, and the traveling public will be better served." 

Kelly and Costello also cited current staffing shortages at many major air traffic control facilities and the impending retirement of a substantial percentage of the current air traffic controller workforce as incentives to ensure that the contract negotiation process is conducted fairly.

More than 70 percent of the air traffic controller workforce is scheduled to retire during the next 10 years, the lawmakers noted. It is imperative that efforts to recruit the best new controllers possible are not undermined by an unfair contract negotiation process, they said.

Main Menu
Bill Seeks to Restore Fairness