Blocks Lockheed Deal

On Capitol Hill Thursday, the US House blocked efforts by the FAA to outsource Flight Service Stations around the country, a move that would have closed a number of them and threatened the pensions of more than 1,000 specialists.

The National Association of Air Traffic Specialists (NAATS) applauded the 238 members of Congress that passed an amendment to prevent the closure of 58 Flight Service Stations across the nation.

Kate Breen, president of the National Association of Air Traffic Specialists is thrilled this tri-partisan effort had such a good turn out. "These elected officials should be commended for seeing the other side of this contracting out issue. This is about safety and keeping the pilots and their passengers safe, it should not be about a major corporation making a profit." Lockheed Martin won the contract on February 1, 2005 and with a contract this size Congress should have a voice. The contract award was for $1.9 Billion over 10 years and this amendment would give Congress a chance to examine the issue fully through a hearing or a Government Accountability Office (GAO) study.

Breen also said "It's about the employees as well, over 1,000 employees will lose their pensions if Lockheed Martin takes over on October 4, 2005. The promise of jobs by Lockheed Martin for most employees is for a short period of time to close one of the 38 facilities. The FAA is also very proud of the personnel policies they have set up for employees, what they don't tell you is that these policies to allow people to bid on jobs have been used for less than 10 percent of the affected employees."

President Bush has threatened to veto the measure, saying House members are standing in the way of government reform. But Breen wasn't sure the administration would carry through on that threat.

"Is [Bush] really going to hold up a bill that size for us?" she asked. She said she remains "cautiously optimistic" about the provision's chance of survival.

The Senate will take up the appropriations bill after the 4th of July recess, NAATS hopes the Senators will vote to keep these jobs within the Government for safety and personnel issues as the distinguished members of the House did.

FMI: www.naats.org