"Support The Ones Who Guide You Home"

After failing to convince the FAA to reopen talks on a new contractfor air traffic controllers -- leaving the possibility the FAA could unilaterally impose new terms on controllers -- the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) is taking its message to the streets... or more accurately, the airport concourses.

NATCA reports that hundreds of air traffic controllers nationwide are attempting to bring their message of fairness in collective bargaining with the Federal Aviation Administration directly to the people who, according to NATCA, stand to feel the impact of a forced contract upon controllers the most –- the American traveling public.

To that end, controllers will be distributing a leaflet to travelers at dozens of airports asking them to call 1-877-FAIR-FAA, and urge their member of Congress to join with lawmakers that have either supported bills to stop the FAA from unilaterally imposing a contract on controllers after June 5, or have asked FAA Administrator Marion Blakey to resume contract negotiations with NATCA.

As Aero-News has reported, if Congress doesn't act by June 5, the FAA could subsequently impose its contract offer on controllers -- and cut their pay. NATCA has stated that could cause as many as one in four controllers -– nearly 4,000 total –- to retire upon reaching their eligibility date... exacerbating a staffing shortage, and likely leading to flight delays.

"Controllers take their responsibility to the flying public very seriously and we feel it’s vitally important that travelers are informed about the possible ramifications of this contract situation," NATCA President John Carr said. "The FAA has a big staffing problem on its hands already; it’s more than 1,000 controllers short nationally from 2003 workforce totals. This new round of retirements would create safety and delay problems."

"We want travelers to know that we are a dedicated, highly-skilled group of professionals that always puts their safety first," added Carr. "The public has the ability now to protect the future levels of safety and efficiency of the system by supporting us and conveying that support to their representatives in Congress."

FMI: www.natca.org, www.faa.gov