"Senator, the stakes for the taxpayers in these
negotiations could not be higher. Under the 199K agreement, base
salaries for controllers have soared by more than 75 percent
– from $64,877 in 1998 to $113,615 in 2005. When you add on
premium pay and benefits (including special retirement payments not
generally available to other federal employees), average cash
compensation now exceeds $128,000 a year and total compensation,
$166,000 a year. By comparison, FAA safety inspectors with
considerable expertise and experience make significantly
less."
Source: FAA Administrator Blakey to Senator
Barack Obama, in explaining the FAA's position on negotiations with
NATCA.