FAA Reminds Employees To Act With "Decorum" Following News Reports

After coming to terms with NATCA on a new contract this fall, the FAA instituted a $5 million training program for 3,600 managers who will be responsible for its administration. The employees were sent to Atlanta for four days of meetings.

But the actions of some of the employees drew the attention of ABC News, which caught hidden-camera footage of heavy drinking and partying after the sessions ended. The Associated Press reports that one FAA employee was seen on video asking an ABC reporter if she was a "hooker", because "I was ready to reach for my wallet."

The training was brought to the attention of ABC News by a whistleblower. Tom Schatz, the president of Citizens Against Government Waste, told ABC "It's the wrong time to spend five million dollars on a Christmas party for anybody's employees, especially in the government."

"We expect a level of professionalism from our employees at all times, including after work hours. We are reminding employees of that fact," said FAA spokeswoman Sasha Johnson. "Reports of unruly public behavior are disappointing for the entire FAA."

The only approved social function at the training was a welcome reception with a cash bar, which Johnson said was done at no cost to the taxpayers. AP reports that between hotel and per diem, the FAA spent just under $1,400 per employee for the training.

While the whistleblower who contacted ABC suggested that the training could have been done via a Powerpoint presentation or video conference, the FAA said it was important to do the training in the way it did. The agency said in a statement "Given the complexity of the contract and the need for managers to fully understand it, the training had to be done face-to-face not through a memo or webcast."

The NACTA contract went into effect in October.

FMI: www.faa.gov