Professional Aviation Safety Specialists
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Web  Site last  Edited on Wednesday, December 03, 2008

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Dec. 3, 2008

Outgoing Lame Duck Bush takes another jab at Unions. It's difficult to understand his hatred of federal unions, but this goes a step farther.....read more here.

Nov. 25, 2008

Well, the ballots are in and counted. See the results.
Our congratulations go out to the new President, Rich Casey and Vice President, Monte Engler of IL3, and I'd also like to take this opportunity to thank our current President, Bob Swan for all the hard work and his dedication to the advancement of our Illinois Chapter, and PASS in general.


Nov. 10, 2008

WAAS Approaches Outnumber ILS

The FAA recently commissioned its 1,333rd WAAS approach (technically known as Localizer Performance with Vertical guidance or LPV) and that means there are now more of them than ILS approaches. The agency calls it a milestone in the transition to universal space-based navigation. The system is in use at 833 airports and the agency says it's planning to add 500 approaches a year until every qualifying runway in the U.S. has one. "This is clearly a turning point for aviation and the way pilots navigate," the agency said in a news release.

Something the agency doesn't mention but which is undoubtedly a factor in the rapid deployment of LPVs is they cost of a [sic, jerry] fraction of the millions of dollars that ILS systems cost. WAAS, or Wide Area Augmentation System, was commissioned in 2003.



Oct. 5, 2008

PASS has filed a National Grievance against the FAA for Unilaterally imposing a new (and we believe ILLEGAL) method of doing cost comparisons for Travel. Once again, PASS is looking out for your interests....
Read more here




Sept 20, 2008

AFL-CIO letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid 

The Honorable Harry Reid Majority Leader

U.S. Senate S-221 Capitol 
Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Majority Leader Reid:

On behalf of the AFL-CIO and our Transportation Trades Department we are writing to ask for your assistance in enacting legislation to resolve the broken collective bargaining system at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which is jeopardizing aviation safety. Specifically, we are asking you to ensure that language resolving this problem is included in legislation that will pass the House and Senate this session and be sent to the President for his signature.
  read more here    And here



August 9, 2008

BIPARTISAN SENATE BILL CALLS ON FAA TO RESTORE FAIRNESS IN ITS CONTRACT
NEGOTIATIONS PROCESS

WASHINGTON - Senators Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) and James M. Inhofe (R-Okla....), recognizing the need to correct what Inhofe described as a "very unfair process imposed upon employees of the Federal Aviation
Administration," have introduced bipartisan legislation that would ensure good faith collective bargaining for FAA employees and provide
for an impartial impasse resolution process. Additionally, the bill would restart contract talks between the FAA and the National Air
Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), with the process going to binding arbitration if negotiations are not successful at reaching
agreement.

The Federal Aviation Administration Employee Retention Act (S. 3416) would restore fairness to the collective bargaining process for NATCA,
the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS) and other FAA employee unions. The legislation seeks to protect federal employees'
collective bargaining rights in two important ways: first, by requiring either binding arbitration by a panel of arbitrators selected by both parties or allowing both parties, by mutual agreement, to adopt their own procedures for resolving collective bargaining disputes, ending an
ongoing cycle of litigation over the correct procedure to resolve impasses under the current law; and second, by making null and void any
changes to work rules made by the FAA administrator without union agreement or employee ratification on or after July 10, 2005.

Said NATCA President Patrick Forrey: "Our aviation system is in disarray. The FAA's unilateral imposition of work and pay rules has
forced our veteran air traffic controllers into retiring earlier than they had planned, depleting the human infrastructure that once made the
U.S. aviation system the envy of the world. The flying public is paying the price for the FAA's mismanagement with record breaking delays, and
we are concerned with the growing number of runway incursions and near mid-air collisions happening in the system. Passage of this bill will
provide the incentive for controllers to remain on the boards so that the safety of the flying public can be restored."

Contract negotiations in all of PASS’s bargaining units have been unsuccessful, resulting in impasses and lengthy litigation. "This
legislation will ensure that future negotiations are conducted in good faith and that impasses are resolved in a fair and impartial manner,"
said Tom Brantley, president of the PASS, which represents five bargaining units within the FAA including technicians and aviation safety inspectors. "PASS is encouraged that lawmakers continue to recognize the need for fairness in collective bargaining and are grateful to Sens. Lautenberg and Inhofe for their efforts in resolving
this broken process."

"As a pilot I am well acquainted with the exceptional work done by the employees of the FAA and I know first hand that our aviation system is only is as good as these employees," Senator Inhofe said shortly after the measure was introduced in the Senate. "They deserve the right to bargain in good faith on their employment contracts. This bill will give them that opportunity."

Senator Lautenberg: "The Bush Administration's disregard of FAA workers' rights has put the safety of our aviation system at risk. The
Administration’s heavy-handed tactics have forced experienced air traffic controllers out the door in record numbers. It's time we treat
these workers with the respect they deserve. By giving all FAA employees fair labor rights, we can recruit and retain the number of safety professionals our air travel system needs to run smoothly and safely."




August 1, 2008

The Article 41 Section 4 arbitration (Holiday In-Lieu of Issue) took place earlier this month (July). Usually both parties have 30 days after the hearing to send in their final briefs. The arbitrator usually takes 60 to 90 days to research the facts and render their decision. Don't  look for a ruling until the October time frame.

Chuck Siragusa
PASS Region 1 VP Assistant


June 24, 2008

Now, John Carr, Blogger & Author Extraordinaire of "The Main Bang" chimes in with his Wit and Insight into the Failed Aviation Administrations' creation of the Technical Staffing fiasco.
 Read more.


June 18, 2008

FAA Management Scrambles to Address the Senator Kerry Technical Staffing Letter

As a result of the Senator Kerry technical staffing letter to Acting Administrator Sturgell, FAA upper management sent out the attached report and was asking their management team for the number of ATSSs available to respond to the outages, if additional ATSSs were brought in through the call back process and if the staffing levels were sufficient to address the problems.

Apparently, FAA management is trying to respond to the Kerry letter and say that our low staffing situation has not resulted in NAS equipment related air traffic delays and has not been a major factor in outage duration times.

From May 2007 to May 2008, there were 4958 NAS Equipment Related Air Traffic Delays.

FAA documents, however, reveal a 50 percent increase in the hours required to restore and repair vital technical components of the NAS. Specifically, unscheduled outage restoration times rose from 21.6 hours in 2001 to 40 hours in 2006. Some facilities are staffed at less than half of what the facility has been allotted. Not only does this make daily operations difficult, it lessens the FAA’s ability to respond to an emergency in a timely and efficient manner.


June 11, 2008

The FAA is continuing to avoid the agreed-upon number of Technical Employees on-board as per the 2000 PASS / FAA Agreement. 
See PASS President Brantleys' letter to Steve Zaidman concerning the FAAs' LACK of compliance.

June 6, 2008

 This from Abby, our PASS National Legislative Director:

"Many thanks to all of you for helping to make this such a huge success.  Senator Kerry is sending the letter out today and we were able to get 32 Senators to join him (33 total)!  Once I receive the final copy with all the signatures, I will email it to everyone.  Thanks again!!"

Abby

PASS has won the support of 1/3 of the Senate in pushing the FAA to hire the 6,100 Technical Staffing positions required by the contract. The FAA has time and time again, refused to comply with the Mandate that they hire to that level. See the Senate letters to Bobby Sturgell  here , here. and here.
The FAA is hiring because PASS is forcing
the issue.

May 23, 2008

Here's another 'Gotcha', this one snuck in under the pale moonlight, escorted by  the FAA itself.

Watch your backs !!!



April 30, 2008

Senate FAA Funding Bill, S-1300 in play.

White House Warns President May Veto Senate FAA Funding Bill....more


April 15, 2008

Due to a family emergency involving the Agency's main witness, the 4-3-08 arbitration hearing involving the Agency's repudiation of Art. 41, Sec. 4, has been postponed to a later, yet-to-be-determined date. Please encourage all employees who are involuntarily scheduled off on their day in lieu of holiday to continue to file grievances so we can demonstrate damages and identify back pay recipients. 

Thanks. 

Mike Derby,
 PASS Counsel

Inspectors Union presents Safety concerns to Senate Lawmakers......more



April 9, 2008

Where FAA sees roses in new Telecommunications system,  Technicians and Controllers feel the pain of Thorns....more



April 2, 2008

 Tomorrow, April 3, PASS will be presenting it's case

 re: the repudiation of Art. 41, Sec. 4.  This FLRA decision  appears to support our argument that Sec. 4 is an appropriate arrangement.  Note the discussion of Title 5 applicability regarding "Proposal 2."

Mike Derby
PASSLaw-one

 

FAA Management is Frightening, Not the Airlines...

CNN’s Lou Dobbs ran a story and told the audience that the FAA was really just a solid bunch of overworked professionals.

Oh please Lou. Overworked?

Air Traffic Controllers yes. Technicians yes. Inspectors yes.

But what an insult to tens of thousands of FAA employees to lump them in with the people in Washington that run the agency.......read more

Lawmaker to Offer FERS Sick Leave Compensation Bill
PASS, and other Federal Unions support this measure and feel it's time for the change.....read more



March 31, 2008 

Surveillance Video Released From FAA Headquarters


March 24, 2008

FAA INSPECTORS UNION QUESTIONS TIMING OF $10.2 MILLION PENALTY AGAINST SOUTHWEST AIRLINES

Union Appalled That It Took Over a Year and a Congressional Investigation to Prompt Decision....read more

 


March 21, 2008

FAA will FINALLY Adhere to the Hiring of the 6,100 Technicians and will expedite hiring as per the PASS Contract and the numerous grievances & Unfair Labor Practices (ULPs) that PASS has WON against the agency.   The agency is FINALLY solving this issue and seeing the light. 



March 20, 2008

This is the latest plan that FAA want to impose on Engineering Services. See the pdf file and the powerpoint file.

Bob Swan.
IL3PASS Chapter president.

 

 

March 18, 2008

Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on Comp Time. signed recently by PASS and the FAA.



March 5, 2008

PASS Fears 'Labor Fatigue' Getting In Way Of NextGen Talks

Today, Aero News Net's Jim Campbell talks with representatives of the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists about concerns they expressed at AOPA Expo 2007. 
Is the FAA letting "labor relations fatigue" push unionized employees out of discussions concerning NextGen Air Traffic Control?     Listen Here



Feb. 11, 2008

See Aero-TV's Conversation With P.A.S.S. 


Feb. 8, 2008

The PASS Region 1 team will be conducting representative training in the Chicago metro area June 17 - June 19, 2008.  If you are currently a Rep. and have not had the training you may attend.  More information is in Article 3, Section of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.  If you are interested please contact Luke, Mark or Chuck enough in advance so that we may work on your release to attend.


Feb. 7, 2008

OPM says that FAA employees are happy with the "Pay for someone else's lack of performance" pay plan. Where else can we get our annual pay raise CUT, because of inclement weather, Defective, Outsourced Aircraft maintenance which causes accidents, annual  FAA Surveys which say we are NOT happy with these criteria which determine our pay, and more. See the OPM Full report here. 

Here's my suggestion... Maybe it has something to do with New Hires being paid FAR LESS than their peers. As an example, check the H band starting salary for the Chicago locality area.....

bullet

Core Compensation Salary Table, including Conversion (MS Excel)

then, check the GS-12 Pay band for the Chicago area. Compare the starting salaries and tell me it's all about
Pay-4-Performance......

Go ahead. I Double Dare ya !

In case you don't have excel, you can find the free viewer here
I can tell you that the FAA Core Comp 
H band starting salary is $58,255.00 / year 
whereas the 
GS-12 Starting salary is $71,074.00 / year 

Jerry


Feb. 2, 2008

Airline Safety: A Whistleblower's Tale

A new report spotlights how FAA inspectors must battle not only carriers but their own agency, too...read more about how this PASS Member was treated by the very same agency that  PUNISHED the very same inspector for trying to do his job.



Jan 24, 2008

O'Hare Radar System Is Criticized
By TARA BURGHART 

CHICAGO (AP) — A new ground radar system designed to prevent runway collisions at the nation's busiest airports loses accuracy during snowstorms at O'Hare Airport and can fail to see snowplows, baggage carts and other vehicles, the president of the local air traffic controllers union warned on Thursday.....more




Jan 17, 2008

37,000 FAA employees to get 3.08 percent raise

Here's the Kick in the pants that the FAA won't let you know, and will sneak up and BITE you in the future though....

Maximum salaries raised

FAA is also raising maximum salaries for its core compensation and executive compensation pay bands by 2.5 percent, Sturgell said. Research shows the FAA’s core pay bands lag behind the market by more than 2 percent, he said.

The maximum salary increase is the FAA’s third in as many years, and the largest.

Last year’s increase was 1.7 percent, and the 2006 increase was 2.1 percent.

The pay raises took effect Jan. 6.

 

Webmasters' Note:
In a nutshell, as you get your OSI/SCI/Presidential Pay raise, your salary is moving up by an average of 4% or MORE. If the FAA only moves the pay band by 1.7% and such (remember, they FROZE the pay bands for 2 or 3 years already), you WILL TOP OUT in your pay band MUCH SOONER than you'll realize. Then, for the remainder of your FAA Career, you will be CAPPED, and your future raises will be given to you as a Quarterly Bonus. THINK about what that will do to your hourly pay, your retirement, your Overtime, your Holiday Pay, your Shift Differential, your Locality Pay, and yes Gladys...YOUR TSP Contributions, by not only YOU, but the matching contributions from the FAA. 

YOUR FUTURE, and YOUR FAMILY'S Future is at stake here !

PASS is the ONLY one fighting for YOUR FUTURE and YOUR Financial Well Being.

HELP PASS to HELP YOU !!!

Jerry 














See the short Video from the PASS Convention...

John Stewart from "The Daily Show" on Iraq/Turkey

The Future of Contracting out 1 and 2 - Videos
Try something good from the Chinese Kitchen.

Hear my favorites from Dave Ross. Check out his RSS Feed at the top of page.

12/23/07

The Bush administration has used its traffic-light system to rate agency management since 2001. Now we evaluate the president's progress....the FAA Follows this "Guidance" to a T   ............more

12/14/07

PASS Puts the FAAs' Director of Labor-Relations, Melvin Harris on Notice...NO MORE LYING to the Bargaining Unit concerning surveys........more



12/7/07
PASS Changes it's name !!! .......more

12/6/07
Holiday In-Lieu Repudiation Issue:

As you know, we will be arbitrating the Art. 41, Sec. 4 repudiation issue in April 2008. The CBA says that "watch schedules on in lieu of days ...shall not be changed so as to avoid the payment of holiday pay." The FAA is claiming this language and the next sentence regarding the employee's right to work on an lieu of holiday even if management wants them to observe their in lieu of holiday violates management's right to assign work. I would like to have some testimony from employees who have been scheduled off on their in lieu of day to the effect that they were scheduled off due to "budget" concerns or solely to save money, etc. I would appreciate it if you would talk to some of the employees who have filed grievances to see what they have been told by management as the reason for the schedule change. I'm assuming that we will win the arbitration case, but have a very steep uphill battle with the FLRA. Therefore, I would like to have a good record of evidence on the motivation issue - not work or operationally related - strictly financial. 

Thanks. 



Nov. 30, 2007

In October, the FLRA asked PASS and NATCA for statements of position on whether the FAA has legal authority to pay backpay under arbitration awards. You will recall that the MSPB has already ruled that it lacks such authority. Attached is a copy of the joint statement of position recently submitted by PASS and NATCA. I worked closely with NATCA's outside counsel in preparing the statement. This can be shared with members so they will be aware of PASS's efforts to protect their right to back pay when they are subjected to unjustified and unwarranted personnel actions by the FAA. Please let me know if you have any questions. 

Mike Derby, PASS Counsel

Nov. 14, 2007

FAA Employee jumps or was thrown from Air Traffic Control Tower.......read more 



Nov. 9, 2007

Whatcha Gonna Do When They Come For You

.Every regular reader of this blog is familiar with the Failed Aviation Administration's psychotic conduct and discipline efforts. The agency will gladly fire a union representative for posting a cartoon on a bulletin board, happily suspend another union rep for not signing someone in at the facility visitor log, but do nothing to the manager that had sex with a subordinate or charged thirty grand in cash advances at casinos to his government credit card...read more



Nov 6, 2007

Get the Flick
From Don Brown’s Blog.

Backdoor Privatization

The Professional Airways Systems Specialists (PASS) is the union representing the electronic wizards of air traffic control. These guys perform the maintenance and certify that everything will work as advertised. Radars, radios, telecommunications -- these are the guys that make it all work. The mechanics (and a lot more) of ATC if you will. Pilots depend on controllers. Controllers depend on the members of PASS.

Tom Brantley, the president of PASS, testified recently on Capitol Hill. You should read his testimony. a .pdf file) I’ll hit the highlights for you.......

.......the pilot programs contained in the Senate’s version of the reauthorization bill that would turn over ownership, maintenance and operation of airports to entities other than the FAA would also place the systems and services used or provided by those airports in a category of being prohibited from the FAA’s certification program.”.  read more.


Oct. 25, 2007

Attached is a copy of PASS's legal brief to the Federal Labor Relations Authority in opposition to the FAA's exceptions (appeal) from the judge's decision dismissing the ULP against PASS arising from the ratification vote on the tentative successor ATO CBA. The brief explains the reasons for PASS's contention that the judge's decision was correct. I suggest that this document be circulated among the PASS membership so that they will be aware of the legal basis for PASS's position in this matter. A copy of the decision has also been posted in the "Members Only" section of the PASS Website. Although it is difficult to predict when the Authority will issue its decision in this matter, it is highly unlikely that a decision will be rendered in 2007. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mike Derby, Esq. 

Allow me to translate:

     The FAA charged PASS with NOT negotiating in GOOD  Faith, when the membership voted DOWN the Lousy Contract that the FAA Wanted to SHOVE down our throats, as they did to NATCA. The FAA Wants the contract IMPOSED on our membership. They lost their appeal, not once, but twice. 

     They are still attempting to force that contract on the PASS Bargaining unit. All Non-Members should be made aware that the only thing preventing the FAA from forcing this contract on us is PASS, and those who support PASS. 
Jerry Starr -

Support those who support you !



Oct. 24, 2007
Nonmembers of PASS might be interested in knowing about what the FAA is trying to do to them, and that PASS and the other FAA unions are the only entities fighting on their behalf regarding Back Pay..... 

Oct. 17, 2007
Professional Airways Systems Specialists blasts FAA's new navigation approach....read more here

Oct. 15, 2007
Congress Probes 'Major Failure' at FAA

Sept. 21, 2007
 The White House opposes H.R. 2881 and urges the Congress to adopt.....read more here

 


Sept. 6, 2007
FAA Appeals the ULP they Lost TWICE.

Here is a copy of the FLRA's appeal in the ratification case. And here is the actual copy of the FAA Appeal.  It appears that they are trying to expand the case beyond what was alleged in the complaint by claiming that the union's Vote No campaign was for the purpose of delaying negotiations.  No such claim was alleged in the complaint.  The FAA was granted an extension to 9/14 to file its appeal.  We will respond to both sets of exceptions upon receipt of the FAA's appeal.  It is difficult to predict when the Authority will issue its decision.  However, we are confident that it will not be issued in 2007.

Mike Derby - PASS Counsel

We DON'T want a contract forced down our throats. Make sure all the NON-Members understand the ramifications of this! This is TRULY important !!!
For those getting the 10% IIP, the FAA would've eliminated it in 2006 if they had won.
 Jerry "The HalfBreed" Starr



Sept. 3, 2007
Are you being denied your Holiday pay by virtue of the FAA REPUDIATING Art. 41 of the PASS / FAA AGREED UPON Contract ?  Read the FAA's Memo and File a Grievance on it !!!

 Remember.....the Notification MUST BE POSTED, and done AT LEAST 30 Days in Advance !!! 
But, hell, it's illegal and against the contract, as they have agreed to it in the first place !!!

Jerry



 
 This is Tom Brantley with a message for Friday, August 03, 2007.

 This update is to inform you that a decision was reached by the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) Administrative Law Judge who presided over the Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) case regarding PASS’s ratification of the tentative agreement with the FAA for our Technical Operations unit.

The FAA filed the ULP charge in March of 2006 after PASS informed the agency that we would actively oppose ratification of the tentative agreement. As you may recall, among the agency’s contract demands were the following:
– No guaranteed pay increases.....more

AND...
Right Click and "Save AS"

Attached is a copy of the Arbitrator Vaughn's decision on the above referenced grievance. The arbitrator sustained the grievance and found that the Agency violated the PASS/AF collective bargaining agreement AND committed an unfair labor practice by refusing to allow PASS to participate in the New Hire orientation meetings held at the FAA Academy in OKC as part of the Technical Operations Hiring, Training and Certification (TOHTC) program.

Gone Fishing

Back in the good old days, before we ran the FAA like a business and gutted staffing, equipment, modernization plans and employee morale to save money, most large terminal facilities in the country maintained 24-hour a day watch coverage for not only air traffic controllers, but for their technicians as well.  These highly trained professionals insured that the equipment was always running.  They performed preventative maintenance (which has given way to the new corporate philosophy, "fix on fail,") and they were instantaneously available if anything ever went off line unexpectedly.  That was then...this is now....more



FAA MANAGEMENT LEAVING CRITICAL NATIONAL AIRSPACE EQUIPMENT IN THE HANDS OF TRAINEES
Jun 25, 2007

MEMPHIS, TN – The Professional Airways Systems Specialists (PASS), the union that represents Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) systems specialists, are calling into question the decision and practice of leaving FAA trainees in charge of vital equipment without the supervision of trained and certified systems specialists...more



FAA TECHNICIANS BRIEF CONGRESS ON MODERNIZATION EFFORTS:

PASS Input on Critical Projects Prohibited, Chronic Understaffing Ignored While FAA Seeks to....more



PASS' Grievance Won, by virtue of the FAA refusing to implement an agreed-upon watch schedule for the SOC...here

Happy 30th Birthday PASS !

Happy 30th Birthday PASS !

It was Feb 14 1977 at the O'Hare Ramada Inn where AF representatives met to establish PASS. In the first year PASS membership reached 1,200. How has PASS helped me and all of us? Let me count the ways.

1978 PASS testified before congress on the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 and pressed for legislation on collective bargaining.

1979 PASS got night differential pay included in calculating the highest previous wage.

1980 PASS refuted Langhorn Bond's testimony that FAA Technicians were under worked and overpaid.

1981 PASS got the Airway Facilities Systems Specialists Act introduced to congress.

1982 PASS lobbied congress to avoid furloughs, pass the Air Traffic Control Revitalization Act and grant AF Techs a 5% pay differential.

1983 PASS got the Federal District Court to order the FAA to negotiate with the Union before changing working conditions.

1984 As a result of the above mentioned court injunction PASS and the FAA negotiated and reached an agreement regarding the Northwest Mountain Region reorganization.

1985 PASS won an arbitration decision allowing official time for Union Reps to attend contract briefings.

1986 PASS testified against the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Balanced Budget Act and prevented proposed cuts to the FY 87 funds.

1987 PASS acquires the DOD AF Techs at Cherry Point and helped draft legislation for a new pay series.

1988 The National Airways System Specialist Act was introduced.

1989 PASS and FAA sign an MOU on random drug testing procedures.

1990 PASS and FAA signed the AWS agreement.

1991 PASS won upgrades for Environmental Specialist.

1992 PASS testified on the FAA Inspection program which led to the passage of the FAA Reauthorization bill. The GS 2101 series was established.

1993 PASS won a legislative victory which capped FY 94 contract maintenance funding at the FY 93 level.

1994 PASS won the Sunday Premium Pay grievance.

1995 PASS lobbied to keep the 5% differential pay.

1996 PASS got congress to restore Chapter 71 got 857 AF Techs upgraded to GS-12.

1997 PASS lobbied to pass the Aircraft Safety Act.

1998 PASS successfully lobbied to add 150 System Specialist and 45 Safety Inspectors. PASS saved 18 positions at Cherry Point and stopped a downgrade at Cherry Point from GS-11 to GS-9.

1999 PASS got the FAA to provide a 5 week LAN training class at OKC.

2000 PASS won a ruling against the FAA regarding exemption from FLSA true time and one half overtime.

2001 PASS convinced congress to provide more money for Flight Standards and Aircraft Certification. PASS also stopped the FAA from making changes to working conditions. They restored AWS to the ATCT at Ronkonkoma NY and got significant payments for Computer Specialists.

2002 PASS won a grievance against the FAA for failure to fund travel and per diem for the National OSHECOM Rep. PASS got the FAA to increase the DC long term per diem to $119 and secured the right of employees to use frequent flier miles.

2003 PASS won a ruling on OSI/SCI compound payments and won a grievance on failure to promote.

2004 PASS won a grievance against the FAA over failure to process travel vouchers in a timely manner.

2005 PASS won several cases against the FAA over failure to promote. The court ruled that the FAA failed to notify PASS about the realignment of the Accounting workforce. PASS won a grievance on the FAA's failure to abide by the law to give comp time to PASS employees in approved travel status not otherwise compensable.

2006 PASS won a ruling against the FAA for failure to compensate Long Range Radar site employees after doubling the amount of standby time. PASS won a ruling against the FAA for failure to produce a market survey justifying not increasing the Core Comp Pay Bands.

2007 PASS Members voted DOWN the insidious Contract Offer FAA Management wanted to IMPOSE on our Members. The FAA has tried TWICE, and FAILED Twice, to have the contract IMPOSED upon PASS. NATCA, on the other hand, had the FAA Impose a contract on them, and as a result, the Majority of their members PAY RAISE was NOT added to their base rate of pay, and was only given out as a "BONUS". The results of that one can only imagine. Having the same base pay for 5 or more years...do the math.

The Results are in !

FAA Ranking:

  1. Best Places to Work Rankings" is 27th out of 30

  2. FAA also scored 204th place out of 222 entities

FAA Spokesman Geek LeFreak addressed the recent ranking by saying, "While some departments have set appallingly low standards, we are confident that we will be able to "lead the fleet" to depths heretofore thought unreachable. We should be able to catch Homeland Security before the end of our current Administrator's term, we think that's in the bag. The Small Business Administration, well, that's going to take quite some effort to limbo under that bar, but we've got our most incompetent leadership, and that's saying a lot, working on that now.

"You'll be hearing soon about a host of new, innovative initiatives such as: Perpetual Reorganization and the ATO- it's not just for breakfast anymore, Alchemy and the Budget, Operations Schmoperations, the Telekinesis-Weather Connection, Wheel of Maintenance, User Fees: Operating More Like a Monopoly, Subliminal Formal Training and OJT, Full Contract Wrestling, Only Models Need Runways, and If the Homeless Can Cross Traffic...They Can Control It Too, Right?, just to name a few."

Mr. LeFreak continued, "As we all know, mere numbers can be skewed to misrepresent reality, I mean, we do it all the time. While one might jump to unwarranted conclusions, we assure you that attitudes are positive, our people are optimistic and morale was never compromised."

Our Mission - Who is PASS ?

This  is not the official site of the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists. 
Its purpose is to publicize the existence, views and accomplishments of Chapter IL3 PASS.
No agency time, equipment, resources or facilities were used in the creation of this site.
This site does NOT reflect the views of PASS National or the FAA  

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