The members of the National Air Traffic Controllers Union have voted to ratify a new collective bargaining agreement with the FAA.
The FAA has been operating under workforce rules imposed by the agency after it declared an impasse to labor talks in 2006 and walked out. Congress allowed the agency’s proposal to be implemented.
The parties settled about 100 issues that the union members voted “yes” for, while independent arbitrators settled others such as compensation rules and that were not subject to ratification.
According to a joint statement, the agreement provides for more flexible work schedules, childcare support and a new grievance review process, more flexibility in redeploying labor to congested airports using incentive pay, and more equitable pay standards to benefit new hires and veterans nearing retirement.
The new contract, which will cover NATCA’s air traffic controller, traffic management and NOTAM specialist bargaining units, took effect October 1.
“Now is the time to move forward and forge a working relationship that will stabilize the workforce, effectively train the large number of new hires and keep the current system safe and efficient while we transition to the Next Generation Air Transportation System,” said union president Patrick Forrey.