More than 30 lawmakers have signed on to a House bill — identical
to one introduced in the Senate in January – that could force the
Federal Aviation Administration to resolve labor disputes with
unions through binding arbitration as a last resort.
The lawmakers are co-sponsoring a bill introduced by Reps. Sue Kelly,
R-N.Y., and Jerry Costello, D-Ill., that would close what the
National Air Traffic Controllers Association has called a loophole,
whereby the agency administrator can declare an impasse over
negotiations for pay and benefits and impose new rules unless Congress
intervenes in 60 days.
Sens. Barack Obama, D-Ill., Patty Murray, D-Wash., and Frank
Lautenberg, D-N.J., introduced their version on Jan. 26. “In arbitration,
both labor and management would have to make concessions, and both
would be able to accept the outcome as fair,” Sen. Obama said.
“FAA administrator Marion Blakey is ready to declare impasse as soon as
she possibly can and this bill will help stop that,” said NATCA
president John Carr.
The agency and the NATCA, which represents about 20,000 controllers,
among the highest paid in the federal government, have been locked in
a struggle since last July over ironing out a new contract. The current
contract expired in September, but remains in effect until a new one
can be reached.