Air traffic controllers’ impasse looms over employees at BIA

BANGOR – Local members of the air traffic controllers’ union are outraged by what they see as the Federal Aviation Administration’s lack of respect for their jobs, which they say has been demonstrated by the two groups’ inability to reach contract agreements.

Controllers at Bangor International Airport are concerned that many of their colleagues will retire if the FAA presents unsatisfactory contracts, leaving the airport understaffed.

“Between now and 2007, we’ll have nine controllers eligible to retire out of 19,” Wesley Leighton, BIA air traffic control specialist and treasurer of the Bangor area National Air Traffic Controllers Association, said Monday.

Negotiations between the FAA and NATCA were declared at an impasse after nine months of contract talks, and the issue was turned over to Congress. Starting at the beginning of April, Congress has 60 calendar days to intervene before the FAA can impose the terms of its last contract proposal.

In negotiations, the FAA was trying to cut $1.9 billion from the budget, but the union would agree to cutting only $1.4 billion. Under the last FAA proposal, currently employed controllers will earn more a year, but controllers entering the field would earn 30 percent less than their veteran peers.

“This is not a pay issue, it’s a lack of respect,” Leighton said. “Especially to the work force in the future.”

If a suitable contract is not agreed upon and mass retirement occurs, Leighton is concerned the Bangor airport will not be staffed to support 24-hour service necessary for the numerous military flights coming through the airport daily.

“The FAA has current staffing for the [Bangor] tower that is up to FAA standards and requirements,” Rebecca Hupp, director at BIA, said Wednesday. “I think it’s a little premature for us to speculate about potential pending retirements. If it does happen, it would be a staffing issue for them [FAA].”

The FAA is not concerned by the threat of retirements, since the raise in pay is an incentive not to retire, Geoffrey Basye, spokesman for the FAA, said Wednesday.

“We’re confident we’ll continue to employ the brightest and best in this very important position,” Basye said.

As far as Bangor is concerned, Hupp said she thinks the airport will remain a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week facility. In the past year the Bangor airport faced shutting down between the hours of midnight and 5 a.m., but political and military influences provided a convincing case that the facility needed to remain open.

Sen. Olympia Snowe issued a press release earlier this week, urging both the FAA and NATCA to continue negotiations despite the impasse.

“An impasse is not in the best interest of either party – politicizing the negotiations and putting the question of a reasonable settlement at risk. I believe they should instead come back to the negotiating table to find an equitable resolution,” the press release said.

At this point, local air traffic controllers feel their only move is utilizing the political influence of the U.S. senators, urging Congress to take action, Leighton said.

Neither the FAA nor the NATCA representatives feel that a contract will be reached in negotiations that would satisfy both sides.

“Let me be clear, not only do we have utmost respect for our work force, we applaud them every day,” Basye said. “What we can’t respect and sign on to is the union leadership asking for more money when the industry is scraping for funds.”