Controllers Strike!

I promised you all a White Paper on whether or not the current air traffic control workforce should go on strike.  The stars are lining up for high drama in the aviation industry, and it wouldn't be the first time for America's Sky Cops to tell the FAA Administrator to take this job and shove it.

I haven't gotten around to writing that spectacular piece---retirement and four kids under Kindergarten will do that to you, and Father's Day at Soak City didn't help either---but in preparation for my take on the issue it is imperative that you take the time to read this.  It is a twelve year old paper about a twenty-six year old event---and every single solitary word will ring true for today's stressed out, harassed, intimidated and fatigued air traffic controllers.

Read it.  Don't cheat yourself skimming.  Read the whole damn thing.  The entire thesis is magnificent and it brings into very sharp focus the problems faced by workers generally, but FAA employees specifically.  The paper also exposes the utter lack of accountability FAA management operates under (which emboldens them to lie, cheat and steal,) and the disappointing failure that Congress usually ends up being when directly confronted with hard, yet solvable dilemmas.

It's no wonder the controllers went on strike in 1981.  Their bravery and sacrifice will never be forgotten, and the lessons of that strike are ones that the next generation of controllers is going to need to know as they develop and mature their union.  The strike of 1981 was a catastrophe in many ways, but one that isn't often mentioned is this:  The federal government fired the wrong half of the workforce!  They should have shitcanned all the gutless, autocratic, lying, lazy management drones instead.

Read it.

Comments

[MC]

Thanks again John,

It seems like no matter how we try to turn it, history repeats itself. The losers that rise to the top screw everything up, and we start again. Aw hell!!

How you doing Gordan?

[john hawkins]

its deja view all over again!
My god. I now understand why Marion Blakey and Laura Brown have their jobs. NATCA and you have got to better smooze the media. It has been obvious to me anyway that the problems will not be solved by technology (other than more concrete at greater distances from existing facilities). Yet all the news stories tout new technologies as the solution. I do my part by passing your URL to any mass media the run aviation stores and have the means to accept reader input.

Stop already with the ad hominem attacks and attack the actions. It plays better

[n00b]

JTB

You know something - this current controller workforce is built on the sacrafices of the PATCO guys. If it wasn't for them then none of these current controllers would have half of what they have gotten over the past 20+ years. Its time for THIS workforce to stick up for the next generation of controllers!!

[cntrlfrk]

JTB,

I can't help but agree with the last post. In the 18 years I have been with the FAA, I have enjoyed the benefits of the sacrifices made in 1981. With the disgusting treatment of the veteran employees and even more so the new hires, I have never felt like striking until now. I know it's against policy for us to strike, but if we can't then the evil doers in DC shouldn't be allowed to impose their will on us!

[class of '81]

Be very careful who's in office if and when. A cowboy is bad - very bad. We had the "Death Valley dude" then and you have the "brushcutter" now so think hard.

[24.5 and Counting]

The thing that has started that the FAA can't stop in the legal walkout... Retirement.

[DiamondJim]

Thanks John for the post. I had not been aware of this document and in reading it I was reminded of, and reflected on, my life as an ATCer. It described me all to well. 10 years in the FAA in 1981 and then on strike, fired, struggling, rebuilding, rewards. Rehired 1997, 10 years and ready to strike in a different fashion spelled "retire". The similarities between 1981 and now are almost unbelievable, certainly unwarranted, and definitely inhumane. I was not ready to pull the plug at this time, and truly wanted to stay a few more years. But NOT working for the Reagan/Langhorne Bond er Bush/Blakey duet. It would be unfair to my wife and family to go through any more. For those that can’t retire I hope that Congress can force the FAA and Mr. Bush back to reality, and sanity will return to your lives. For those that can retire no one can blame you for jumping from what is for now, in my opinion, a sinking ship. STRIKE? Never again. You can’t do it. You can’t even begin to imagine the consequences unless you’ve been there. Protest, YES, employ Congress, YES, support your Union, YES, Support each other, YES. Give in NEVER.

Signed,
“Out of here on or before 1-3-08”

[Retired_Yea]

The only job action that has produced results and has some built in protection for the participants is a SICK OUT !

Go to you family doctor, tell him you are sick of work and that the stress of working in the current work environment is making you ill, and giving you "bad feelings" about your workplace. Get a medical excuse for 3 weeks, go to work give to your supervisor with letter requesting 3 weeks of sick leave. Follow thru with filling out the proper workman's comps forms, for help, you can check here - http://www.dol.gov/esa/regs/compliance/owcp/INDEXofResources.htm

Then follow through with what ever action you need, what would be best is if 5 or 6 thousand controllers nation wide did this the same month, maybe the first week of August will send the appropriate message.

The FAA can not order you to assume safety related duties when you have been advised by a Medical Doctor that you are sick, ill, or medically disqualified.

Let's use their own rules to screw with them. They tried to fire controllers before for calling in sick, and were unsuccessful with the one's that went to their doctors and documented their illness.

[chaz]

Another disgusting, irresponsible, and insulting blog entry.
I feel for those families that suffered through what became of their lives after the Patco strike. For you to imply that this may be a recourse for the current crop of controllers is almost laughable if it wasn't so sad.
Most of the current crop of controllers has no idea what it means to be in a Union. They view it as a social club. Current Natca members have never felt any allegiance to the overall good, it is almost always a "as long as I get mine I don't care about anything else" attitude. For you to suggest otherwise is hypocritical at best, criminal at worst.
Enjoy your retirement as the rest of us struggle to clean up the mess you helped create.

[JCarter]

John,

I think this might be the most informative but the most dangerous of all your post I have seen. A strike? Are you kidding? Not a chance in HELL from this guy. Union YES! FAA no. When I take a look at how Unions are today and how some consider them negative. Why would I give anyone a reason to be against us. Even this post will have a negative effect on us. With all the prior posts lining up to support this. Are they trying to fight for the young controller or settle an old score with the fate of all in the balance? This is just my thought, 1.stike, 2.fired, 3.executive order contract out, 4.Lockmart take over and no more job. Wow! nice plan. By the way, 1,2,and 3 didn't have to happen to have 4 happen to FSS. I just think it's better to have a Union that will play by the rules and point out the facts. From a vote not so long ago, because we aren't being unreasonable we have a majority just not enough to defeat a veto. I like where you have taken us don't f-it up. thanks

[mike gilliam]

Strike?? John NATCA would never garnish enough support for that. Shit man we have controllers that look at this situation we find ourselves in as an opertunity for advancement! The y take the job at a higher more stressfull facility in hopes that "down the road the pay thing will get fixed". A strike would take SOLIDARITY. Something this Union does not have!!!!

[Toofine44]

I'm down with the "sick leave" form of striking. Its legal, and it works. WHO'S WITH ME?

[John Carr]

Hey Chaz,

Good to hear from you again, and as always...thanks for reading my stuff.

I tried to email you twice at your email address but didn't get a reply. Send me a real address, along with a real name and address for you, and we'll get that twenty bucks right out to you.

As someone in the movie "Stripes" said, "Relax, Frances." If you come here looking for the same take on the same stuff day in and day out, do us both a favor and don't. I post blogs and articles designed to get people of all divergent opinions to talk and think.

Some of the dumber readers cuss and threaten and can't really cope when things are outside the box. YAWN. So what. By this time tomorrow they will be wringing their hands about something entirely different, and I'll be two blog entries down the road.

Again...drop me a line at john@teamcarr.org and give me your email, your name, and your address. I'll cross reference it against the list of donors and your check will be in the mail.

Thanks again for reading!

XXXOOO,

JTB

[aspiringatm]

From the Pels paper (more than a decade ago)...

Congressman Guy Molinari (NY) added that "the most salient point of the GAO report . . . shows . . . the perceptions of management and controllers are worlds apart. It is hard to understand how facility managers and controllers in the same building perceive work conditions so differently."

Wow! That's what I was thinking! Same story, different decade.

[mike gilliam]

Let me clarify something JTB. "No Solidarity" in my above comment.. Just imagine what would happen Nation wide if NOBODY bid on the current FAA openings, NOBODY. The FAA would be forced to change there pay rules to get qualified people at the higher levels. I personally know of some Controllers paying there own way to higher level facilities at the same or lower pay in hopes that down the road NATCA can get FAA to change pay rules. Is this Solidarity? I mean the FAA knows that people want advancement, they know our type A personalities crave the stress of working airplanes and so they take advantage of us, they know there are lots of us that will bid these jobs regardless of the pay. Is this Solidarity?

[Bob Butterworth]

A person will act against intolerable treatment only when their fear of retaliation subsides.

[rc]

toofine44 Im with you. Someone has to do something. Ive done this in the past. Even if you have trouble sleeping the FAA has to grant you sick leave, especially after you see your doctor and prescribes medication. Screw the FAA! They do not deserve us.

[loser]

Since we can't strike, it would be great if all the retired guys planned a trip someplace very visible and picketed. They could wear shirts saying stuff like forced to retire due to notract or something way cooler than I could think of. Then every night get drunk as bastards and plan the next days "strike plan".