Another One Down, Another One Gone, Another One Bites The Dust

The FAA has had over 200 controller employees resign this year, slightly more than one percent of the total workforce.  I don't know what "normal" is considered, but this number is about 199 higher than any previous year I knew about.  It truly is a shocking statistic.

The next generation of air traffic controllers are quickly discovering that they've been duped into servitude to an ungrateful employer for slave wages, crummy working conditions, toxic facilities and family-destroying schedules.  And smart whipper-snappers that they are, they are voting with their feet.  I say bully for them.  If enough of them leave to cause the system to completely implode, perhaps real and lasting change can take place. 

The only group heading for the exits faster than the new guys is the old guys.  They grabbed the bird's tail feathers, gave it a squawk, slid down the dinosaur tail and hopped into their Flintstone-mobile and yaba-daba-dooskied out of the FAA to the tune of over 900 in a single year.  I resigned the very day I was eligible, at the age of 48.  Nine hundred fossils and two hundred rookies equals eleven hundred souls the FAA will not have. 

The FAA spokesmodels are fond of telling any idiot who will listen that they hired 1200 controllers last year.

WRONG.

When you go to law school you ain't a lawyer.

When you go to med school you ain't a doctor.

When you go to boot camp you ain't a soldier.

And when you go to the FAA Academy...you ain't a controller.  Not by a long, long shot.  Maybe you will be  greenhorn rookie that can work on his own in three to five years.  Maybe you will wash out.  But you aren't a productive member of the facility (except for chow runs) for at least several years.  And, of course the agency is hemorrhaging institutional memory and intellectual capital.  The nine hundred who left each had a minimum of twenty years of service (I had 29.)  900 X 20 = 18,000 YEARS of experience, being replaced by the fastest one to answer the MySpace or FaceBook or Craigs List ad, or maybe the one on the city bus. 

Russ Chew was fond of saying, "you have to make people uncomfortable in order for them to want to change."  That, in a nutshell, was the FAA's plan for rolling out the ATO.  Well, now the shoe is on the other foot.  It's time the FAA, the airlines and the traveling public spent some time being uncomfortable.  Perhaps if the roof caves in on this thing something positive can be rebuilt out of the rubble. 

Here's the text of another "Sayonara Buffalo Bob" letter.  Is it just me, or is there a recurring theme to these things???

Brian Lentini, ATM                                                              November 5, 2007
Atlanta Large TRACON

Dear Brian,

This serves as my notice to withdraw from training, effective immediately and resign from federal service effective November 24, 2007.

After much soul searching I have decided that the direction of the Agency and the Facility does not coincide with the direction that I want for my own life. As a single mother I can not imagine facing years of 6 day work weeks, all along relying on a paid provider to raise my child. Moreover, I can not afford to pay someone for that service, should I choose to, under my current or future rate of pay, as imposed by the Agency.

The Agency, which professes a "Family Friendly" atmosphere, has not shown by its actions, that they truly value its employees. The Agency continues to make short notice Overtime assignments, directly impacting the employees' child care or other family arrangements. The Agency continues to place new hires at facilities without giving the new hires an opportunity to select a desired location. The Agency has not provided an on site day care facility, even though the employees requested it.

It is my hope that the Agency learns from these issues and takes corrective action, so that those who come after me stand a better chance at being fully successful in such a wonderful occupation as Air Traffic Control.

Sincerely,

Ex-Controller X

Comments

[oh boy]

Chow runs- that's funny. I'm sure the statistics will not include a dev. we have that is tranferring to Customs. Something about he needs to be able to feed his family.

[Not Very Good]

Can I get a compitulation of resignation letters or email them to me. I would like to email them to Congress. I don't know if they are getting this part yet. But, worth a write or two to them at least my delegation.

As always Thanks JTB.

[nutts]

my god what have thies F##CKERS done, if controllers controlled like thies mangers manage we all get fired for haveing too many deals. my hats off to all you new folks that have told thr FAA to shove it up there asses,they have cut the guts out of somthing very special.SHAME ON YOU PEOPLE RUNNIING THIS FARCE SHAME ON YOU, AND REMEMBER WHAT COMES AROUND GOES AROUND, AND YOUS IS COMMING REAL SOON.

[nutts]

ops i need to add 509 days

[Just a Cracker]

The longer this whole situation sinks into the abyss of certain privatization the more dumb-founded I become that anyone would take the faa's job offer in the first place.
Perhaps someone out there in Main Bang land can enlighten me as to why people say yes to the faa in the first place? Is it because they believe that NATCA has any chance of fixing this (hint:they don't)? Is it because they believe that the faa will treat some new hire better than a 10-15-0r 30 year employee (hint: they won't).
Any new hire who isn't intelligent enough to see what they are getting into will certainly be either a training failure or one of Ventris' underlings within a short period of time.
The B-scale is coming for all controllers with each new hire that says yes to the faa.
Mr. Forrey's bridge building exercise was an abject failure. Mr. Forrey hoping and praying that Congress is going to fix this is nothing more than a 65 yard hail Mary pass with no time left on the clock and the quarterback has a bad throwing shoulder.
The faa bitch-slapped NATCA all over DC when we had a leader. The current NATCA leadership situation is child's play for the faa and every supervisor, manager, and interm administrator knows it.

[frankie]

yeah, this shit ain't looking too good. we're screwed.

[vectorstick]

well just a cracker the reason they take these so called jobs at half pay is they are stuck. many have been controllers in the military with the sole idea of making it to the faa, others have gone deep into debt going to school to get an air traffic control degree only to be slapped in the face with the reality of the situation. i for one would love to see how many new students are actually enrolling in that farce of a program. i think we should start sending a delegation to enlighten anyone foolish enough to still want to pay thier way into this abyss!

[FED up]

Now, now JTB. Chow runs are no longer permitted remember? The IWR's eliminated the right to leave the facility and get food.

[chip degan]

Headache increasing. No relief in sight.

[Ruth Marlin]

Interestingly enough, FAA headquarters employees(where these decisions are made) enjoy on site child care, compressed work schedules, and cafeteria access. Not to mention holidays, nights and weekends off.

[deweyscrewumandhowe]

Come on Ruth, we kow how much more the Independence Ave folks deserve the extra stuff. After all, we are only "labor". We must remember our class stature. The Royalty gets all the goodies, the serfs and peasants do all of the work.

Of course, we do remember what happens when the "lower classes" finally get tired of the oppression.

[taccatc]

what can i say, other than, the faa just doesnt get it. when you have people bailing out left and right, from new hires to veteran controllers, and potential hires turning down positions because of the pay scale (me for one), what is it going to take before they finally wake up and smell the burnt coffee (because there isnt anyone left to turn it off).

i was a controller and retired from the navy in 2004 with both shipboard and shore based experience, and applied for one of the RMC positions. it took the faa 2 yrs to finally offer up a spot, but by then i was already with CBP air and marine, and enjoying every bit. i considered switching to the faa, but when i asked if i could come on with the same pay and benifits that i currently have, i was told nope, no way, all i could bring over was the annual leave i had saved. they must have been on some powerfull shit to even think that i would even consider giving up what i have now.

i returned the offer letter to them with not only a no but a hell no and told them no dough, no go.
Cheers

[one percent]

Boy I bet that "one percent" of resignations are really hurting the FAA now. I guess they dont have trouble paying for their college loans.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaJJLBlCIYQ

[GoingGoingGone]

Watch what happens next year when controllers pay is frozen again for a second year. Controllers will bail at greater rate than 2007 and I will be one of them. 257 days left to go.

[lowskillset]

I've been told by FAA management that these new hires don't do the job for the money. They just like airplanes. Apparently, their attraction to airplanes is so strong that they will work in or around airplanes or airports regardless of pay or benefits. Their faces light up when they hear the roar of a jet engine, the screech of tires on the runway or the popping of a Skywagon's prop.

I thought this was complete nonsense until one trainee returned from a 6 minute break recently and grabbed the handset from me. He said, "why should you have all the fun talking to airplanes? I like airplanes too!" I just stood there realizing that only a couple or years from retirement I would never have the enthusiasm or the love of the job that he did. I was too wrapped up in my paycheck.

I bet our new boss Hank would have liked to have had a group of pilots back at the airline like these new trainees. "No Hank, we don't want a pay raise. Just make sure we have a place to sleep, food to eat, and we'll fly the wings off your jets."

[nutts]

give guys like this a couple of years on there own with shitty pay and the treatment and see how eager they are to come back early from break. 508 days

[nwprlc]

What happened to the "pay by area" pay cuts all the large Tracons and centers were going to experience ? Is that still to come, or has Krank-kowski figured out that would be as bad of an idea as zero per diem for the OKC new hires was ?

Management at my facility beat the pay by area drum loud and long, used it to justify their ongoing and chaotic move to realign from six to five areas (an enormous CF that won't be complete by the time I retire in 839 days), even claimed out loud in the control room that one of our areas would be reduced from ATC 12 to 8 if this realignemnt wasn't accomplished. Fear tactics 101.

The Bush-Blakey gang wanted to get rid of all of we "overpaid" controllers, but they wanted to do it on their time table (IOW we hang around long enough to work the planes and train our slave wage replacements) not ours.

CIP cuts, another round of base pay freezes, and a ridiculous pay for performance plan where facility management and some outside board of evaluators decide whether you get a few crumbs placed in your hand. All on the marquee for January 2008.

The next administration is going to have an even bigger mess to fix when as Mr Forrey claims, close to 2200 retirement eligibles will probably chose a pension over a disfunctional, hostile workplace.

[ZZ-Retired]

NWPRLC has hit the nail right on the head . Management at SCT bluffed the local in to 5 areas by crying "pay by area" and the local bought off on it. Now , on paper, staffing for 5 areas does not look as bad as the original 6 areas. That was one of the reasons I retired. I will not be part of a system that trains its replacements so the FAA can implement "B"scale wages.
I am sure several controllers are reading this saying "that will never happen" the same way thay thought the IWR's would never last long. Wake up people, stop training, don't answer your phone when they call for OT and if scheduled for OT call in sick and get a DR's excuse. It is that simple. Oh ! stop talking to management, playing golf ,softball and fantasy football with them. you are making a fool out of yourself.

[Mikey G]

It will not change people. And we are all our worse enemies. New people are taking on this job and current controllers are stepping all over each other to pay there own ways to bigger more complex facilities all in hopes that "things will change" "NATCA will fix the pay problem" I've heard a gazillion reasons (hell Ive even contemplated taking there $20,000 move money with no raise) but WAKE UP EVERBODY. You are doing the FAA'S dirty work for them. Why would they ever give in and change the pay when the fact is there are controllers at small facilities looking at this as a chance to take a promotion without a lot of competition. The new hires at my facility are talking about bidding DFW and the sorts and the ATM is telling them they will probably get it. They just don't care, it's not about the big picture, it's about them and there family NOW. And at the other end of the sword is the bigger facilities are in a huge need for them so they reluctantly start training them and after a few short weeks they realize "hey these are good people" and so train away they go like no (imaginary strike line was ever crossed). It will not cahnge, the battles are lost and the war is almost over.

[RIF'd AFSS'r]

Lockheed (or Ratheon) will come riding in to "save" ATC with privatization. The pay issue is still a big problem with the FSS privatization. Some sources say the extra money that LM is asking the FAA for is more than the differnce in the MEO/Harris bid and Lockheed's. The FAA is still greasing the privatization skids for you guys!!!

[OU]

First off LM bid was the most expensive to begin with. Second I am one of the people that decided to resign, rather than stay on and put up with pure hell. 10 hour days 6 day work weeks, no thanks. IT'S JUST NOT WORTH IT!!!

[tds]

After 23 yrs, 19 at ZAU and 4 at C90, Ive seen this job deteriate over the last 7 yrs to a level that makes it a chore to go into work. Bush and his cronies have not only destroyed the dedicated workforce of the FAA, but have undermined the entire working class in the USA. The sychophants who now manage most facilities are a disgrace to the air traffic control system. We all know where they came from, washouts, traffic dodging suckups. I have six months to go and the day Im eligible Im out of here. My hope is that Natca will continue to fight these union busters on every issue. The tide will turn and we will win, but first we have to get the scum out of the pond. Hopefully in November 2008 we'll take that first step.

[nwprlc]

All good points. Good luck in retirement TDS, you've earned it. I'm about 19 months behind you.

[Not going to Happen]

Maid Marion is gone. Nothing has changed. The partial playbook of 1997 dumbing down the workforce is about complete. It hasnt been since 2000 and Bush entirely. Its the Government!! The weaksticks have gravitated to the top; And left the people who want to, and can, work the traffic. The only way "to win" is to retire and quit. Its not going to change. People are trying to make more money and taking Supe's jobs; And their even taking Management training classes to get a break from the facility; Talk about Management suck ups! We are working shorter than ever and people are going to far away classes. Its going to get worse!

[ZZ-Retired]

Yes, it appears to be "every man for himself" mentallity. The FAA counts on it. It looks like FAA Re-authorization will never make it. If it even gets to the Devil's (Bush) desk, he will veto it. Next week is the busiest travel week of the year. I am sure there is a plan..............RIGHT ??

[nwprlc]

Train to succeed had/has very little if anything to do with the Bush-Blakey game plan NgtH and the circumstances we find ourselves in.

And frankly I couldn't care less how inept, worthless and weak as controllers management was/is, as long as my pay is restored, we eventually get a ratified agreement, and we have an appropriate level of controller staffing.

[Pay over Safety]

"nwprlc"-- Now that is selfish!!!

[C$M4]

My kid (developmental), who worked briefly for Lockheed Martin flight service, tells me yesterday he is to receive a back pay check from LM resulting from the pay review ruling against the FFA this past year. He's making $30,000 and small change/yr. to train as a controller, and getting back pay from a flight service job where he made $50,000/yr., but was apparently "underpaid". How fud up is that?!

These kids are only sticking with FFA in the hope things get better. I hope for our sakes and the sakes of the flying public they are right.

[They are Wrong]

Sticking around makes the end...Nearer! Not farther.

[nwprlc]

"nwprlc"-- Now that is selfish!!!

Is it selfish to suggest that fairness on pay(for all controllers) and adequate controller staffing, is the elixir here?

I've been pushing tin for 24 years, 20 of them at FAA. And I can count on the fingers of one hand (yea all six of them) the number of FAA managers that I though were worth a damn.

We (controllers) have always made it work, in spite of management's efforts to the contrary in many cases.