Air Traffic Controller Reno Health Emergency Underscores Staffing Crisis

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.laborradio.org/node/8856

By Doug Cunningham

National Air Traffic Controllers Association spokesman Doug Church says the continuing staffing shortage caused by FAA dictates at airports nationwide is stressing out air traffic controllers and could lead to unsafe flying conditions. Church says in Reno Monday a controller forced to work alone in the radar facility had a health emergency and couldn’t stay on duty.

: “It’s having a very detrimental effect on the health – both physical and mental – of our controllers nationwide and we’re very concerned about it.”

Church says the FAA imposed work rules and wage cuts on the controllers union in 2006 that have created what the union considers a short-staffing emergency. Congress is considering a bill to order the FAA back to the bargaining table with the National Air Traffic Controllers Association. Meanwhile, Church says, the FAA won’t admit the failure of its imposed work rules and work with the union to restore safe staffing levels.

: “It’s a desperate struggle that behind the scenes they’re trying to overcome this loss of staffing and understaffing. But publicly they will not admit failure. This is typical of the Bush administration.”

[libnnc]

1. NATCA spouse kick

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