Reid Calls It Right: FAA Shutdown Is About The GOP And Delta’s ‘Non-Union’ Stance

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Sen. Reid Calls It Right: FAA Shutdown Is About The GOP And Delta’s ‘Non-Union’ Stance
http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2011/08/03/286475/reid-faa-shutdown-non-union-stance/

With Congress officially in its August recess, the Federal Aviation Administration will remain shut down for at least a month, furloughing 4,000 federal employees, stopping construction projects that employ tens of thousands of workers, and costing the government more than $1 billion in uncollected airline taxes. Airport inspectors are currently working without pay.

Much of the media coverage of the shutdown has framed it as simply another example of “Capitol Hill gridlock,” or has focused on cuts to rural airports that the House GOP included in the bill. But the crux of the matter is that House Republicans refused to reauthorize the FAA without the inclusion of a union-busting provision that would make it harder for workers at airlines and railways to organize. The cuts to rural airports — as House Transportation Committee Chairman John Mica (R-FL) freely admitted — were simply meant to stick it to Democratic senators (as they’re concentrated in states those senators represent).

(snip)

The issue, Reid says, is Delta’s “non-union” stance. The bill to fund the FAA, as crafted by House Republicans, includes language that sets new rules for aviation workers’ votes on labor representation.

Reid isn’t quite right on the details, as the issue revolves around a rule crafted by the National Mediation Board, which oversees airlines and railroads, not the National Labor Relations Board. But his larger point is correct: the GOP is insisting on legislative union-busting and is willing to shut down the FAA in order to get its way.

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1. LaHood on now

http://nationaljournal.com/n2kvideos
talking about Union Busting
a payoff to Delta
LaHood wants a clean bill and put people back to work

just tweeted
Sen. Boxer: "Well, here we are. Another made up crisis by the Republicans." #FAA

Hoyer on fire. FAA employees furloughed b/c of House Republicans' "politics of confrontation and hostage-taking."

LaHood: come back to work and put the people back to work

Keeps saying "pass a clean bill"


http://twitter.com/#!/jbendery

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2. Which is why we need to call for a nationwide boycott against Delta. n/t

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3. Dems standing firm in FAA fight

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/dems-standing-firm-in-faa-fight/2011/03/03/gIQAuzDBsI_blog.html

In a bit of good news, it really does appear that Congressional Dems are standing firm in a fight that’s emerged as central for organized labor: The battle over the reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration.

For now, anyway.

With tensions between labor and the Democratic Party running high over various policy let-downs endured by unions, the fight over the FAA has emerged as a key way for Dems — if they hold firm — to ensure that unions have a reason to work hard for national Dems in 2012.

I’m now told that the DCCC plans to make this showdown an issue in the districts of 50 House GOPers — who are pushing a version of FAA authorization that’s opposed by organized labor.