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Letter to Sen. Barack Obama et al. supporting S. 2201, the Federal Aviation Administration Fair Labor Management Dispute Resolution Act of 2006

Web Editor's Note: Identical letters were sent to the bill's other co-sponsors, Senators Patty Murray, Daniel Inouye and Frank Lautenberg.

January 30, 2006

The Honorable Barack Obama
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator Obama:

On behalf of the 1.4 million members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and the thousands of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) employees that we represent, I am writing in strong support of your legislation, S. 2201, the Federal Aviation Administration Fair Labor Management Dispute Resolution Act of 2006.

Since Congress directed the FAA to bargain over wages and working conditions in 1996, the FAA employees we represent have been waiting for the FAA to implement a contract that was bargained in good faith at least on AFSCME's behalf. In January 2001, AFSCME and FAA reached agreement on the terms of a contract, and our members ratified the agreement. The agreement, however, was never implemented. It is AFSCME's contention that the FAA came to agreement with the Union but then reneged on the agreement at the direction of the Administration. Numerous attempts were made to resolve the issue, including a congressional attempt to direct the FAA to implement the ratified agreement in the H.R. 2299, Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations for 2002, Conference Report (page 125) and Senate Report 107-38, Department of Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations for 2002 (page 40). The FAA did not comply.

In another attempt to resolve the issue, AFSCME filed an Unfair Labor Practice charge against the FAA before the Federal Labor Relations Authority for failing to bargain in good faith. Unfortunately, the FAA prevailed in this charge so employees were again left with no contract.

Therefore, your legislation is of utmost importance for AFSCME and the FAA employees that we represent. S. 2201 will restore some fairness to a bargaining process that has been so corrupted by FAA management. AFSCME applauds your efforts, and we pledge to do all we can to ensure passage of this important legislation

Sincerely,


Charles M. Loveless
Director of Legislation

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