For Immediate Release
Thursday, March 15, 2001
AFSCME Applauds Secretary Mineta on Opposing Privatization of FAA
Washington, DC —The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO, applauds Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta for his statements during a recent interview, opposing a spin off of some Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) functions to the private sector and deciding to instead concentrate on making improvements to the agency.
In a letter to Secretary Mineta dated March 9, AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee conveyed the union's belief that it is in the best interest of the flying public to allow both air safety and air traffic control functions to be maintained by the FAA in one government agency staffed by dedicated federal employees.
AFSCME joins Secretary Mineta in his efforts to improve the functions of the agency. Many reforms have already been instituted at the FAA, such as the installation of a Management Advisory Council, made up of major airlines, private pilots, business and other stakeholders. In addition, the newly established "Free Flight" program will increase efficiency and increase capacity at major airports. With these new measures and other newly reformed measures in place, the FAA is in a position to modernize the system without resorting to privatization.
