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America’s Air Traffic Controllers Need Your Help

Take action by   Friday, April 7, 2006

This is an urgent request to help stop the Bush Administration's attack on aviation safety.

America's air traffic controllers are highly trained public servants with only one priority: the safety of the flying public. These dedicated men and women run the busiest--and currently the safest -- aviation system in the world, coping in often extremely difficult and stressful situations. 

But the Bush Administration is once again putting politics before safety--and this time they're endangering the safety of the flying public. For years a major air traffic control staffing shortage has been looming--but despite record levels of air traffic, the Bush Administration and the FAA have simply failed to properly address the increasingly desperate situation. Today there are 1,000 fewer controllers than there were two years ago.

And now the Administration actions could lead to one in four controllers retiring by next year. The Administration wants to impose a contract on air traffic controllers that would cut pay by at least 20 percent. By next year, this would actually create a situation where it's better for one in four controllers to retire than to continue working. That's over 4,000 controllers who could retire immediately, deepening the already desperate staffing crisis and leaving fewer and fewer controllers guiding more and more planes. 

Bipartisan legislation currently under consideration by Congress would restore fairness and accountability to this process.  The Fair FAA Act (S. 2201 / H.R. 4755), introduced by Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) in the Senate and by Representatives Jerry Costello (D-IL) and Sue Kelly (R-NY) in the House, would restore good faith bargaining and preserve the safety of the skies.

WE NEED YOUR HELP to ensure support for this critical legislation.  Please help us by calling your Senators now at 1-877-FAIR FAA.  

Or visit the FairFAA website to learn more about this important issue and contact your Congressman via email: http://www.fairfaa.com/