Four thousand FAA employees to be laid off tomorrow.

[Boghie]

Armageddon:nuts:

Tax collectors, airline ticket subsidy clerks, auditors, the auditors of the auditors, and a multitude of managers auditing the auditors who also handle the annual performance reviews and approve vacation time are furloughed.

Armageddon.

Is that a plane or superman flying over my house?

Whew.
It didn’t crash.
Even without auditors.

 

[driz]

And but it gets better as far as the airlines are concerned. They were saying that when the FAA stops losing the authority to collect their fee as part of the ticket the good airlines are stepping up to pocket the difference. Isn't that a nice gesture for the folks that got the big bail out? That little snippet was on the radio. I do remember from when my wife owned a travel agency that the authority for them to collect that fee, something around $50/ ticket that the original law expired for a period of time. That was in the late 90's or early 2000's and lasted for something like 6 months until they got it reestablished. During that time the money kept coming out of the tickets as usual and take a guess who was pocketing it? That was one of those little "things" that just came and went and no one seemed to notice.

 

[tsptalk]

News release from Professional Aviation Safety Specialist- PASS--the Union that represents many of those laid off tonight:

It looks like that info is password protected on the http://www.passnational.org/ site. Are you sure it is OK to post?

 

[James48843]

Yes, Tom- it's ok. It's a news release that has gone to the media outlets, and it's a "legislative update", meaning it is provided as well to members of the PAC. You are right that someone uploaded into a "password protected" area. That's just to keep people from downloading while at work- it's one of those things best read NOT on a government computer. News releases are intentionally released to the public with no copyright reserved. The more places print from it, the better.

 

[James48843]

Govexec.com has an excellent article on the 4,000 FAA employees laid off:

Engineers, safety inspectors among thousands furloughed at FAA

By Emily Long elong@govexec.com July 25, 2011

The implications of a partial shutdown at the Federal Aviation Administration were unclear Monday, with nearly 4,000 employees on furlough indefinitely, without the promise of back pay and Congress still unable to agree on funding authorization legislation.

While air traffic controllers have been deemed essential and are continuing to work, employees in other functions throughout the country on Friday were notified of the partial shutdown and told not to show up on Monday.
At FAA headquarters, 870 workers represented by American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees have been furloughed. Affected positions include civil, electronic and aerospace engineers; attorneys; staff assistants; secretaries and aviation safety inspectors. Many employees with similar job functions were not furloughed because the fund used to pay their salaries is still intact, said Bill Chouinard, president of AFSCME Local 1653.

More:

http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=48335&dcn=todaysnews

 

[James48843]

Press release this morning from the Unions representing the laid off employees:

FAA EMPLOYEES URGE IMMEDIATE ACTION ON FAA FURLOUGHS

​

WASHINGTON - Today, approximately 4,000 employees at the FAA represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) and Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS) were prevented from reporting to work and are now faced with an indefinite furlough and the uncertainties that come with sudden job loss.

"AFSCME, NATCA and PASS are deeply concerned about the long-term impact to the men and women who will be unable to earn a living because they are caught in the middle of a congressional battle. Last week, we asked lawmakers to secure swift passage of a clean extension of FAA programs to ensure that FAA employees can continue to provide important services and functions to the agency and prevent delays in FAA modernization projects and initiatives. Today, we reemphasize the need for Congress to pass a clean extension that will get men and women back to work to provide for their families. We also urge Congress to work to pass a full FAA reauthorization bill that will move our National Airspace System forward."


Click here to view the letter.

#​

American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) and Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS), represent over 30,000 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) employees.

 

[James48843]

From FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt:

Dear Colleagues,

I would like to update you on the status of our ongoing efforts to end the furlough and get every FAA employee back to work. This afternoon, Congress returns for a week of legislative activity. It’s our hope they will sense the seriousness of our situation and pass a new FAA authorization. Anything short of this is unacceptable.

We want you to know that we are actively engaging the public and local and national media on this issue. Secretary LaHood and I are making calls to mayors across the country to discuss the impact of the furlough in their communities. I was at the White House today, and they are fully engaged in trying to resolve this situation. We will continue to raise awareness of the seriousness of this issue among the American public.

Every day that Congress doesn't pass an FAA bill, our colleagues and workers across the country go without a paycheck. This is absolutely unacceptable. We are stopping work on critical construction projects around the country – they are simply coming to a halt. We are stopping critical research and testing for NextGen and other programs. We need our colleagues back at work.

The taxpayers have entrusted us with operating the safest aviation system in the world. We will keep doing that – we will not compromise safety. But we need an FAA bill in order to give the taxpayers the aviation system this country deserves and takes pride in.

I will continue to do everything I can to get our colleagues back on the job performing the valuable work that we all do together.
Best,
Randy

 

[James48843]

The ripple effect of the FAA shutdown:

FAA's partial shutdown hinders 747-8's airport certification
The partial shutdown of the FAA that began midnight Friday means Boeing's new 747-8 freighter jet won't be able to land at five U.S. airports. Boeing says it won't delay the new jumbo jet's entry into service but it may impact first customers Cargolux and Atlas Air.

By Dominic Gates
Seattle Times aerospace reporter


The U.S. Department of Transportation said Saturday that the partial shutdown of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that began midnight Friday means the first customers of Boeing's new 747-8 freighter jet won't be approved to land the jet at five U.S. airports.

Boeing spokesman Jim Proulx said, however, that this glitch shouldn't delay the new jumbo jet's entry into service this fall.

The 747-8 is Boeing's largest airplane ever, 18 feet longer than current 747 models and 13 feet wider in wingspan. The FAA has to individually certify all the airports where the plane operates to ensure that it can safely use runways, taxiways, ramps, and gates without hitting objects on the ground or interfering with other traffic.

More on how the FAA shutdown is adversely affecting Boeing Aircraft Co and Boeing's ability to deliver planes to it's customers:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2015710023_boeing24m.html

 

[James48843]

House Democrats propose clean extension of FAA funding
By Emily Long elong@govexec.com July 26, 2011
Democratic lawmakers are calling for an urgent vote on a clean extension of Federal Aviation Administration funding in hopes of bringing 4,000 furloughed employees back to work.


/SNIP...


"The House Republicans have recklessly blown up FAA reauthorization negotiations, while needlessly putting Americans out of work," said Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va. "They have not appointed conferees, they have not done the basic work to resolve the current impasse, and they seem to have no real plan to resolve it going forward other than continuing to inflict pain on working families until they get their way."
FAA is funded both by the Airport and Airways Trust Fund and the Treasury Department. Operations functions, such as air traffic control, are covered by both accounts and will continue despite the shutdown. According to the agency, functions funded solely by trust fund dollars have ceased, and the 4,000 employees paid out of the account, including engineers, safety inspectors and support personnel, have been furloughed.

more:
http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=48348&oref=todaysnews

 

[James48843]

FAA Furlough Stretches Into Day 4 With No End In Sight

WASHINGTON -- Nearly 4,000 federal employees remained temporarily out of work for the fourth day in a row on Tuesday, as Congress appeared no closer to coming to an agreement on legislation reauthorizing the operating budget of the Federal Aviation Administration. Dozens of major construction projects representing millions of dollars of work have also been halted, putting at risk thousands of construction jobs and creating potential safety concerns.

While Washington remains focused on the looming deadline to raise the debt ceiling, the professionals responsible for the nation's air safety are wondering when Congress will break its stalemate and move beyond partisan politics to restore their jobs.

"This is a microcosm of the debt ceiling problem," said Robert Challender, president of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 200. "I've been telling everybody -- this 4,000 people in the FAA is nothing compared to what's going to happen to the federal government if both sides can't agree to extend the debt ceiling."

More partisanship bickering keeping 4,000 FAA workers off the job. Incredible.

More: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/26/faa-furlough-aviation-workers_n_909984.html

 

[James48843]

Rep. DeFazio tells it like it is when the republicans have failed to pass legislation to fund the FAA.

FOUR THOUSAND FAA EMPLOYEES ARE NOW WITHOUT JOBS FOR A FIFTH DAY, and projects all over the country employing tens of thousands of private workers are now ground to a halt over the republicans failure to renew FAA's funding.

 

[Buster]

Not to mention the Airlines (except Alaska Air) is ripping travellers off for the difference from the Taxes not being collected right now...in other words, you are paying the same for tickets as if taxes were being collected, but the airlines are pocketing the pure profits.


The People involved in Washington that are responsible for this, should ALL be impeached and or fired...the lousy useless bastards!

I maybe a conservitive with central views on a lot of things..but I am washing my hands of the republican party..they are a bunch of ignorant arrogant scum!

 

[burrocrat]

Not to mention the Airlines (except Alaska Air) is ripping travellers off for the difference from the Taxes not being collected right now...in other words, you are paying the same for tickets as if taxes were being collected, but the airlines are pocketing the pure profits.


The People involved in Washington that are responsible for this, should ALL be impeached and or fired...the lousy useless bastards!

I maybe a conservitive with central views on a lot of things..but I am washing my hands of the republican party..they are a bunch of ignorant arrogant scum!

That don't leave you many options then.

And how do you take your tea, sir?

 

[Buster]

That don't leave you many options then.

And how do you take your tea, sir?

At this point..Kool-Aid is sounding better all the time....Take your tea and dump it please.

 

[burrocrat]

At this point..Kool-Aid is sounding better all the time....Take your tea and dump it please.

You'll take it with a couple lumps, just like everybody else. Sorry, we're out of sugar, sugar. Straight up.

Boo, hoo. I want to go back to my old pretend reality where I thought everything was fine because I already got mine. Sniff sniff, Mommy the mean people are playing politics with the fiat money again.

 

[Buster]

You'll take it with a couple lumps, just like everybody else. Sorry, we're out of sugar, sugar. Straight up.

Boo, hoo. I want to go back to my old pretend reality where I thought everything was fine because I already got mine. Sniff sniff, Mommy the mean people are playing politics with the fiat money again.

...just like everybody else???!??..where does that leave you? in a mormon commune, is your last name Smith?

You'd be sucking different air if you were one of those 4000 FAA employees and or one of the 10's of thousands off work because of collateral damage because of this ignorance in Washington...you maybe only be a G band, but at least you're working and can count on a paycheck this week...Hit the streets slick, and see what the real world has to offer you..NOTHING, because that's why your still sucking the hind tit of your Uncle Sam....Need your hypocrite security blanket fluffed?

 

[jpcavin]

I think my Friends list is incompatible. :laugh:

 

[clester]

...just like everybody else???!??..where does that leave you? in a mormon commune, is your last name Smith?You'd be sucking different air if you were one of those 4000 FAA employees and or one of the 10's of thousands off work because of collateral damage because of this ignorance in Washington...you maybe only be a G band, but at least you're working and can count on a paycheck this week...Hit the streets slick, and see what the real world has to offer you..NOTHING, because that's why your still sucking the hind tit of your Uncle Sam....Need your hypocrite security blanket fluffed?

Forget it Buster, he has been brainwashed like the rest of the TEA partyers who think government workers, the poor, and old need to pay the price to get us out of this mess. He probably means what he says and would gladly be a martyr because he thinks he is being patriotic when it's the folks who got us here should pay. Congress, Wall Street, Big banks, and yes the wealthy who made out like bandits during the recession. Instead, they get a free pass.

 

[nnuut]

When the going gets tough the cowards leave the herd to be devoured by the wolfs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jXxtQRy47A

 

[Frixxxx]

When the going gets tough the cowards leave the herd to be devoured by the wolfs.

So, when wolves go after the weak and sick it's good for the balance, but when humans do it, it's bad? {/insert TONGUE AND CHEEK SMILIE}