Four thousand FAA employees to be laid off tomorrow.

[Khotso]

More :
http://fastlane.dot.gov/2011/08/laguardia.html

You rock James!

 

[James48843]

Sickening Simply sickening.


http://edition.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/08/01/faa.funding.impasse/index.html

But on the Senate floor Monday evening, senators argued over an issue they said was the real subject of the dispute -- new National Mediation Board rules that make it easier for airlines to unionize. Democrats favor the new rules; Republicans oppose them.
Rockefeller decried Mica's tactics of sticking policy issues in a funding extension bill, and blamed Mica for "sticking it to" the nearly 4,000 furloughed FAA employees.

"It's a tragedy that never had to happen," Rockefeller said. "It's a tragedy about ego, about bullying, about proving that one side is willing to cave," he said.

Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, defended Mica's bill, saying he shared Mica's frustration about operating FAA through a series of 20 temporary funding bills, instead of a permanent bill. Hatch said Congress needed to take a stand against the mediation board rules.

Just sickening.

 

[James48843]

LaHood: FAA funding failure has 'enormous' ripple effects

By Althea Fung National Journal August 2, 2011
With the debt deal almost shored up, Congress has dashed off to enjoy the summer sun. But what about the Federal Aviation Administration?

For more than 10 days now, the FAA has been limited in its ability to do its work after both chambers of Congress failed to agree on an extension of funding for the reauthorization bill that expired in 2007 and has been temporarily extended 20 times since.

Without the reauthorization, the FAA has put about 4,000 employees on unpaid leave and is unable to collect taxes on airline tickets. Analysts estimate the government is losing $200 million a week in airline revenue because of the shutdown, according to Consumer Reports.

More than $277 Million lost tax income so far, and 75,000 people thrown out of a job.

More:
http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=48414&oref=todaysnews

 

[Viva_La_Migra]

You all totally miss the point.

This destruction of FAA Employees has nothing to do with saving money. It has nothing to do with balancing the budget. In fact, the republicans have INCREASED, not decreased the debt, as a result of their actions.

Read this:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/28/opinion/28thu2.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

If they were interested in balancing- they would not have let the appropriations lapse. They aren't. They are interested in destroying the American worker. THAT is what this is all about. About destroying the ability of the American worker to form a Union.


That is what this is all about.

By the same token, the Democrats only care about their union campaign contributors. If they cared about these people earning a paycheck, they'd agree to fund the program. The truth is, they want their campaign money. The unions provide that, but they can't give more unless they have more union dues paying members.

 

[FAB1]

I agree with Viva. Paying union dues is no different than giving money to the D-party. What was one of the first things Obama did in office, raise the minimum wage. Looks like a nice thing to do but it was Union payback as their wages are based of a formula on the MW. When it goes up so does their pay and more dues into the D-system. Nice game ya got going there. ya Crooks.

 

[RealMoneyIssues]

I agree with Viva. Paying union dues is no different than giving money to the D-party. What was one of the first things Obama did in office, raise the minimum wage. Looks like a nice thing to do but it was Union payback as their wages are based of a formula on the MW. When it goes up so does their pay and more dues into the D-system. Nice game ya got going there. ya Crooks.

Unions Rock !!

 

[James48843]

List of "STOP WORK" orders issued so far:


http://www.faa.gov/news/media/workstop/

FAA Stop Work Orders that have been issued

• | Updated: 1:40 pm ET August 2, 2011

Jacobs Engineering	California, Oregon, Texas, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, D.C., Florida, Minnesota, Illinois, Virginia	Architect & engineering, construction for en route centers and combined en route and approach facilities	$370,000,000
Reliant Contractors	Greenville, MS	Construction of remote communications air-ground facility	$97,500
Flintco, Inc.	Gulf Port, MS	Tower construction	$11,845,620
Daniel J. Keating Co.	Wilkes Barre, PA	Tower construction	$14,721,356
Paul J. Scariano Inc	New York	Demolition of LGA tower	$6,324,387
Sheckler Contracting, Inc.	Leesburg, VA	Roof replacement at en route center	$363,000
Nationwide Construction Group	PA, NY	Construction, physical security	$718,000
M&M Enterprises	Dulles, VA	Fence construction	$56,000
Jones Morgan Inc	Rochester, NY	Construction	$346,000
Boykin Contracting Inc	Greenwood, MS	Construction	$56,000
KOBO Utility & Electric	Hyannis, MA	Construction of Precision Approach Path Indicator lights	$37,000
Flintco, Inc.	Memphis, TN	Tower construction	$55,953,326
Patriot Electric Inc	Providence, RI	Fire alarm, construction	$237,000
Standard Builders Inc	Memphis, TN	Painting	$18,000
Corinthian	Warrenton, VA	Construction of new Command Center	$24,338,718
6K Systems Inc.	Burlington, MA	Computer services	$234,000
Chappy Corp.	Baltimore, MD	Site preparation for installation of BWI ASDE-X	$2,279,576
AKAL Security Inc.	Baltimore, MD	BWI ASDE-X	$91,500
Limbach Co. Inc.	Oakdale, PA	Boiler, construction	$205,000
Construction and Service Solutions	Rochester, NY	Roof construction	$316,000
Peachtree Mechanical Inc	VA	Construction at Washington en route center	$631,000
Sheckler Contracting Inc.	NY	Construction at JFK tower	$155,000
S&E Services, Inc.	Garden City, NY	Construct a catwalk in NY TRACON	$1,781,000
Limbach Company LLC	Pittsburg, PA	Plumbing, construction	$175,000
CUSA Consulting Corp.	Erie, PA	Fire life safety, construction	$112,000
Postier & Jaeckle Inc.	Rochester, NY	Construction	$27,000

(MORE)

 

[James48843]

STOP WORK ORDERS:

Peachtree Mechanical Inc	VA	Construction at Washington en route center	$631,000
Sheckler Contracting Inc.	NY	Construction at JFK tower	$155,000
S&E Services, Inc.	Garden City, NY	Construct a catwalk in NY TRACON	$1,781,000
Limbach Company LLC	Pittsburg, PA	Plumbing, construction	$175,000
CUSA Consulting Corp.	Erie, PA	Fire life safety, construction	$112,000
Postier & Jaeckle Inc.	Rochester, NY	Construction	$27,000
Petersen-Dean Inc.	Jacksonville FL	Construction at Jacksonville en route center	$55,000
Marathon Electric Inc.	Memphis, TN	Construction at Memphis en route center	$88,500
Moulison North Corp.	Portland, ME	Electrical project	$9,000
Cornerstone Construction Services	Lawrence, MA	Roof construction	$47,000
Pine Tree Elevator	Portland, ME	Elevator project	$163,000
CGMC Building Corp.	Poughkeepsie, NY & Danbury, CT	Seismic upgrade	$488,000
Prow’ess Construction Corp.	Lawrence, MA	Facility modernization Construction	$123,700
Atlantic Defense Contractor	Portland, ME	Seismic upgrade	$935,000
Synthesis Inc.	Ronkonkoma, NY	Drain project	$10,000
McKercher Corp.	Miami, FL	Electric project, construction	$133,900
Synthesis Inc.	Ronkonkoma, NY	Construction upgrade	$256,700
CMGC Building Corp.	Nashua, NH	Mechanical room construction	$88,500
LVI Services	New York, NY	Construction	$1,100,000
Security Construction Services	Nashua, NH	Construction, attic rehab.	$4,670,000
Peachtree Specialty Group	Atlanta, GA	Construction at Atlanta en route center	$133,900
Louis Berger & Associates	New York	Asbestos removal, construction	$168,500
TJB Air Conditioning and Heating	19 Terminal Doppler Weather Radar facilities	HVAC renovations	$1,030,000
Swinterton Builders	Palm Springs, CA	Construction of tower	$14,229,775
Devon Construction, Inc.	Oakland, CA	Construction of tower	$31,000,304
Cobalt Construct.	Palmdale, CA	Construction(86% complete), modernization of 2d floor of automation wing and control floor, attic	$12,146,449
Bara Infoware	Sacramento, CA	Replace roof and visitor entrance wall panels at Tracon	$759,567
E Corp	Auburn, WA	2d floor automation wing	$2,294,220
Ahtna Engineering Services LLC	Bethel, AK	Airport Approach and Runway Entrance Lights installation	$843,816
Archer Western Contractors	Las Vegas, NV	Construction of new tower	$43,429,116
Imperial Construction Weatherford TX	Houston, TX	Construction of replacement TRACON	$25,085,257
Imperial Construction Weatherford TX	Chicago, IL	Parking lot replacement at en route center	$1,500,000
Skanska	Kalamazoo, MI	Construct new tower	$14,422,975
Skanska	GFK	Install new radio transmitter receiver	$848,500
Skanska	Walnut Ridge, AR	Install new Medium-Intensity Approach Lighting System for runway	$587,000

 

[James48843]

STOP WORK ORDERS:

Concept Solutions, LLC	Reston, VA	Business Management Support for Joint Planning and Development Office	$1,447,999
CGH Technologies, Inc.	Washington, DC	Various projects per Work Order. Support for Aeronautical Information Management (AIM) Obstruction Evaluation	$54,075,701.00
CGH Technologies, Inc.	Washington, DC	Various projects per Work Order. Current WO for development support for Airports Geographic Information System	$54,075,701.00
Network Designs, Inc. (NDI)	Vienna, VA	Security Engineering Support for FAA's Alaska Flight Service Modernization (AFSM) Program.	$914,961.54
Lockheed Martin	Washington, DC	Program Management Support for ATO Technical Operations	$233,000
AST Eng	Multiple locations	ERAM support services will be halted at all locations except Seattle and Salt Lake City	$3.5M
Science Applications International	Las Vegas, Minneapolis, Dulles, Charlotte, Chicago O’Hare, Ft. Lauderdale, Newark, LaGuardia, Phoenix, Houston, Seattle, Los Angeles	Engineering support for runway status lights	$37M
Sensis Corp	Las Vegas, Minneapolis, Dulles, Charlotte, Chicago O’Hare, Ft. Lauderdale, Newark, LaGuardia, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Houston, Seattle, Los Angeles	Runway Status Lights	$214M
Sensis	Multiple locations	ASDE-X	$390M
SAIC	Multiple locations	ASDE-X Program Management Office (PMO) Support	$104M
Arcon Corporation	Multiple locations	Terminal Automation IV&V	$14.1M
Regulus Corp **	Multiple locations	Terminal Surveillance Special Technical	$31.8M
Boeing	Multiple locations	Future Air Navigation System Interoperability Team (FIT) Program	$200k
Lockheed Martin **	Multiple locations	HOST Sustainment	$619M
L3 Communications **	Multiple locations	Oceanic Integrated Services (OIS) Contract	$57.5M
TASC **	Multiple locations	TAC2	$384M
Apptis **	Multiple locations	ATO-Terminal Support Services	$20.6M
MCR **	Multiple locations	ATO-T Support Services	$25M
TASC/NG **	Multiple locations	ATO-T Support Services	$21.8M
SAIC **	Multiple locations	ATO-T Support Services	$21.1M
ITT **	Multiple locations	ATO-T Support Services	$34.3M
Technology Service Corp **	Multiple locations	Radar Support System	$1.7M
A3 **	Multiple locations	ATO-T Support Services	$3.7M
Enterprise **	Multiple locations	ATO-T Support Services	$2M
S&K **	Multiple locations	ATO-T Support Services	$2.9M
JMA Group	Washington, DC	Support to Aeronautical Information Management (AIM) Office	$3M
CNA Group	Alexandria, VA	Analysis, Systems Engineering and Operations Research for the AIM Office	$6.2M
Jacobs Facilities Group, Inc	ZOA Modernize	Curtain Wall Replacement and Mod. 4 Renovation	$5,838,000
Jacobs Facilities Group, Inc	ZHU Admin Wing	Administration Wing Renovation	$6,960,000
Jacobs Facilities Group, Inc	San Juan CERAP	Seismic Upgrade	$11,500,000
Jacobs Facilities Group, Inc	ZJX Curtain Wall	Curtain Wall Replacement	$1,770,000
Jacobs Facilities Group, Inc	ZDC Curtain Wall	Curtain Wall Replacement	$2,530,000
Jacobs Facilities Group, Inc	ZAU Curtain Wall	Curtain Wall Replacement	$2,200,000
Jacobs Facilities Group, Inc	ZMP Major Mechanical	Major Mechanical Upgrade	$6,230,000
Jacobs Project Mgmt Co	LiHue ATCT, HI	Seismic Modernization Upgrade	$3,700,000
Jacobs Project Mgmt Co	Livermore ATCT, CA	Seismic Modernization	$505,000
Jacobs Project Mgmt Co	Palo Alto ATCT, CA	Seismic Modernization	$479,000
Jacobs Project Mgmt Co	Santa Maria ATCT, CA	Seismic Modernization	$497,000
Jacobs Project Mgmt Co	Anchorage ATCT, AK	Seismic Modernization	$563,000
Jacobs Project Mgmt Co	Salem ATCT, OR	Seismic Modernization	$340,000
Jacobs Project Mgmt Co	Hillsboro ATCT, OR	Seismic Modernization	$140,000
Jacobs Engineering Group	BACNet Upgrade	BACNet Upgrade	$900,000
The Matthwews Group	ARTCC Miami	Major Mechanical & Seismic Upgrade	$4,200,000
Belfour Beatty	ARTCC Jacksonville	Major Mechanical & Seismic Upgrade	$8,800,000
Jacobs Engineering Group	NextGen	NextGen Facilities Design and Prototype	$9,800,000
RW Armstrong	San Juan CERAP	Major Mechanical	$4,200,000
Burton Construction	ARTCC Denver	Piping Upgrade	$250,000
Burton Construction	Guam CERAP	FY12 Consolidated Projects	$700,000
Parsons Infrastructure & Technology Group	Abilene, TX	Work Release 156 - ABI LOC	$386,000
Parsons Infrastructure & Technology Group	Abilene, TX	Work Release160 - NEXCOM Radio Replacement	$1,007,032
Parsons Infrastructure & Technology Group	Abilene, TX	Work Release 164 - ABQ FAA Telecommunications Infrastructure (FTI)/ Microwave Links	$235,600
Parsons Infrastructure & Technology Group	Abilene, TX	Work Release 179 - Abilene ATCT	$430,000
Parsons Infrastructure & Technology Group	Abilene, TX	Work Release 194 - NEXCOM Abilene RTR Relocation	$210,000
Parsons Infrastructure & Technology Group	Dallas Fort Worth	Work Release 167 - NEXCOM Radio Replacement	$1,096,066
Parsons Infrastructure & Technology Group	Hobby Field	Work Release 176 - Hobby Remote Transmitter/Receiver (RTR)	$268,987
Parsons Infrastructure & Technology Group	Houston, TX	Work Release 178 I90 TRACON	$1,000,000
Parsons Infrastructure & Technology Group	Alamogordo, TX	Work Release 185 - NEXCOM	$325,927
Parsons Infrastructure & Technology Group	Alamogordo, TX	Work Release 187 - Fiber Optics Transmission System (FOTS) Engineering	$400,018
Parsons Infrastructure & Technology Group	San Antonio, TX	Work Release 188 - Relocation of San Antonio (SAT) Backup Emergency Communications Systems to Stinson Field (SSF) RTR	$124,914
Parsons Infrastructure & Technology Group	San Antonio, TX	Work Release 193 - NEXCOM	$103,127
Parsons Infrastructure & Technology Group	Beaumont, TX	Work Release 199 - NEXCOM Beaumont RTR	$68,664
Parsons Infrastructure & Technology Group	Woodford, CT	Work Release CT-11-0128 HVAC Modifications F Mills	$1,003,784

 

[James48843]

Just some of the jobs lost as a result of the bullying by right-wingers.

 

[James48843]

Since 2007, lawmakers have been unable to reach agreement on a broad measure to finance the Federal Aviation Administration, so they have passed 20 temporary ‘extensions.’ Yes, you read that correctly. Twenty. But, as of 10 days ago, Congress couldn't even agree on another extension. Compromise […] can't come soon enough. Like spoiled children, members of Congress have stamped their feet and scored their points while other people pay for their inaction. If the lawmakers were back in school, they'd deserve to be in the time-out corner.”
--USA Today, August 2, 2011

“The FAA is “another victim of partisan politics in Congress... And here we are. A prolonged halt to needed airport modernization is not in the country’s interest.”
--Washington Post, July 26, 2011

“Now Congress has managed to bring much of the Federal Aviation Administration to a standstill… locally, needed expansion and resurfacing projects at Orlando's two commercial airports could atrophy mirroring the inertia of Republican and Democratic congressional leaders who can't — or won't — move their way around the labor issues and subsidies for rural airports that separate them. Pathetic.”
--Orlando Sentinel, July 27, 2011


“The F.A.A. has also had to furlough some 4,000 workers. Needed airport construction projects — to maintain runways, build new traffic control towers and upgrade other facilities — have been halted across the country. The only good news is that the air traffic control system is still working because traffic controllers are paid from the Aviation Trust Fund, which still has a positive balance.”
--New York Times, July 27, 2011

“At a time when jobs are scarce and the construction industry is ailing, this is the worst time possible for a halt in funding…The real problem is Congress’ inability to iron out partisan disputes, a failure of governance at the most basic level…These are serious issues, but surely reasonable lawmakers can come to an agreement without shutting down a vital government agency.”
--Miami Herald, July 27, 2011


“The way the FAA shutdown has come about is anything but good government. And it could damage the fragile economic recovery… Federal lawmakers need to step up and continue funding for the agency.”
--The Denver Post, July 28, 2011

“Americans are frustrated with our congressional representation, and holding the world's best air travel system hostage magnifies just how inept and ineffective Washington has become.”
--Charleston Daily Mail, July 26, 2011

“One of the greatest strengths of the U.S. economy has long been its transportation system… But how much longer will that be true if petty political differences can't even be put aside long enough to keep an agency that is critical to that system on the job?”
--Reno Gazette Journal, July 26, 2011

“Congress’ failure to act and pass a short-term extension is preventing critical improvement projects from getting off the ground – projects that support and create good-paying jobs in Colorado and across the country.”
--The Denver Post, July 28, 2011

“Failure to pass a clean extension bill is needlessly putting Americans out of work in a fragile economy.”
--The Sacramento Bee, July 29, 2011

“Pass an extension, and get to work on negotiations for a new, long-term FAA authorization. Failure to make a deal represents nothing less than a failure to govern. Yeah, we know ... what else is new?”
-- The Herald, July 28, 2011

“…It is simply outrageous that members of Congress would put an ideological argument above the important work the FAA does… And how, as our nation sluggishly continues to try to recover from the recession, can you throw 4,000 FAA employees, and an unknown number of contractors, out of work? They are all just victims of the current political climate, where an inability to compromise has become an inability to govern.”
--Press of Atlantic City, July 29, 2011

Just some of "What they are saying".
http://www.dot.gov/affairs/2011/dot9811.html

 

[James48843]

[h=1]Reid Says FAA Shutdown Will Continue; Blames House, Delta Airlines[/h] Categories: Business, National News

05:16 pm
August 2, 2011



by Bill Chappell

Enlarge Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Construction equipment sits idle in front of the half-completed new control tower at Oakland International Airport. Thousands of construction workers on aviation projects have stopped work, as a standoff over funding of the FAA continues.





The Federal Aviation Administration has been in a partial shutdown mode since July 22. And Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says the shutdown will continue, with some 4,000 federal workers remaining on furlough.


"It'll be closed until... maybe not September, maybe more than that," he tells All Things Considered co-host Michele Norris.



An AP story reports that the "Senate continues to object to legislation approved by the House to fully fund the FAA. The bill includes cuts to certain subsidies for rural air service." But Reid says the problem actually lies with one airline: Delta.



"The House has tried to make this a battle over essential air service," he says. "It's not a battle over essential air service. It's a battle over Delta Airlines, who refuses to allow votes under the new rules that have been passed by the NLRB [National Labor Relations Board]." 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.

More: http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way...own-will-continue-blames-house-delta-airlines

 

[Boghie]

James,

You and the articles seem to state that airline workers find it hard to unionize. After reading everything posted it sounded real.

However, airline workers are always going on strike. I know the mechanics at my uncle's airline were unionized. He had great pension benefits till the airline collapsed. And, not even one day after you convinced me that airline workers could not unionize I noticed that a bunch of 'em went on strike.

These goobers strike all the time.

 

[Sensei]

I wish the stewardesses on United Airlines would go on strike.

 

[James48843]

James,

You and the articles seem to state that airline workers find it hard to unionize. After reading everything posted it sounded real.

However, airline workers are always going on strike. I know the mechanics at my uncle's airline were unionized. He had great pension benefits till the airline collapsed. And, not even one day after you convinced me that airline workers could not unionize I noticed that a bunch of 'em went on strike.

These goobers strike all the time.

Until last year, Airline workers had a much more difficult job of forming Unions than other types of workers. If you were a truck driver or a manufacturing worker, then you only needed 50% plus one of the people voting in the Union election. But if you were an airline worker (or a railroad worker, by the way), then you needed to get 50% plus one of all the workers there are, NOT just the ones casting ballots. It had been that way since the 1940's, when the National Railway Labor Act made it more difficult for those workers to form a Union . Yes, some airlines DO have Unions, but not all.

And please don't call American workers "goobers". "goober" is n offensive term referring to those from the south, especially Georgia or Arkansas. Delta Airlines workers in Atlanta might be "goobers", but the majority of airline workers are not. http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/goober?region=us

 

[Show-me]

Just like the left-wing health care reform bullies.

 

[James48843]

Some Federal Aviation Administration employees will foot the bill for work-related expenses -- including airfare and hotel rooms -- for weeks without pay if lawmakers fail to pass legislation extending the agency's funding.

Nearly 4,000 FAA employees have been on furlough since July 22 after Congress failed to pass a stopgap bill to prevent a partial shutdown. In addition, 40 airport safety inspectors still are on the job but are paying travel and work-related expenses out of their own pockets. These inspectors would have been furloughed, but were deemed excepted because of their safety responsibilities. According to FAA, these employees are using their own credit cards to cover costs related to flying or driving to inspection sites around the country and they are not receiving their paychecks. They will be reimbursed when Congress passes an extension.

"It shows you the dedication these folks have," FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt told reporters Tuesday. "We're relying on their professional attitudes and professional pride to continue the work they're doing, but it's simply outrageous for us to ask them to carry the burden of hotel rooms and airline tickets. But you know what? They're doing it."

Would you continue working, without pay, and putting the work related expenses on your personal credit card, if your employer laid you off, and Congress told you that you weren't worth holding a vote about before going on summer vacation?

http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=48422&dcn=todaysnews

 

[Warrenlm]

I wish the stewardesses on United Airlines would go on strike.

Especially the 40 year vets on the transpac flights?

 

[Warrenlm]

Would you continue working, without pay, and putting the work related expenses on your personal credit card, if your employer laid you off, and Congress told you that you weren't worth holding a vote about before going on summer vacation?

Technical question for the lawyer. What authority was used to "deem them excepted" yet was not sufficient to be able to pay them (and reimburse expenses). With regard to the expenses I thought everyone used the govt cards and depended on claim reimbursement, which comes later. Are they really using their own Visas or is that part of the "story" of awfulness?

 

[Silverbird]

I half-listened to Joe Scarborough this morning, there was a long segment on the FAA mess. During that report, he mentioned that FAA aircraft inspectors have to work even though they aren't going to get a paycheck, and they have to use their own personal credit card for travel and related expenses.

Next is the the FY 2012 budget, folks, to be fought after Labor Day since Congress is on recess until then. By the way, none of the Budget Bills have found their way to the Floor. The Continuing Resolution bill will star as the next Drama King/Queen/Jester - there's going to be another round of hot air coming out of Congress if things go the way they've been going.