This received in an email tonight from my esteemed Union Regional VP:

"The vote is complete on HR5449. The ayes, 271, the nays 148. Not receiving 2/3rds in the affirmative, the bill did not pass."

In other words, enough Republicans in the House were smart enough not to cave in to the union. Basically, NATCA stalled negotiations because our old contract, which gives controllers mucho dinero, doesn't expire until the new one is ratified and accepted. FAA got tired of the stalling and declared an impasse. The law REQUIRES the FAA to submit their proposal to Congress in the event of an impasse. FAA did. Congress, if it had ANY issue with the contract, had two months (60 days) to amend or suggest changes to the contract. They did nothing. The 60 days were up on June 5th. NATCA pushed through HR5449, which would have retroactively amended federal law to make the FAA's actions (submitting the proposal to Congress) unnecessary and illegal.

FAA is negotiating pay and work rules with NATCA. This is unprecedented in federal service and was allowed by the Clinton Administration. In order to balance this tremendous freedom, the 60-day Congressional review is necessary. The union would like to this oversight and wrest control of the budget away from Congress. Pretty dumb move, unless you're a Democrat.

But wiser heads prevailed, and FAA's proposal stands.

Our local union representative (FACREP) said "things will get ugly." She made some thinly veiled threats to Ernie. "I know we can't legally strike, but what would happen if we all just called in sick?"

Ernie replied, "That would be union conspiracy and would be illegal."

Let's hope Bert and Ernie have the guts to keep their workforce in line in the coming months.

That is all for now.