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Region X Issues Discussed with DOT Secretary LaHood, July 3, 2009

 

As the Airports National Representative, and as the Western Pacific (EWP) Local President, I am intimately involved with engineers and multi-unit employees in my region on a daily basis.  It was within those capacities that I identified three non-controller issues during last Friday's "round robin" discussion. However, lot of the issues which our controllers brother and sisters are facing are common to all other bargaining units as well, such as, Imposed Work Rules (IWR), Facility Consolidation, Staffing and working conditions.

 

Expiration of the "Multi-Unit" contracts with the FAA

 

The existing contracts for the Multi-units are due to expire in the coming months.  For this reason, the renewal of the Multi-units contracts must be considered after the renewal of the Agency's contract with the Air Traffic controllers.  Both the Controller and Multi-unit contracts were imposed by management.

 

(It is important to mention here that the Multi-units have been working within the agency under the disadvantageous Imposed Work Rules (IWRs), even longer than the Air Traffic Controllers have been working under the IWRs.   As such, the "back pay" possibilities discussed in Section 601 of the recently passed H.R. 915 may apply to qualified individuals within the Multi-units.)

 

Management wants to reclassify Design/Project Engineers as RE/Field Engineers

 

In the aftermath of management's unsuccessful proposal to involuntarily relocate engineers to consolidate the FAA's regional offices, there is currently an attempt being made to reclassify Design/Project Engineers to Resident/Field engineering positions.  If implemented. the FAA will undoubtedly lose experienced engineers, impacting the safety of the National Airspace System (NAS).

 

Remaining issues concerning the February 1st Security Breach

 

During the February 1st computer security breach at the Western Pacific Regional Office in Lawndale, personally identifiable information (PII) for over 45,000 current and past FAA employees was stolen.  

 

NOTE:  Discussion of the issues of our Controller Brothers and Sisters that took place on July 3rd is not included above.

 

It was admirable that Secretary LaHood took time from his busy schedule to visit us on a holiday.  Altogether, it was a very interesting information sharing session.

 

In Solidarity,

 

Sam Samad