Call with the FAA Today, May 20, 2020

PASS Brothers and Sisters:

Today’s call with the FAA covered a number of topics, including several issues that were submitted to the union by members. It is important to note that regardless of the number of states that are starting to “open up” economically, the FAA has not completed drafting its plan for returning to your facilities other than what we reported last week.

Use of leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA): We expressed continued frustration that CASTLE has still not been coded for the use of leave under the FFCRA, which was passed in March. It is clear that this law applies to the FAA and a HRPM was issued on April 17. They tell us they are still working that out and that the leave can be applied retroactively. (Read PASS’s explanation of leave under FFCRA as it applies to FAA employees.) If you encounter issues with using this leave you should utilize the grievance process.

Continued telework: We are relaying concerns many of you have raised about returning to facilities if you are in one of the high-risk medical categories or someone in your household is. The agency has promised to work with the union to ensure that every employee’s personal health and safety is the top priority.

Lack of notification regarding a positive test result: PASS members have been hearing rumors that there was no longer a requirement to provide notice to employees of confirmed positive tests for COVID-19 in the workplace. That is not true; notice must be provided to employees if a co-worker or contractor has tested positive. You should not be hearing of a positive test from a colleague, it must come from management. Please let PASS know if official notification is not being made.

Positive Test Results Reporting at Federal Contract Towers (FCT): An FCT in the Eastern Service Area had a positive test for COVID-19 but a Joint Crisis Action Team (JCAT) notification conference call that includes PASS was not conducted. While the district did conduct a call, it was not consistent with the procedures established for a JCAT call and the PASS Region I Vice President found out about the positive tests result only by chance. The Vice President of Technical Operations agreed that the process for calls regarding positive tests at FAA and non-FAA facilities should be standardized and he will look into it. Cleaning at FCTs was also addressed and they are now being cleaned at the proper levels.

On-the-Job Training (OJT): Some PASS members have alerted us that local management has decided to have technicians perform OJT in pairs, making it impossible to maintain social distancing to protect the employees’ health. While OJT needs to be considered during the Phase 1 process of returning to facilities, PASS has asked for clear guidance on this issue so that managers do not take it upon themselves to determine what OJT is considered critical.

Please continue to use our form to report any concerns you have about your individual situation but also to let us know if local management is providing information that is inconsistent with what the FAA has been telling us at the national level. Your input is invaluable.

In Solidarity,

Mike Perrone

National President

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