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04
May
Since 1985, Congress has designated the first full week of May as Public Service Recognition Week (PSRW) to show appreciation for the men and women who make up the nation’s civil service. PSRW has always been an opportunity for the country to acknowledge the important work PASS members and all federal employees do every day to keep our nation running.
But this year is different. Since January, there has been a barrage of memos and actions taken by the administration aimed at federal employees. Through executive orders and negative social media posts making false claims about professionalism and performance, a target has been placed squarely on the backs of our country’s civil servants.
“But that will not stop PASS from recognizing the federal employees we represent at the Federal Aviation Administration and Department of Defense,” said National President Dave Spero. “It doesn’t take away anything from celebrating the stellar government service they provide on a daily basis.”
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04
Mar
Today, David Spero, national president of the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists, AFL-CIO (PASS), testified in front of Congress to address air traffic control systems maintained by employees PASS represents at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); the lack of adequate staffing among the airway transportation systems specialists workforce and the resources needed to maintain the world’s largest, safest and most complex air traffic control system.
President Spero began his remarks during the House Transportation and Infrastructure Aviation Subcommittee hearing on America Builds: Air Traffic Control System Infrastructure and Staffing, by addressing the chaos and turmoil aimed at federal employees over the last six weeks. “PASS is concerned by the confusing messages from the administration regarding deferred resignations, terminating probationary employees without cause and the efforts to purge the federal workforce,” he told lawmakers. “Haphazardly eliminating positions and encouraging resignations are having a demoralizing effect on the workforce. They are a distraction for employees performing safety-critical duties,” he continued. “All parts of this aviation ecosystem work together to accomplish a critical goal—the safety of the American flying public.”
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President Spero then turned to the airway transportation systems specialists workforce represented by PASS. These employees in the FAA’s Air Traffic Organization Technical Operations unit ensure the functionality of communications, computers, navigational aids and power systems vital to safe air travel and the mission of pilots and controllers. “They touch nearly every piece of technology in the air traffic control system,” he said. “We cannot turn on the lights without them.”
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