PASS Cited in New Report on Government Shutdown

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26 Sep

As another government shutdown looms when federal funding runs out on September 30, the Partnership for Public Service has issued a new report examining the costs and lingering effects of the 35-day partial shutdown earlier this year.

Although the House of Representatives has passed a continuing resolution (CR) that would keep government funding at current levels through November 21, which the Senate is expected to approve the measure and send to the president, federal employees could again be facing a government shutdown the week before Thanksgiving if Congress can’t act by the time the CR expires.

The Partnership’s report, “Shutdown Letdown: How the Longest Shutdown in U.S. History Did Lasting Damage to Our Government and the People It Serves,” contains four case studies presented to Congress.

The Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS), AFL-CIO, is cited in two of the studies: on aviation and federal recruitment. PASS represents over 11,000 employees of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Department of Defense. It is the only FAA employee representative cited in the report.

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Remembering Sept. 11

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11 Sep

On a beautiful late summer morning 18 years ago, the men and women of PASS, the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists, AFL-CIO, were on the job as usual, working for the American public. What transpired that day changed our nation and the aviation industry forever.

In the days, weeks and months following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the 11,000 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Department of Defense (DoD) employees represented by PASS went above and beyond their usual selfless dedication to their work. They helped safely clear the skies that day, as over 4,000 planes were grounded and those in the air directed to the closest airport. They staffed phones to address pilot, mechanic and public concerns and monitored airports and facilities 24 hours a day, coordinating mandates from the White House, Department of Transportation and the FAA.

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PASS President Appointed to FAA Safety Oversight and 
Certification Advisory Committee

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23 Aug

PASS National President Mike Perrone has been appointed to the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) new Safety Oversight and Certification Advisory Committee (SOCAC).

The SOCAC was established in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act signed into law in October. It will advise the DOT secretary on issues related to the FAA’s safety oversight and certification programs.

“The aviation safety inspectors represented by PASS are a critical part of safety oversight and regulation,” said President Perrone. “It is imperative that their input is included whenever these issues are discussed.”

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Steve Dickson Confirmed as FAA Administrator

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24 Jul

On behalf of the 11,000 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) employees represented by PASS, the union congratulates Steve Dickson on his confirmation by the U.S. Senate to become the next FAA administrator.

PASS National President Mike Perrone, who served with Dickson on the FAA’s Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) Advisory Committee, said today, “The FAA has been without a permanent administrator for more than a year and I welcome the steady hand that Dickson will bring to the helm during a time when the agency is facing intense scrutiny. I look forward to meeting with him very soon and sharing the thoughts and experience of our members.”

At a hearing in May in front of the Senate Commerce Committee, Dickson expressed support for the safety-critical work performed by FAA employees and the vital role the government plays in maintaining the largest, safest and most complex air traffic control system in the world.

With Shutdown Looming, PASS President Warns Against Gambling With Aviation Safety

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17 Jul

As Congress continues to debate government funding, history may repeat itself in the form of another government shutdown, and the president of the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists, AFL-CIO (PASS)—representative of 11,000 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) employees—is providing information on the impact of a shutdown on aviation safety and other concerns during a hearing today before the House Aviation Subcommittee. The government continues to heal from the partial government shutdown in January—the longest in history—and PASS National President Mike Perrone is warning that another shutdown would be a gamble with aviation safety that the country should not be willing to take.

Read the full testimony

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PASS, Aviation Unions Call on Secretary Chao to Address Foreign Repair Stations

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26 Jun

Washington, D.C.—In a letter sent to Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao today, the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists, AFL-CIO (PASS), joined a coalition of aviation unions in calling on the secretary to take immediate steps to ensure the safety and proper oversight of foreign repair stations that work on U.S. aircraft.

The letter was signed by PASS, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, the Transport Workers Union of America and the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO.

“Congressionally directed action regarding drug and alcohol testing, security screening for safety-sensitive personnel, and risk-based oversight at foreign aircraft repair stations are now years overdue—a reality that has led to a two-tiered safety system with glaring regulatory loopholes,” the unions wrote.

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