Anyone who is in favor of privatization is a fool. All it took was for the last remaining PATCO guys to die out and the idea rears it’s ugly head again. This time with naive children at the ready. And what do we do? Follow the piper down the dark street.
We regurgitate senseless terms and stupid ideas.
Forgive me if you take offense to this. It just makes me sick.
Just curious how did fighting privatization work out for the flight service guys and gals.
While I am here I'll give my two cents on privatization while I imagine it will go over like a led balloon.
I am been legislatively involved in the union for 7 years now and have attended 6 NATCA in Washingtons. I cant even begin to stress how radically congress has changed over those six years and those who think your pensions and retirement benefits are safe are kidding yourself. All it takes is one law change and bam, game over. I know what you are thinking, "dude, that is never going to happen". I thought things like furloughs, government shut downs, pay freezes, etc would not happen.
Not only am I not against it but I am for non for profit privatization. Reasons being;
1. We could bargain things that are not permissive subject now like staffing, hiring, medical, work hours (other than 40 hour work week), etc. While the FLRA rules are great in many areas they hamper the union in others.
2. Right now the trust fund brings in more money than is given to the FAA. Take away congress and the appropriations process that means more money for things like new equipment, pay raises, etc.
3. The procurement issues. I feel like I shouldn't have to say anything about this but lets be honest the gov sucks at this. We are getting our rear ends handed to us by the other ANSPs. Like we are buying their tech instead of selling ours and making money.
4. Bonding and long term capital improvements. This is huge for me personally working in a center. So far I have seen asbestic removal and we are currently dealing with a mold issue. There are currently no plans to replace any of the centers of which are 50 plus years old. While you see some towers get replaced every now and then the majority are still old and out of date. With the current political climate and being trillions of dollars in debt do you see the gov ever giving a line item to replace a center? Never. Imagine just if we got one center replaced a year it would still take 20 plus years. This to me leads us to a crisis moment where instead of replacing centers they will try to force consolidations as certain centers become in even worse condition. Being in a non for profit would allow for bonding and long term capital improvements like replacing facilities. (Ive been to both Toronto and Moncton center and don't even get me started how much nicer they are)
Personally I think the wiring is on the wall. When more liberal and stronger pro government working countries like Canada, most of europe, etc, have gone private its not a matter of if only a matter of when. I just hope we are smart enough to realize that time and not make the mistake the flight service people did because every flight service person I have talked to regrets trying to fight it.
Again just my two cents but I am glad to see respectful debate. We will only survive the future as a union if we remain in solidarity even through our differences.