2026 BWS

[Phormras]

At my facility and by discussions I’ve seen there appears to be coordinated push-back from the FAA once the negotiated BWS is sent outside the building. This is a direct result of NATCA failing to protect its members as a result of the change in allowing the agency to reduce the required time prior to a Mid shift from 12 hours to 10 hours. NATCA’s failure has given the agency an opening to attack AWS shifts and bring back old style “Rattler” Midnight schedules.

Going back to the start for 2026 Negotiations, on July 14th NATCA announced the 2026 BWS Fatigue Rule Update.

Nick Daniels in the update:

“As I talked with facility representatives and members, the issue of the staffing challenges associated with implementing the 12-hour prior to the midnight shift rule and the strain it continues to put on staffing was common at facilities that have midnight shifts. I know how short staffed you are, and I understand the strain the application of the 12-hours prior to the midnight shift puts on your schedules, flexibility, and your work life balance.”

The new agreement allowed “The requirement of time between all shifts is 10 hours for the 2026 BWS.” This is followed by in the update by stating “The parties at the local level should consider using 4-10 schedules to mitigate fatigue for those working midshifts.” The new rules would allow for a Mid schedule that would be the return of the “Rattler.” This could be working from 0600-1400 followed by a 0000-0800.

This was agreed to without the FAA giving up anything to NATCA. NATCA agreed to reduced rest periods without receiving any benefit to members but increased fatigue. It’s an opening the agency is attempting to take extreme advantage of.

The current administration has been very aggressive in other agencies in reducing or removing AWS schedules. These attacks on AWS in other agencies such as the IRS and DHS started back in April. NATCA ignoring the administrations Anti-Union/Worker policies and agreed in July to create an opening for it to happen here.

During our local negotiations there was very little change from the 2025 BWS agreement. The local agreement for 2026 was complete in Mid-September as was sent outside for review. That’s when the agency used the opening created by NATCA to attack AWS Mids. Outside the building is requiring extensive justifications for the AWS Mids for the 2026 BWS and over a month has passed with no resolution to allow bidding.

This problem was entirely created by NATCA decreasing the time allowed before a Mid shift without assurances that the AWS Mids would be protected. This is a failure of leadership to protect the membership. Nick Daniels claimed this was for the “strain” of 12 hours off before an overnight shift.

But it appears in the end it was just a way for the FAA to work over NATCA yet again.

 

[Soul_Controller]

My problem isn't necessarily the 12 hours being shortened to 10. It's that the FAA obviously isn't negotiating in good faith about 4-10s, and the RVPs/NEB aren't even giving locals info or help. If I can't have an actual negotiation with the ATM then mid term bargaining is a sham.

 

[ATCJoe85]

On one hand it's total BS that they're attacking lines and that NATCA didn't take action to protect AWS (albeit not exactly sure what an "AWS Mid" is).

On the other hand this year's schedule brutalized me more than any previous year... we had massively increased OT holdover, and I actually started to hate mids. (The past 4 or 5 day-mids I've had- I've ended up being awake for 24 hours straight every time). I submit that the 12 hour rule made things worse for fatigue, not better.

Happy to be going back to how things (mostly) were.

 

[32andBelow]

Ours tried to play hard ball and then finally caved and approved what we did this year.

 

[ATOH]

At our facility the 12 hour rule led to folks commonly getting 2nd RDO OT mids because almost nobody was eligible to work them on their first RDO anymore. A 2nd RDO mid means you are at work ever single day of the week. Walking it back to 10 hours is a good start but there are still many things that could be done with schedules to supposedly mitigate fatigue.

The rules they came out with last year were so short sighted and it was if nobody stopped to think how shitty it was going to be for 24 hour facilities that already had shit staffing.

People weren't fatigued because they only had 8 hours before mids, people were fatigued because that's what working 6 days a week every week does.

 

[32andBelow]

At our facility the 12 hour rule led to folks commonly getting 2nd RDO OT mids because almost nobody was eligible to work them on their first RDO anymore. A 2nd RDO mid means you are at work ever single day of the week. Walking it back to 10 hours is a good start but there are still many things that could be done with schedules to supposedly mitigate fatigue.

The rules they came out with last year were so short sighted and it was if nobody stopped to think how shitty it was going to be for 24 hour facilities that already had shit staffing.

People weren't fatigued because they only had 8 hours before mids, people were fatigued because that's what working 6 days a week every week does.

Nah the rules are good. This has been the best year by far. They shouldn’t have caved on them

 

[Gauff]

Nah the rules are good. This has been the best year by far. They shouldn’t have caved on them

I think most people missed the point of the rule. The FAA wants us to get rid of running the rattler and move to straight shifts. Then they saw how we were literally willing to die to keep the rattler alive this year and moved it back to 10hrs

 

[32andBelow]

I think most people missed the point of the rule. The FAA wants us to get rid of running the rattler and move to straight shifts. Then they saw how we were literally willing to die to keep the rattler alive this year and moved it back to 10hrs

On ours the people doing double mid split 4 10s ar better rested and people running straight shifts are better rested. Then they try to bitch theirs more OT like we are some kind of form profit company.

 

[ATCJoe85]

I think most people missed the point of the rule. The FAA wants us to get rid of running the rattler and move to straight shifts. Then they saw how we were literally willing to die to keep the rattler alive this year and moved it back to 10hrs

I don't fight it because those with kids insist they're better off, and our local is run by leadership with kids. I also think our local actively gaslights us when it comes to our ability to do them.

 

[Redacted]

On ours the people doing double mid split 4 10s ar better rested and people running straight shifts are better rested. Then they try to bitch theirs more OT like we are some kind of form profit company.

At my facility there are people that would resign before being seniority-forced to straight swings or mids while the senior people get straight days. And the people with kids refuse to entertain rotating weeks of straight shifts. The 4/10s worked for mids but nuked early and late staffing.

 

[wrench978]

Nah the rules are good. This has been the best year by far. They shouldn’t have caved on them

It might be good for facilities that have the staffing to run 4/10s, but this has without a doubt been the most exhausting year when it comes to the schedule... we are doing 9/9/9/6/7 so we are just front loading the schedule with fatigue instead of ending the week tired. 1500-0000 is fine until I have to be back at 1100 then next morning for an 1100-2000. Then back the next morning for a 700-1600

 

[DankVectorz]

At my facility there are people that would resign before being seniority-forced to straight swings or mids while the senior people get straight days. And the people with kids refuse to entertain rotating weeks of straight shifts. The 4/10s worked for mids but nuked early and late staffing.

With straight shift you still alternate, but you do week of days week of swings. Some places do week if mids, others you just work a few mids during one of your day weeks every month or few. Including mil time I’ve been doing that for the past 16 years and would hate to go to anything else. I’ve been fortunate and have worked like maybe 20 mids that entire time. Admittedly my opinion might change once my daughter is school age.

 

[Redacted]

With straight shift you still alternate, but you do week of days week of swings. Some places do week if mids, others you just work a few mids during one of your day weeks every month or few. Including mil time I’ve been doing that for the past 16 years and would hate to go to anything else. I’ve been fortunate and have worked like maybe 20 mids that entire time. Admittedly my opinion might change once my daughter is school age.

Like I said the people with kids refuse to alternate weeks. I’d do it in a heartbeat. The regularity of sleep sounds awesome.

 

[32andBelow]

It might be good for facilities that have the staffing to run 4/10s, but this has without a doubt been the most exhausting year when it comes to the schedule... we are doing 9/9/9/6/7 so we are just front loading the schedule with fatigue instead of ending the week tired. 1500-0000 is fine until I have to be back at 1100 then next morning for an 1100-2000. Then back the next morning for a 700-1600

Yah yours is tiring because you’re doing that stupid modified rattler. Free yourself

 

[DankVectorz]

Like I said the people with kids refuse to alternate weeks. I’d do it in a heartbeat. The regularity of sleep sounds awesome.

Ah I missed the part where you mentioned rotating weeks, only saw the straight days/mids

 

[wrench978]

Yah yours is tiring because you’re doing that stupid modified rattler. Free yourself

I was really hoping we would get off the rattle but no such luck

 

[Nothanks]

Rattler is garbage

 

[Gauff]

At my facility there are people that would resign before being seniority-forced to straight swings or mids while the senior people get straight days. And the people with kids refuse to entertain rotating weeks of straight shifts. The 4/10s worked for mids but nuked early and late staffing.

Yeah I've heard all the excuses and I understand them as well, but this is the only shift work career field that works these fucked up schedules. Any other 24hr career you either work Days or Swings or Mids and your days off are still gonna suck if you're low in seniority. Those people still have families as well and make it work, but we want to put ourselves in an early grave because people didn't understand what shift work was when they took this job.

Either way if this career paid us well enough to have a stay at home spouse like it used to then your days off and shifts don't matter nearly as much and it's more doable. We need a big pay raise immediately.

 

[32andBelow]

Yeah I've heard all the excuses and I understand them as well, but this is the only shift work career field that works these fucked up schedules. Any other 24hr career you either work Days or Swings or Mids and your days off are still gonna suck if you're low in seniority. Those people still have families as well and make it work, but we want to put ourselves in an early grave because people didn't understand what shift work was when they took this job.

Either way if this career paid us well enough to have a stay at home spouse like it used to then your days off and shifts don't matter nearly as much and it's more doable. We need a big pay raise immediately.

We need to free ourselves of the 40 hour work week. It makes no sense in our job

 

[Redacted]

Yeah I've heard all the excuses and I understand them as well, but this is the only shift work career field that works these fucked up schedules. Any other 24hr career you either work Days or Swings or Mids and your days off are still gonna suck if you're low in seniority. Those people still have families as well and make it work, but we want to put ourselves in an early grave because people didn't understand what shift work was when they took this job.

Either way if this career paid us well enough to have a stay at home spouse like it used to then your days off and shifts don't matter nearly as much and it's more doable. We need a big pay raise immediately.

I’ll gladly work alternating 3/12 and 4/12s each week or 2/24s a week if you want to go the “that’s the way other shift work jobs do it” route. I just have no interest in working straight swings for the next 12 years.

And I don’t care about my days off.