Duffy Says: Age Increase, Raise & Safer? Offer Coming?

[Deuce]

There was a NATCA email that came out a couple years ago that said contract towers won’t count against you.

Big hospital in town that my sister works for gets 2.5% for every year worked. I’m sure most other hospitals in the area are similar for competition purposes. My sister will retire at 62 and 40 years collecting over 200k on top of her 401k.

17% isn’t a match that they get. Their 17% is like the 1% that we get regardless how much you put in. Employer max is 69k. Add that to the 23k you can put in, and you’re getting 92k into 401k every year.

I don't disagree with the premise of what you're saying but just fyi the 69k (70k this year) is the total contribution limit, the 23k (23.5k) employee contribution is part of it

 

[the inquirer]

I don't disagree with the premise of what you're saying but just fyi the 69k (70k this year) is the total contribution limit, the 23k (23.5k) employee contribution is part of it

Thank you

 

[Gauff]

I don't disagree with the premise of what you're saying but just fyi the 69k (70k this year) is the total contribution limit, the 23k (23.5k) employee contribution is part of it

Pretty sure that's why the 17% isn't a match and is just given cause 17% of most pilots salaries would be way over the contribution limit anyway

 

[EWR]

Has there been any discussion to raise the latest one can apply. Right now you cannot apply before your 31st birthday, there are several of us who during the Obama Administration Era weren't hired because of the BIO_Q situation but were otherwise cut out to at least attempt the Academy. I myself interned at a Level 12 facility and was told that they would take me back in a heartbeat if I went thru the Academy. Of course the BIO_Q ended that venture. I went off and started my own business and didn't have employees to handle the load that I do now. I would love to attempt to do what my passion has always been and work traffic but unfortunately I'm over that 30 age group but under 35. As my bio says, I did apply in 2022 but never actually took the AT-SAT.

 

[Mike Kilo]

Has there been any discussion to raise the latest one can apply. Right now you cannot apply before your 31st birthday, there are several of us who during the Obama Administration Era weren't hired because of the BIO_Q situation but were otherwise cut out to at least attempt the Academy. I myself interned at a Level 12 facility and was told that they would take me back in a heartbeat if I went thru the Academy. Of course the BIO_Q ended that venture. I went off and started my own business and didn't have employees to handle the load that I do now. I would love to attempt to do what my passion has always been and work traffic but unfortunately I'm over that 30 age group but under 35. As my bio says, I did apply in 2022 but never actually took the AT-SAT.

Didn’t congress force the FAA to extend job offers to qualified people that would have made it had it not been for the BIO-Q? My brother failed twice and moved on, and then was given an offer some time later.

 

[Gauff]

Didn’t congress force the FAA to extend job offers to qualified people that would have made it had it not been for the BIO-Q? My brother failed twice and moved on, and then was given an offer some time later.

He didn't age out due to the bio q though. Looks like he just moved on to other things. He still could have been hired after the bio q went away

 

[Mike Kilo]

He didn't age out due to the bio q though. Looks like he just moved on to other things. He still could have been hired after the bio q went away

Gotcha, that musta been the difference. My brother turned it down anyway lol. Was already moved onto better things.

 

[SquawkHijack]

Secretary Duffy brought up the two most important things that membership wants, more pay and better retirement.
First age 56 should really be 57. Vision 100 retirement (get 1.7% for every year worked) requires us to work at least 30 years and until the MRA. The MRA many years ago was 56. It was phased out and increased to 57. Our FERS retirement never amended the rules to match that. Currently the only way to get 1.7% every year is to get at least one extension. This can be corrected immediately working with Duffy.
As for any pay attached to staying past 56... This is where the Union needs to take off running. Our stance should have been, great more money for working past 56 is good but thats just a start. How about better pay to attract more controllers and staff the NAS. Pay controllers who actually work traffic more and not incentivize them to take staff jobs or defect elsewhere. Pay controllers a higher amount to train. Even go as far as the N90 plan where when a trainee becomes CPC the whole area get a bonus. Stress the stress of our work and get more time off. We currently have an administration that is willing to turn everything upside down with the stroke of a pen. We should use that and the DCA accident to take advantage and finally get compensated properly for the job we do.

Here was part of the Union's response to Duffy...
When we are officially presented, as required by law and our Collective Bargaining Agreement, to negotiate any financial incentives being offered to the ATC workforce, we will seek agreement on proposals to mitigate the current ATC shortage and build the ATC workforce of the future.

Duffy wants to talk pay and retirement now. The Union needs to kick open the door he just opened!

Except the union will never chase raising the retirement age, they GREATLY fear that doing so would tell Uncle Sam that we don’t need our early retirement under 5 USC. This is the same reason NATCA already does not support extensions.

 

[Phillytroll69]

...
Duffy wants to talk pay and retirement now. The Union needs to kick open the door he just opened!

I'm sure they will.

Duffy: How much do you guys want?

NATCA: We want to stress the value of equipment and telecommuting for A114 staff, controllers are very happy with pay and schedules.