WASHINGTON, D.C. — The following statement was issued today by Sonny Hall, president of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), in sharp criticism of a Presidential Executive Order which strips the nation’s air traffic control system of its “inherently governmental” designation.
“By issuing an Executive Order which strips the nation’s air traffic control system of its designation as an ‘inherently governmental’ function, President Bush has taken another step in what appears to be a reckless, ideologically-driven campaign to privatize air traffic control in America. His action also represents the ultimate slap in the face to the nation’s air traffic control employees who have performed with enormous courage and efficiency in the months since the terrorist attacks of September 11.
“While we are outraged by the President’s action, we are unfortunately not surprised. Transportation labor has previously expressed serious concerns and warnings about the President’s embrace of dangerously flawed proposals to privatize or commercialize the air traffic control system. In the 2000 fall election, we warned the nation and our members that the Bush campaign was controlled by pro-privatization zealots who believe air traffic control should be a for-profit enterprise.
“We must not allow ‘for sale’ signs to be placed on the nation’s control towers and on what is the world’s safest and most efficient air traffic control system. One only has to look to the financial disaster of the privatized National Air Traffic Services in Great Britain to see the dangers of such privatization schemes. Commercialized air traffic systems in Canada and Australia are experiencing severe financial stress as well. In this type of environment where everything is driven by a bottom line, profit-at-all costs mentality, safety cannot help but be compromised. Yet this Administration seems bent on taking America down this dangerous road.
“The real bottom line is that America’s air traffic control system and its dedicated corps of air traffic controllers and maintenance and inspection employees merit the ‘inherently governmental’ designation because of the intrinsic link with public safety. The safety of America’s flying public must always take precedence over profits. Privatizing air traffic control is a bad idea. Period. And transportation labor will fight this short-sighted scheme at every turn in the months ahead.”
TTD is comprised of 34 member unions including all the major AFL-CIO aviation unions: Air Line Pilots Association; Association of Flight Attendants; International Association of Machinists; Transport Workers Union; International Brotherhood of Teamsters; National Air Traffic Controllers Association; Professional Airways Systems Specialists; Communications Workers of America; and American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. For more information, see www.ttd.org.