by James Parks, Aug 28, 2008

Some 150 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) employees have a voice on the job after recently voting to join the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA). The air traffic control specialists are assigned to National Flight Services operations in Alaska and the weather unit of the Air Traffic Control System Command Center in Herndon, Va. 

These employees previously were represented by the National Association of Air Traffic Specialists (NAATS). In 2005, NAATS represented more than 2,000 air traffic controllers, but the FAA contracted out the work of all the union members except for these 150.  

By a nearly unanimous margin, the remaining controllers, including NAATS President Alan Baker, voted to change their affiliation to NATCA. Says Baker: 

I did not want what happened to the Flight Service in the lower 48 to happen to us. I know that we are few in numbers, we had lost much of our ability to fight back and were vulnerable. I feel for myself, and for our people, better off as a NATCA member than as the NAATS president.  

NATCA President Patrick Forrey says:  

We are very excited and honored to welcome these dedicated aviation safety professionals into the NATCA family. This is a great day for our union and we look forward to representing these employees and growing the size and influence of our collective voices on issues of critical aviation safety importance. 

NATCA represents more than 14,000 air traffic controllers and controller trainees serving the FAA, the U.S. Department of Defense and the private sector.      

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