Union: Too few air traffic controllers

SACRAMENTO, Jan. 25 (UPI) -- The labor union representing U.S. air traffic controllers says staffing shortages at air towers across the country is endangering public safety.

Steve Hefley, president of the Northern California local of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, said at a news conference in Sacramento that staffing shortages have led to eight recent incidents over Northern California skies in which aircraft flew too close to one another.

"Fewer eyes are watching more airspace and something very bad is going to happen," Hefley was quoted by the San Jose (Calif.) Mercury News as saying.

The Federal Aviation Administration responded, saying airport towers are properly staffed and that the union is making the charge to pressure the agency to resume labor talks that broke off in 2006, the newspaper reported Friday.

"This is politically motivated," FAA spokesman Ian Gregor said. "The union is attacking the FAA at every turn to pressure us to reopen negotiations."

As far as going back to labor talks, Gregor said, "We don't intend to. It would cost taxpayers $400 million a year."