FAA unions to seek help from Obama

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 (UPI) -- Unionized workers at the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration say they're hoping the incoming Obama administration will change the agency's management culture.

Members of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association and the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists say FAA management under the Bush administration has been characterized by hardball disciplinary tactics and a refusal to collectively bargain in good faith, The Washington Post reported Monday.

The FAA's air traffic controllers have been working without a negotiated contract for two years. The FAA imposed one that cut pay for incoming controllers by 30 percent, curtailed overtime and instituted a dress code. Now labor leaders say they will ask the administration of President-elect Barack Obama to rescind a laundry list of executive orders imposed by the Bush administration deemed to be anti-union, the Post said. The unions also are seeking back pay.

"The work environment is horrible," said Patrick Forrey, the controllers' union president. "There's no respect for people. Discipline is the name of the game. It's rule by stick instead of accountability for management and their actions."

The FAA, however, says successful contract agreements with smaller agency unions shows it's not anti-union.