FAA, NATCA Strike 2.8% Pay Deal for Controllers, Adding Shift and Staffing Reforms
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · Oct 19
FAA, NATCA Strike 2.8% Pay Deal for Controllers, Adding Shift and Staffing Reforms
1 articles · Updated · POLITICO · Oct 19
Summary
Friday’s agreement ends a long-running fight over a congressionally approved 2.8% raise for air traffic controllers and pairs the pay bump with workplace rule changes.
Under the deal, controllers must badge in and out, while managers and union representatives will reshape shifts around peak traffic and rework reassignments to ease staffing shortages.
FAA chief Bryan Bedford had argued controllers should spend more time actively managing flights before the raise took effect, while NATCA maintained demand targets were outside the pay deal.
The accord lands as Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy presses Congress for $30 billion to modernize the FAA, with some Republicans floating a reconciliation bill as a possible funding vehicle.