The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) said this week that they have reached a tentative collective bargaining agreement.
“This agreement was achieved through a collaborative process, building upon our successful working relationships at all levels of the FAA and NATCA,” NATCA President Paul Rinaldi said. “This agreement recognizes the vital role that NATCA members play in meeting the FAA’s mission to ensure that the United States airspace is the safest and most efficient system in the world.”
The FAA and NATCA have been operating under a collective bargaining agreement established in 2009, then extended in 2012. This new agreement will need to be ratified by NATCA members, which is expected to be completed by July.
The agreement would cover air traffic control specialists, traffic managers, coordinators and Notice-to-Airmen specialists.
“Together, NATCA and the FAA have continued to work successfully on safety and modernization, labor relations, professional standards, training, and many other important issues,” FAA Chief Operating Officer Teri Bristol said. “These interest-based negotiations have reflected that same commitment to successful collaboration.”
The negotiation process for the tentative agreement began in January.
