Professional Aviation Safety Specialists

In 2002, U.S. President George W. Bush signed an executive order allowing the government to hire a private entity to take over air traffic control functions Then-PASS President Fanfalone said the union’s “concern is that the radar that monitors our skies and the voice and radio systems that provide critical communication capabilities should be maintained and certified by committed public servants, answerable to the American people, and not controlled by private interests most concerned about a bottom line.”[10] In April 2015, the union, along with six other unions representing Federal Aviation Administration employees, sent a letter to the U.S. House of Representatives, arguing against proposals to privatize the FAA that came out a congressional hearing the previous month titled "Options for FAA Air Traffic Reform.[12] In February 2016, the chair of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee introduced legislation[13] that would turn over the operation of the air traffic control system to a nongovernmental entity.Writing a month later in the New Jersey Star-Ledger, PASS President Perrone wrote: "This large-scale government reorganization would imperil the core mission of the interrelated segments of the FAA, which are devoted to maintaining safety and efficiency.The union mounted a public relations campaign, sponsoring informational pickets at airports across the U.S. and speaking to national and local media with the message for lawmakers: 'Don't Gamble With Aviation Safety.'The hearing was called to examine how the recent 35-day partial shutdown of the federal government impacted FAA functions and operations, as well as the U.S. aviation industry and workforce.
PASS members outside holding signs that say Don't Gamble with Aviation Safety and Aviation Safety is Our Only Business.
PASS members in Chicago hold a picket outside Midway Airport to alert the public that the partial government shutdown was gambling with aviation safety. They are Federal Aviation Administration employees
Washington, D.C.United Stateslabor unionAFL–CIOMarine Engineers' Beneficial AssociationFederal Aviation AdministrationDepartment of DefenseMarine Corps Air Station Cherry PointJFK International AirportU.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committeepartial U.S. government shutdownUSA TodayMcLean, VAGannettThe Washington PostThe HillAFL-CIO George MeanyLane KirklandThomas R. DonahueJohn J. SweeneyRichard TrumkaLiz ShulerBuilding TradesMaritime TradesMetal TradesProfessional EmployeesTransportation TradesUnion LabelA. Philip Randolph InstituteAlliance for Retired AmericansAsian Pacific American Labor AllianceCoalition of Black Trade UnionistsCoalition of Labor Union WomenLabor Council for Latin American AdvancementPride at WorkInternational Labor Communications AssociationSolidarity CenterWorking for America InstituteAmerican Rights at WorkInternational Rescue CommitteeJewish Labor CommitteeLabor and Working-Class History AssociationWorking AmericaAFL–CIO Employees Federal Credit UnionNational Labor CollegeAffiliated unionsAFSCMELocalsIronworkersIUANPWNFLPA/FPANWSLPAOPCMIAPrinters & EngraversSAG-AFTRAWorkers UnitedUNITE HEREUURWAWSouth BayFloridaIndianaMassachusettsNew York CityOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandWashington StateWest VirginiaAmerican Federation of LaborCongress of Industrial OrganizationsDirectly affiliated local union