FederalDaily - June 6, 2005

FAA Says Union Overtime Schedules are Wasteful

A 60-day on-site investigation of the New York Terminal Radar Approach Control facility found that it is more than adequately staffed for safe operations, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Further, the FAA investigation concluded that local union-controlled scheduling practices are inefficient and wasteful, creating overtime costs that are more than double any other air traffic control facility in the country. “Generous amounts of overtime allowed 21 controllers to earn more than $200,000 last year,” the FAA said. The investigation also found recent management attempts to curb wasteful practices were met with resistance, followed by anonymous reports of operational errors. As a result of the investigation's findings, FAA announced it is acting to curb scheduling abuses and address reports of intimidation and insubordination. The union involved is the National Air Traffic Controllers Association.

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Congressmen Want FAA Outsourcing Stopped

Congressmen from Connecticut sent a letter last week to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Marion C. Blakey urging that the agency reconsider its announced plan to privatize the jobs of 2,500 air traffic specialists. In a letter to Blakey, the state’s two senators and five representatives argued that the security nature of the air traffic specialists’ duties are “inherently governmental” and should not be “subject to private sector pressures.” As part of its privatization plan, the FAA plans to close 38 air traffic centers nationwide. The FAA awarded a five-year contract, with an option for five more years, valued at $1.9 billion dollars to Lockheed Martin to operate the centers. “It is not too late for the agency to reverse its flawed decision,” the letter stated.

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Army Veteran Files Sex Discrimination Lawsuit

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a lawsuit in federal court in Washington , D.C. , on June 1 against the Library of Congress on behalf of a 25-year veteran of the Army whose job offer was rescinded after she informed the organization that she was in the process of transitioning from male to female. Diane Schroer, 49, retired from the Army as a colonel in 2004. After leaving the military, she decided to transition from a man to a woman. While still presenting as a man, Schroer applied for a position with the Library of Congress as the senior terrorism research analyst. She was offered the job, which she accepted. Prior to starting work, Schroer told her future boss that she was in the process of transitioning and thought it would be easier for everyone if she started work presenting as a female. The following day, Schroer received a call from the future boss rescinding the job offer.

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Embassy Personnel Can Leave Uzbekistan

On June 2 the Department of State said non-emergency personnel and all eligible family members stationed at the U.S. Embassy in Tashkent , Uzbekistan , are authorized to leave. This came after the U.S. government received information that terrorist groups are planning attacks, possibly against U.S. interests in Uzbekistan in the “very near future,” the State Department said. Supporters of terrorist groups such as the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, Al-Qaida, the Islamic Jihad Union and the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement are active in the region, according to the State Department’s Uzbekistan travel warning. The warning added that these groups have expressed anti-U.S. sentiments and may also attempt to target U.S. government or private interests in Uzbekistan. The Department of State said Americans in Uzbekistan should avoid large crowds, celebrations and places where Westerners generally congregate.

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