The IAM applauds the Senate leadership for rising above the political games on Capitol Hill and passing a bi-partisan compromise to end the partial shutdown of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). As a result, over 4,000 FAA employees and tens of thousands of airport construction workers can go back to work.
The short-term extension expires on September 16, 2011, providing lawmakers with six weeks to resolve their differences with the full FAA Reauthorization bill.
Meanwhile, New Jersey Rep. Frank A. LoBiondo this week introduced the “Furloughed FAA Employees Compensation Act” that would grant the U.S. Secretary of Transportation the authority to pay the salaries and related benefits of those federal employees who were furloughed during the partial shutdown of the FAA.
The IAM strongly urges Congress to complete a final comprehensive FAA bill that provides real safety improvements and protects air and rail workers’ rights to organize.
A special thanks is due to the thousands of IAM members who contacted their Congressional representatives and urged them to end the unnecessary stalemate over the FAA short-term extension.
