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NATA Airline Services Council
NATA formed the Airline Services Council (NATA ASC) to further the interests of companies that provide services to scheduled air carriers as their primary business. The primary goal of the NATA ASC is to provide a voice within the public policy arena, especially in terms of issues that impact their viability and profitability.. |
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Environmental Compliance Seminar - Windsor Locks, CT - May 11, 2009
Line Service Supervisor Training - Windsor Locks, CT - May 12, 2009
2009 NATA Day On The Hill - Dulles, VA - May 13, 2009
How To Build A More Successful FBO - Windsor Locks, CT - May 14, 2009
Air Charter Summit - Washington - Dulles - June 8, 2009
FBO Leadership Conference - Washington - Dulles - June 9, 2009 |
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Professional Line Service Training |
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PLST Online provides the most up-to-date training available for line service specialists – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Line service supervisors can conduct the new PLST Online training anytime and from anywhere there is access to the Web. continued |
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| The Employee Free Choice Act Introduced |
| NATA Releases Action Call in Opposition to Legislation |
| Democrats in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate introduced controversial labor legislation, the Employee Free Choice Act, in both chambers on March 10, 2009. H.R. 1409/S. 560, also referred to as “card check,” would change how unions organize workers in the United States by eliminating a company’s right to demand a secret ballot if a majority of employees sign authorization cards to form a union. It also requires binding arbitration to reach a first contract, if labor and management can’t reach an agreement within 120 days, and increases penalties for businesses that violate labor laws.
The bill passed the House in 2007 but stalled in the Senate. Instead of an election run by the National Labor Relations Board, workers would be able to fill out cards saying whether they support or oppose a union. Big labor unions like the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Unions (AFL-CIO), Service Employees International Union (SEIU), and the Change to Win Coalition spent millions of dollars during the 2009 election, and are pushing Congress to approve this legislation. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other pro-business groups are working in opposition to the legislation.
U.S. Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) announced last week that he will oppose invoking cloture on the card check bill, a decision that denies Democrats and labor unions a 60th vote to overcome a Republican filibuster. Specter feels the better way to expand labor's clout in collective bargaining is through amendments to the National Labor Relations Act rather than through eliminating the secret ballot and mandating arbitration. Specter voted for cloture when the Senate considered the bill in 2007, but he stated that the economic crisis prompted his decision on this bill.
Companies such as Starbucks, Whole Foods and Costco announced last week they were forming the Committee for a Level Playing Field and, with the backing of Democratic operative Lanny Davis, would set out to publicize six principles for labor-law reform that provided an alternative to card check legislation.
To view NATA’s Talking Points in Opposition to the legislation, please click here.
To participate in NATA’s Action Call by writing to your Members of Congress in opposition to this legislation, please click here. | |
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| March NATA ASC Meeting Minutes Now Available: Session Highlights Cargo Security, Labor Experts |
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On March 9-10, 2009, the NATA ASC met in Las Vegas, NV, to conduct its quarterly business meeting. The council welcomed experts including Roger Briton and Christopher Valentino of Jackson Lewis LLP and Gary Lupinacci of the Transportation Security Administration to address ongoing issues affecting airline services companies and make presentations on the Employee Free Choice as well as the Certified Cargo Screening Program.
Both presentations, along with a complete recap of the March meeting, can be viewed by clicking here.
For more information on this meeting, please contact Eric Byer. | |
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| Coyne Welcomes Nomination Of Babbitt As Next FAA Administrator |
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| NATA President James K. Coyne on Friday welcomed the nomination of Randy Babbitt as President Obama’s selection for Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator. Babbitt had been rumored for some time to be the likely pick to head the FAA but vetting delays that have plagued all Administration selections prolonged the announcement.
Babbitt, former president and chief executive officer of the Air Line Pilots Association, has more than 40 years of aviation experience. Last year, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Mary Peters named Babbitt to the independent review team tasked with evaluating and crafting recommendations to improve the FAA’s implementation of the aviation safety system and its culture of safety.
“I have known Randy Babbitt for more than 15 years, and I think he is an outstanding selection as our next FAA Administrator,” stated Coyne. “Randy knows full-well how important modernizing our air traffic control system is, so I look forward to working with him to accomplish this critical priority."
Commenting on the importance for the new FAA Administrator to work immediately with Congress to approve a long-term FAA reauthorization bill, Coyne stated, “There is a lot of good intent on Capitol Hill to approve a long-term measure finally. I am hopeful that with Randy filling the Administrator slot momentum will carry us over the hump towards passage of a bill that modernizes our air traffic control system, rejects user fees, and invests in airport infrastructure.” | |
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| Coyne Tells Members That Now Is Not The Time To “Hunker Down” |
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| In a special message last week, NATA President James K. Coyne urged association members not to “hunker down” during these difficult economic times, describing this approach as the “worst strategy.”
An excerpt from Coyne’s message follows:
There are many things to be afraid of these days, but nothing scares me more than the widespread use of the phrase "hunker down." Government officials, CFOs, and pundits offer these gutless words as a commonsense strategy for America during these difficult times. A terrible hurricane is passing over the land, they say, and no one knows when it will be safe to come out. Hunker down, take your bailout money, and be quietly grateful. Nonsense!
To read Coyne’s message in its entirety, please click here. | |
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| New NATA ASC Logo Available For Member Use |
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| Per the request of members at the NATA ASC meeting in October, NATA has created a new NATA ASC logo that members can use on company stationery, publications and their Web site. The association recently provided members with two types of logos that members can utilize as appropriate. Members wishing to secure the new NATA ASC logo may do so by contacting Eric Byer. | |
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