Tell Congress to Stop Playing Politics with Airport Jobs!

In this second week of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) shutdown, Congress is poised to leave town for an August recess without funding the FAA. On July 22, the FAA was forced into partial shutdown, causing furlough of 4,000 employees and airports across the country to halt projects and lay off 90,000 workers. Certain lawmakers refused even to grant an extension to funding without their provision to change election rules for workers who want to gain union representation.

Protest events are springing up around the country, beginning with two events scheduled for tomorrow, Tuesday, August 2 to compel the House of Representatives to take responsible action and pass a clean extension of the FAA reauthorization bill as they have 20 times since 2007. The Tuesday events will be held in Oakland, CA, and in Kalamazoo, MI. See details below and plan to attend in uniform to demand responsible action for our aviation industry.

While essential FAA safety-related functions continue, the resulting layoff of tens of thousands of workers nationwide is taking its toll on working families, with a cost to government of $200 million per week in lost revenue. The FAA shutdown is too costly and the benefits of the FAA reauthorization bill are too numerous to allow this hold-up to continue. Removing the contentious and unrelated NMB election provision and passing the FAA reauthorization bill is sensible, fair, and good for the economy, job seekers, travelers, and the aviation industry.

If you are in the area, please participate and help end the FAA shutdown.

Oakland Airport

Kalamazoo Airport

AFA is closely monitoring action on this legislation and the impact of the partial FAA shutdown. We will keep you informed as events unfold.

The situation if very fluid and there is a chance the U.S. House of Representatives will adjourn and leave for their August vacation without restoring funding for the FAA. Please be sure to check this web page for updated information.