Friday, July 22, 2005
Black Friday
Boxes of RIFs began arriving at the stations on Thursday. Starting today, and one at a time, Air Traffic Controllers are being called into offices and handed the documents that will cut short their careers. Every one of them. It was the final tangible nail in the coffin. Your position is abolished. You are fired.
Some shrug; they were going to retire anyway. Some accept it as a matter of expected course. Others seethe. Atmospheres range from subdued to on-edge. Acrimony renews. Blame is heaped on Bush, Blakey, and Russ Chew (ATC COO). A few aim their wrath at fellow controllers who vote Republican.
A couple weeks ago a controller at the Macon FSS took a break from position, went into the restroom, and fell, dead. He leaves behind a wife and two children. Stress related to this process? How will we ever know…
When the award to Lockheed Martin was announced, Russ Chew made remarks that can be read here. Is it any wonder that FSS controllers are cynical and angry when the COO calls them “top flight professionals” who have “earned my respect and…esteem”, yet refuses to place them in positions for which they are eligible so they can complete their careers, then hires inexperienced people off-the-street instead?
With such duplicity that can be found within those who run the FAA, does anyone think there will be any concern about pilots?
Some shrug; they were going to retire anyway. Some accept it as a matter of expected course. Others seethe. Atmospheres range from subdued to on-edge. Acrimony renews. Blame is heaped on Bush, Blakey, and Russ Chew (ATC COO). A few aim their wrath at fellow controllers who vote Republican.
A couple weeks ago a controller at the Macon FSS took a break from position, went into the restroom, and fell, dead. He leaves behind a wife and two children. Stress related to this process? How will we ever know…
When the award to Lockheed Martin was announced, Russ Chew made remarks that can be read here. Is it any wonder that FSS controllers are cynical and angry when the COO calls them “top flight professionals” who have “earned my respect and…esteem”, yet refuses to place them in positions for which they are eligible so they can complete their careers, then hires inexperienced people off-the-street instead?
With such duplicity that can be found within those who run the FAA, does anyone think there will be any concern about pilots?
# posted by Skywise @ 10:40 PM 
