Natca/FAA Dispute To Go to Mediation

The Obama Administration will appoint two mediators to resolve the long-simmering contract dispute between the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (Natca) and the FAA. DOT Secretary Ray LaHood tapped former FAA Administrator Jane Garvey to oversee negotiations aimed at resolving the acrimonious dispute between the union and the agency that began in the summer of 2006 when the agency unilaterally imposed pay and work rules after nine months of contract negotiations broke down. Natca officials have contended that working conditions and pay are causing large numbers of veteran controllers to retire, and safety is being compromised because their replacements are inexperienced.