In yet another stunning example of how radicalized labor unions are placing politics and ideology over public safety, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) has voted to undermine Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s urgent efforts to address America’s catastrophic air traffic controller staffing shortage.
Instead of supporting Duffy’s common-sense plan to incentivize experienced FAA air traffic controllers to delay retirement — a move aimed at preventing dangerous understaffing at the nation’s busiest airports — NATCA has chosen to go scorched-earth against its own veteran members.
During its recent Biennial Convention, NATCA, the woke, social justice-obsessed union that never misses a chance to virtue signal with “NATCA Pride” and “Diversity” campaigns, approved a toxic amendment punishing any air traffic controller who accepts a waiver to work past the mandatory retirement age of 56, according to the New York Post.
“Secretary Duffy recently allowed controllers to work beyond the statutory age of 56 in an attempt to stabilize the air traffic control staffing issues,” one reader told The Gateway Pundit. “NATCA… chose to strip seniority controllers of their 25-30 years of seniority in order to dissuade them from continuing to work.”
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who has been laser-focused on fixing the dire staffing issues plaguing the FAA, unveiled a plan offering veteran controllers up to 20% salary bonuses to stay in their roles past the arbitrary retirement age.
“They’re fantastic, they’re great at their jobs, they get to an eligible point of retirement and they take that retirement,” Duffy told reporters.
“Why don’t we try to incentivize those really well-experienced air traffic controllers? Let’s incentivize them to stay. Let’s get them to stay on. Not only do we have that experience, but they can also help train up those younger, newer controllers coming into their family.”
But NATCA saw things differently. The union’s newly passed amendment, slated to take effect October 1, states that any bargaining unit employee working under an age waiver will see their seniority reset to the day the waiver becomes effective.
According to NATCA, allowing waivers “puts early retirement at risk by showing the Agency and Congress that mandatory retirement is unnecessary.”
According to a Reddit post:
“Beginning October 1, 2025, any bargaining unit employee who is working under an exemption as prescribed by the Secretary in 5 USC 8335(a) or 5 USC 58425(a) will have their seniority set to the day the waiver becomes effective.
Rationale: Each waiver puts early retirement at risk by showing the Agency and Congress that mandatory retirement is unnecessary.
Now that nearly all NATCA members were born after 1970 (with an MRA of 57), we expect requests for waivers to increase.
With every waiver granted, the argument that controllers are subject to greater mental and physical risks throughout their employment is weakened.
It is crucial that we secure this fundamental privilege for the future of our union and ourselves. Passing this amendment will send the message that safeguarding our pay, protections, and pension is our highest priority. We cannot ensure the safest airspace in the world when we waive the rules that protect it.
Waivers do nothing to benefit NATCA. The negative consequences of these waivers may result in the loss of our FERS (SSA) supplement and early retirement.
The long-term impact of each waiver undermines our position that early retirement is crucial for our membership and the country.
Early retirement is a privilege that we earn by working one of the most stressful jobs in history. NATCA cannot afford to risk this privilege; do not waive our right to early retirement.”
A union representative told The Post, “NATCA is fully committed to working with Secretary Duffy, the Department of Transportation, and the Federal Aviation Administration to ensure the national airspace system is staffed with the best and brightest air traffic controllers.”
“We continue to support Secretary Duffy’s plan to supercharge staffing and modernize the air traffic control system. NATCA remains in alignment with Secretary Duffy’s plan and the department’s priorities.”
A Department of Transportation spokesperson said, “The secretary is disappointed in the decision to unfairly penalize experienced controllers. It’s critical that we retain the best and brightest because America needs more controllers — not less. We would hope that NATCA will work with us on behalf of the American people.”
The post NATCA Sabotages Secretary Duffy’s Plan to Fix Air Traffic Control Crisis — Woke Union Votes to Punish Veteran Controllers Who Agree to Stay on the Job appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.