Air Controllers Clash With White House (WP)

[Nambe]

Washington Post

After years of labor peace under a friendly Democratic administration, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association has chosen to take on the Bush administration over whether the Federal Aviation Administration can continue to contract out control towers at some smaller airports.

At first glance the boisterous duel seems to be over whether to continue unchanged a program that the union once tolerated. But beneath the surface, it represents a decision by the union and Senate Democrats to use the issue as a battleground for the Republican philosophy of privatizing functions now handled by government employees.

Union President John Carr said bluntly that he aims to head off any future plan to privatize other air traffic control functions. -

Carr said he does not believe Blakey. "I have no reason to believe anything they say," he said.

Carr acknowledged that the union did not fight the contract tower program in the beginning, but "that didn't happen on my watch. My mantra is simple -- not one more." -

Ride Don’t Drive It’s Global Cool

[Pale Blue Dot]

1. Fire them all!

Ronnie Reagan would be spinning in his grave... if he were dead.

[LauraK]

4. Like most repugs, he is spinning all the time.

Comes with the party.

[goforit]

2. Ah Haa!!!..........A group Bush hasn't picked on!

Why not?

Satan must demolish all!!!

[hang a left]

3. And while were on the subject

lets talk to some of those air traffic controllers who were on "my watch" 9-11-01