For Release: Monday, May 22, 2006
Contact: David Gillies: 202-225-5661

COSTELLO DISCHARGE PETITION ELIGIBLE FOR SIGNATURES TOMORROW, MAY 23rd

Washington - A discharge petition introduced by U.S. Congressman Jerry Costello (D-IL) to bring H.R. 4755, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Fair Labor Management Dispute Resolution Act, to the House floor for consideration can be signed by Members of Congress beginning tomorrow, Tuesday, May 23rd .  Since introducing the petition on Friday, May 12th , H.R. 4755 has added 12 new cosponsors, including eight Republicans.  The bill now has 261 cosponsors, 75 of which are Republicans. 

"The response to our legislation has been great," said Costello, the ranking Democrat on the House Aviation Subcommittee.  "As more members learn about this issue it is clear they agree that the current bargaining framework is flawed.  It has not produced good faith negotiations and our air traffic system is too important to see this process breakdown. We need to get H.R. 4755 to the House floor."

Costello introduced the bill with Congresswoman Sue Kelly (R-NY) in reaction to the lack of progress in contract negotiations between the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) and the FAA.    The FAA has declared an impasse in negotiations, which according to law gives Congress 60 days to act.  If Congress takes no action, the FAA can implement the contract of its choice.  The Costello-Kelly bill would provide an additional step of fairness to the negotiation process. Under H.R. 4755, the contract negotiations would instead be referred to an impartial third party for binding arbitration. 

To bring the bill to the floor, 218 Members of Congress must sign the discharge petition.  Seven legislative days must pass before members can sign the petition.

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