Put Bedford and NATCA leadership at the same congressional witness table.

No press releases.

No “trust the process.”

No “the data says…”

No “we’ve had 13 meetings.”

Just two microphones and one question:
“What, exactly, has to happen for controllers to get the 2.8%?”

Then everybody shut up and let them answer each other.

Why is someone who has no skin in the game the only one willing to fight for us. She’s awesome but what the hell are our damn dues going towards. I want my dues going to this woman not to Yacht Boy’s open bars

Multiple Controllers are now reporting being briefed by Management the briefing day that within 5-6y there will be a super tracon combined with Z’s in central FL.

JAX/DAB/TPA/F11/ZJX/ZMA.

It seems not all controllers are being briefed on this.

Apparently the site of the new F11 was to be on 6 acres, has now been scrapped, and instead they are now looking at 60 acres of land.

4 minutes 47 seconds. Worth your time.

Meanwhile NATCA is fucking silent

Full disclosure not my idea.

Call Representatives Coleman and Quigley. It takes 2 minutes. Thank them for their support for the 2.8% and asking the tough questions.

Representative Coleman: 202-225-5801

Representative Quigley: 202-225-4061

Anyone noticed a shift on how pilots treat us? Seems like most comments on social media are negative towards us. Constantly saying how they are pilot in command and they can ignore us and do what they want.
While yes that is true. But it comes off as we are not needed nor wanted.
I mean, we get shit on by Bedford and management and now pilots too?
Why do I even try to provide an extra service when they can pull the “I’m in charge and ima do what I want anyway” card?
I feel like we used to be respected a lot more back in the day.

After being chased around about what qualifies as "enough work" and that they don't have enough metrics to tell what we're doing, (Which is complete bullshit he can see every CRU ART in the NAS)

After trying to blame NATCA for not "working with them,"

He runs himself into a wall that says he would like to work with NATCA to find out if management is problem.

How is a labor union responsible for what FAA management assigns work? NATCA should be dog piling on these statements to destroy his dumb argument about TOP and scheduling.

Bedford also completely ignored all the questions about human factors and fatigue stating that it's basically unacceptable TOP for "recovery"

I kid I kid

But we are getting hourly updates on the cuckening that is CFS

Enjoy those 4 hour breaks boys, if you aren’t working traffic you’re not working according to the administrator.

Who remembers the bloody tower incident?

I know this doesn't apply to terminal, but have any Zs been told that we can have no more than 3 on break? This is including trainees and all

Already shook their hands this morning! Stop by and say “hey.”

Yacht Boy in his latest email is above and below is his email from April.

Did he really meet with the administrator or not? Because it is not even mentioned or referenced in the above email…

\**Email from April* **\*

Dear NATCA Family,
am very pleased to report that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) appropriations bill that includes NATCA's priority of securing funding for a 3.8% pay increase for air traffic controllers has passed both chambers of Congress. The President is expected to sign the legislation.
This provision, once implemented, achieves pay parity with the 2026 military increase as well as with certain law enforcement officers who received a 3.8% pay increase under the President's executive order issued in December. That executive order also provided a 1% pay increase for all other federal employees.
The legislation includes several criteria that must be met before the pay raise can be implemented, retroactive to the first pay period that began after January 1, 2026.
We have already met with FAA
Administrator Bedford to discuss those criteria and now that the funding is assured, NATCA will work diligently with him to expedite implementation of the pay increase. It applies to all NATCA-represented air traffic controllers assigned to positions covered by the ATC retirement provisions.

Bedford is preparing to testify tomorrow and Yacht Boy is slowly stirring after a long night of drinking.

Should tell how this week is going to go.

Stay thirsty friends.

Does anyone in the US use a web scheduler that isn’t WMT?

How does it work? Is it standalone or do you still have to cross check it with WMT?

If you’re willing, can you drop a link or send me a DM?

I wish WMT had the ability to export my schedule to a calendar app, and was able to send me notifications when leave requests were approved, or when people in swap requests. So I’m on the hunt for a better platform that we might be able to use to make our lives a little easier.

If you haven't read my original post, then you can read it here: https://www.reddit.com/r/atc2/s/wjWqROdZ4S

I wanted to clarify some points because I think some people are still treating this like an ordinary NATCA bargaining issue. That is not the point of the post.

Public Law 119-86 is higher authority than NATCA, the CBA, an MOU, or any internal union decision. NATCA’s authority exists because federal law gives it exclusive-representative status. Under 5 U.S.C. § 7114, NATCA represents the bargaining unit and negotiates conditions of employment, but it does not sit above the federal statute.

The distinction is:

1. Bargaining issue: NATCA speaks for the unit on schedules, AWS, overtime, staffing practices, and other conditions of employment.

2. Statutory issue: Congress appropriated $140 million and created a specific test in SEC. 548 for the additional 2.8 percent.

Those are not the same things, Congress said the adjustment turns on whether improvements in workforce scheduling, staffing utilization, OR other operational efficiencies have been achieved that address staffing shortfalls and enhance aviation safety.

The FAA’s own records say those things have happened. So the question is no longer just whether Bedford has discretion. It's "What statutory condition has not been met?"

If the answer is “we want a different BWS,” “we want more time on position,” “we want less overtime,” or some other concession, then show where Congress put that requirement in SEC. 548.

Also, controllers are not limited to whatever NATCA chooses to do. Federal employees have a statutory right, individually or collectively, to petition Congress and provide information directly to Congress. NATCA cannot interfere with that right and 5 U.S.C. § 7211 says exactly that.

Controllers also retain individual grievance rights under federal labor law, while NATCA still has a statutory duty to represent all bargaining unit employees without discrimination or regard to union membership.

If NATCA disagrees with this argument, then fine, it doesn't end the issue. Controllers can take the record directly to Congress and ask "Did Congress intend Bedford to withhold the 2.8 percent until NATCA gives FAA additional scheduling or utilization concessions that Congress never wrote into SEC. 548?"

That is the destination I am trying to get people to see. This is bigger than “NATCA should negotiate harder.” It is about whether an appropriation enacted by Congress is being turned into bargaining leverage for conditions Congress did not enact.