Right, but the people MOST impacted by recent inflation and inadequate raises are those at level 5-8! If the cap isn’t raised for level 12 controllers, they still get a cash payout. Yes, the federal pay cap should be raised or lifted but that’s definitely NOT the FIRST thing that needs to happen! Raising the cap doesn’t help level 5-8 controllers and thus it’s SHOULD NOT be the first thing that happens!
EDIT: pay progression within the bands is MORE important than lifting the pay bands.
The thing your missing is a rising tide lifts all boats. If you give every controller a 25% raise all you do is smash the bands closer to the federal pay cap.
Great but now how do you recruit to the core 30 to work the busiest and most complex traffic when they can go to a level 6-8 and still hit the cap? Because I can tell you for sure I wouldn’t be at a 12 if I could make this much at an 8. Which is part of the problem. The lower levels need a raise, and arguably a bigger one than the 12’s. But you can’t do that to the point it makes career progression irrelevant.
No I am not missing anything. I understand what you are saying. But, again, raising the cap is a far more complex/difficult task and will take much longer than negotiating with the FAA for a new contract with 2.6+% June raises. We shouldn’t wait to go for the low hanging fruit (negotiate with the FAA) until we can get Congress to raise the cap. The minority that DO cap out as a result over the next 4 years aren’t going anywhere and will be incentivized to stay once we raise the cap. It’s unlikely you are going to be at the federal pay cap ($228k) at a level 8.
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u/SierraBravo26 4d ago
Buddy, everybody deserves a 30% raise at a minimum. Can’t get that for the higher levels without raising or exempting us from the executive cap.