Air Traffic Controllers to Rally Today in DC

Members of the National Air Controllers Association will today join NATCA president Paul Rinaldi and representatives of a number of other aviation industry unions and associations, as well as Congressional members from both sides of the aisle, to protest the partial government shutdown that the day after tomorrow will set a new record as the longest shutdown in U.S. government history.

The rally begins at 1 p.m. EST near the northeast corner of the Capitol building and will bring together labor and association representatives, as well as Congress members who will explain how the shutdown is affecting their particular segments of the National Airspace System. The event will be emceed by NATCA VP Trish Gilbert.

Congressional speakers will include New York’s Peter King (R), Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., Chairman, House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee and Senator Mark Warner, D-Va. Allied union representatives include Capt. Joe DePete, President, Air Line Pilots Association, International, Sara Nelson, International President, Association of Flight Attendants, Mike Perrone, President, Professional Aviation Safety Specialists and Larry Willis, President, Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO.

Association participants include Pete Bunce, President, General Aviation Manufacturers Association, Spencer Dickerson Senior Executive Vice President for Global Operations, American Association of Airport Executives, Sean Kennedy, Senior Vice President, Global Government Affairs, Airlines for America and Brian Wynne, CEO, Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International.

The rally site will be located at First St. NE & Constitution Ave. NE, Washington, D.C.; Senate East Front Plaza, Grassy Area #9.