It seems the ghost of Reagan haunts the halls of the FAA. What better way for the FAA to celebrate Labor Day than to impose a new dress code.
On Labor Day, President Bush addressed the Seafarers International Union. The tag for that story read:
President Bush says the key to bettering America's workforce is to maintain a strong and expanding economy. Mr. Bush focused on economic themes in a Labor Day holiday speech to America's merchant marine union.
Meanwhile those on the ground helping us fly the friendly skies got a memo:
This story was emailed to me whole. But I found the orignal story and will quote select parts. Read the full story:
FAA IMPOSES NEW WORK RULES.
The following is from AVWeb:
AVwebFlash Volume 12, Number 36a -- September 4, 2006
FAA IMPOSES NEW WORK RULES- If your clearances are a little clipped, your handoffs a little brisk, it could be the controller working your flight is a little hot under the collar -- the collar he or she likely now has to wear while at work.
How did they react to the new dress code imposed on Labor Day?
"It's like getting fired on Christmas. It's the worst, punch-in-the-gut blow to the morale of this workforce imaginable," said NATCA President Pat Forrey.
I did like the solution, but how well is it going to work?
"If a supervisor tries to talk with you regarding the way your are dressed, it constitutes a formal meeting," the memo reads. "Stop the conversation immediately and ask for a union representative..."
I sent this to some friends of mine, with the comment: Labor Day goodness from your friendly Neoconized bureaucrats in DC. The ghost of Ronald Reagan haunts the halls of the FAA.
One of them responded with this brilliant observation:
Obviously a little Labor Day gift to the controllers who managed to safely land hundreds of planes in the space of a few hours on 9/11--all without a formal plan.
To those hardworking Americans who hung in that day to achieve a feat never before achieved--landing every aircraft in U.S. airspace: "Wear a tie, stupid."
Several administrations ago, I used to think that unions were no longer needed and had outlived their usefulness. Thanks to Buscho, that's no longer true. The need for unions is probably just as strong now as they were back in the day.