OSHA and FAA Sign Agreement on Protecting Airline Workers from Retaliation

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently completed a Memorandum of Understanding (December 1, 2015), which will permit the sharing of information under the anti-retaliation provision of the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR21), 49 U.S.C. § 42121.

 

AIR21 prohibits air carriers and air carrier contractors and subcontractors from firing or retaliating against airline workers who complain about violations of aviation regulations. Dr. David Michaels, in a December 23, 2015, press release, indicated that “airline industry employees have a right to speak out about unsafe workplaces and practices without fear of losing their jobs.” “Through this agreement with the FAA, we are reinforcing the message that silencing workers who try to do the right thing is unacceptable for workers and also unsafe for the public.”

 

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