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(Salt Lake City, KSL News) -- Air traffic controllers passed out leaflets at airports all across the country today, including Salt Lake City, trying to raise awareness of a new FAA policy they believe may compromise safety.
Two weeks ago, the agency classified the jobs as "commercial" rather than "inherently governmental."
Union members wanted to inform travelers about what they perceive as the dangers of contracting out air traffic controlling.
They worry that by hiring the lowest bidder, the government will, in essence, be getting what it pays for.
"Our fear is that if it's privatized, that the corporate bottom line will take precedent over the safety level that we have," says Scott Farrow, an air traffic controller based in Salt Lake City.
An FAA administrator reassured controllers their jobs won't be contracted out.
But controllers took action due to the classification and concerns about a June executive order to strip them of guaranteed government jobs.
