Leeham News
• Scott Hamilton
Bargaining Unit Councils at the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace voted against a tentative agreement, citing lingering resentment over past contracts, comparisons with the 2024 IAM 751 deal and poor communications. The vote suggests the agreement faces a difficult path to ratification.
Workforce & Skills Development
Latest source-backed stories
High activity
Bargaining Unit Councils at the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace voted against a tentative agreement, citing lingering resentment over past contracts, comparisons with the 2024 IAM 751 deal and poor communications. The vote suggests the agreement faces a difficult path to ratification.
Eleven pilots resigned from Air Botswana between January and June 2026, worsening an existing cockpit-crew shortage, Botswana’s transport and infrastructure minister told parliament. The staffing losses have compounded fleet constraints, contributing to irregular operations and disruptions to the airline’s published schedules.
A UK military aircrew training system is being positioned as a potential international defense-services offering, with its industry provider identifying a “sizeable opportunity” to support other nations. The initiative could extend the system’s value beyond domestic training and create a new avenue for defense-sector growth.
A U.S. Department of Transportation campaign is directing video-game players toward careers in air traffic control, with more than 2,000 gamers recruited as candidates. The effort highlights gaming skills as a potential pathway into the airport and airspace-management workforce.
Providers of the UK Military Flying Training System detail current activity across a 110-aircraft fleet as the system enters its second decade. The RAF’s requirement to replace the BAE Systems Hawk is sharpening attention on the future structure, capacity and industrial base for military aircrew training.
Ryanair is facing group litigation in London’s Commercial Court from 262 former pilots who allege the Irish low-cost carrier denied them statutory employment benefits while they worked as contractors. The case could bring renewed scrutiny to the airline’s use of contractor arrangements and associated employment obligations.
High activity
Two candidates seeking to lead the National Air Traffic Controllers Association are challenging Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s suggestion that controller sick calls contributed to recent flight delays and cancellations. Their response sharpens an ongoing dispute over whether staffing-related absenteeism or broader workforce strain is driving operational disruption.
Air traffic controllers are disputing Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s assertion that high rates of sick calls caused days of delays and disruption across the Northeast. They called the allegation “patently false,” arguing that overworked and understaffed facilities—not widespread absenteeism—are driving the operational strain.
Create a free account to see more recent Workforce & Skills Development stories and keep bookmarks in one place.
