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Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Claims Court Allows Labor Class Action Against FAA

WASHINGTON (CN) - The Court of Federal Claims allowed air traffic controllers at the Edwards Air Force Base in California to proceed with a class action accusing the Federal Aviation Administration of forcing them to work unpaid overtime.

The government argued for dismissal, saying the class action was a duplicate of Abbey v. U.S., in which 7,210 individual FAA employees - including air-traffic controllers, traffic management coordinators and staff specialists - filed suit for labor violations.

The court said the instant case differs because the plaintiffs "fall into a category that is more specific in scope than that of Abbey because they are all air traffic controllers at Edwards Air Force Base."

The judges added, "The complaint in Abbey ostensibly covers work locations throughout the nation and alleges claims on behalf of several types of federal employees."

The court dismissed one overlapping plaintiff from the case. It also allowed 50 unnamed plaintiffs to remain anonymous, but said the court reserves the right to later reveal the identities of any plaintiffs who fail to make a compelling case for their anonymity within 30 days.

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