The William J. Hughes Technical Center in Southern New Jersey has been granted a permanent location thanks to the passage of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2024 earlier this month. In addition to remaining in its current location, the facility will also be renamed the William J. Hughes Center for Advanced Aerospace to better reflect its focus on research and development in testing new aviation technologies.
NFFE National President Randy Erwin expressed his excitement about this development, calling it a significant victory for the aviation professionals of NFFE Local 1430 and the thousands of FAA workers represented by NFFE and the IAM at the Hughes Center. He highlighted that the reauthorization not only secures the facility’s permanent operation in South Jersey but also ensures local control of the campus and prevents privatization.
NFFE had previously worked with Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ) in 2021 to defend the center from potentially being broken up, which could have resulted in the privatization and outsourcing of crucial government jobs. With the 2024 Reauthorization now in place, NFFE has successfully safeguarded the autonomy of the facility and protected the jobs of its members.
Erwin emphasized
