NWP Reps/Members,
Momentous, joyous, monumental, historical, pivotal, are all words that I would use to describe the evening of November 4, 2008. On this evening, the many great citizen’s of this country decided to take control of their future and help make history by voting for Barack Obama.
It was absolutely amazing to watch the various emotions on the faces of so many who were gathered in Chicago for President-Elect Obama’s speech to his supporters. It was very hard not to get caught up in the moment and realize that the citizen’s of the greatest country in the world had made history.
This election was all about tenacity, perseverance, organization, solidarity, and tremendous communication by a candidate that was given a very slim chance of not even getting through the Democratic primaries, let alone being elected the first African American President of our great country.
I would like to dedicate this update to every NATCA member who voted, every NATCA activist who participated in a campaign, our national legislative committee and our Government affairs department, and most of all, I would like to dedicate this update to our retired members who participated in the “Boots on the Ground Program.” Folks such as Bob and Valerie Butterworth for their work in PA, Chuck Munoz for his work in MI, Kyle Johnson for his work in OH, Todd Wilhelm for his work in PA, George Wiewiora for his work in PA, and Michele May for her work in AZ.
I would also like to acknowledge the hard work of some highly motivated Members who went above and beyond the call of duty by having a very pivotal role in some Congressional campaigns. Here they are:
· AZ-1: The NATCA Local PRC (Geoff Kusel, Facility Rep; Noel Kingston; Glenn Higa, Mike Stock, Dan Tidwell, and Whit Johnson)
· AZ-3: Tim Krieger, P50 Facility Rep and Adam Johnson (P50).
· AZ-5: Chris Brayz (FFZ)
· AZ-8: The NATCA Local U90 (BJ Florence; Allen Bieber, and John Kotlaba)
· CA-3: NATCA Local NCT (Laura Robinson; Ron McAuley; and Steve McCoy)
· CA-4: Chuck Vogel (NCT)
· CA-11: NATCA Local ZOA (Scott Conde, Facility Rep; Mike Ward, VP; Troy Bigelow; Ron Aquilina; Wes Daleof), Dave Caldwell, SFO Facility Rep; and Jamis Nuss, LVK Facility Rep.
Now we really need to roll up our sleeves and get to work. Our country faces many great challenges and as such, nothing will come easy for us. While this momentous victory is great and should be cherished, please do not lose focus of the difficult road that is still before us. We need to work twice as hard to ensure that our message and our plight is understood and acted on by the incoming administration and the new Congress. The economic crisis facing our great country will absolutely have an impact on the decisions made by President-Elect Obama and our friends in Congress.
I will end with three quotes that I find quite fitting for our current situation; read them, think about them, and then act upon them:
“It isn't sufficient just to want - you've got to ask yourself what you are going to do to get the things you want”- Franklin D. Roosevelt
“Courage and perseverance have a magical talisman, before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish into air”- John Quincy Adams
“Ask not what your country can do for you…ask what you can do for your country”-John F. Kennedy
In Solidarity,
Ham
NWP RVP
· These past several weeks have been extremely hectic. I will attempt to give you a very brief synopsis of some of the issues that we dealt with at the regional level.
· 2009 POCKET CALENDARS-----Fac Reps: All 2009 NATCA Pocket Calendars have been mailed out to you to hand out to your members. If you need extras, please contact Mickela.
· The FAA has decided to scrap yet another brilliant idea of theirs; an “Employee Referral Bonus Program”. Wouldn’t it be easier just to have a fair contract with competitive wages rather than offer $100,000 to move to New York or think about offering an “Employee Referral Bonus Program”??
· We were notified of a terrific save, Archie League material, by Tom Gallagher of NCT, Area E. Tom is a flight instructor and assisted a Bonanza that was having trouble with a frozen windshield and pitot tube. Congratulations to Tom for a tremendous job in assisting an aircraft in distress.
· Kevin Sills, Mike Hull, Bryan Baker (L30 Facility Rep), and I discuss a recent ODP at L30 that had the following language: “failure to demonstrate the required level of acceptable performance and sustain that level for 12 consecutive months, or any evidence of disregard for the requirements as defined in this plan, will result in action being initiated which could lead to your removal, demotion, or reassignment form your present position…”
· Several years ago there was arbitration, under the collective bargaining agreement (CBA), in which the arbitrator ordered the FAA to stop putting the twelve month “keep your nose clean” language at the end of ODP’s. We are looking at all possible forums in order to address this situation.
· Kevin Sills, Mike Hull, and I discuss a security investigation at L30. FAA security is claiming that they will not provide our bargaining unit employee a copy of the ROI (Record of Investigation) until the report has been given to FAA management and FAA management has approved its release.
· I worked with Pam Burger of the FAA to resolve the backpay issue for the last member at ZOA to be made whole from the ATOP training delay settlement agreement.
· Eric Carter, NWP Safety Lead works with Western ATO-S Manager regarding several errors that were discovered using ‘TARP’ at NCT through an AOV audit. Our area of concern is wake turbulence behind Heavy and Boeing 757 aircraft.
· The Wall Street Journal works with one of our NWP Media Leads, Mel Davis on a news story about a rise in midair collision threats. You can view the entire story by going to our regional website, http://nwp.natca.net, and clicking on the news clicker.
· As a reminder, for ALL non-emergency safety related issues, please call the NATCA Safety Hotline at 800-266-0895 ext. 72331 (SAFE1). Please provide relevant and specific details such as:
o management directives
o unsafe working conditions
o safety concerns
o equipment problems
o procedural concerns
o questions
· Additional Resources:
o FAA Safety Hotline: 800-255-1111
o FAA Administrators Hotline: 202-267-9532
o OIG Hotline: 800-424-9071
o NASA/ASRS: http://safety.natca.net/nasa_asrs.htm
· UCR - Unsatisfactory Condition Reports
o FAX to: 678-391-4831
· NOTE: DO NOT use the NATCA Safety Hotline to report operational errors, aircraft accidents or incidents.
· Mike Hull worked with Western Terminal to resolve an issue with a bargaining unit employee at NCT who was being required to participate in a Weingarten meeting (Investigatory meeting) telephonically; this issue was resolved.
· Mike Hull worked with NATCA National on an Article 7/Cease and Desist, on behalf of Long Beach NATCA regarding “Changes of working conditions regarding procedures for issuing taxi instructions to pilots.”
· NWP Runway Safety Lead Elliot Brann has been very active discussing issues and providing updates to the NWP membership; thanks Elliot; you are doing a great job!
· NWP Safety Lead Eric Carter, NWP Runway Safety Lead Elliot Brann and I work with Jay Cole, TUS Facility Rep on two back to back OE’s and ensuring that aircraft are clear of the “RSA” (Runway Safety Area).
· Please join me in welcoming the new Facility Rep at Maui Tower (OGG), Marcus Jackson. Our previous Facility Rep decided to bid on a temporary supervisor position!!
· Kevin Sills, Mike Hull, Garth Koleszar and I had a telcon regarding a possible adverse action issue at ZLA.
· I would like to thank Jeff Valentino, former NWP Consolidation Lead for his service to NATCA and wish him the best of luck in retirement.
· It gives me great pleasure to announce that Steve McCoy, NWP LR Rep will be the new NWP Consolidation Lead. Steve has a long history of dealing with consolidations and is ready and able to handle all consolidation issues in the Western Pacific region.
· Mike Hull worked on the following issues while I got some currency at ZLA and was at the NEB meeting:
o Training failure at ZOA
o OJTI Pay issue while working unscheduled overtime issue out of HCF
o Proposed settlement for a disciplinary issue at LGB
o Shawn Kramer (DEN) and formerly of LVK called me and asked for some guidance on a statement that employees needed to complete on a vehicle incident at the tower.
o Worked with PHX Facility Rep Steve Palmer regarding an extension of time in which to respond to a proposed letter of suspension
o Talked to STS Rep Jana Pitre regarding an employee with religious needs
o Had discussions with LGB Facility Rep Paul Bugarin regarding an employee who needs our help.
o Spoke with both Steve Palmer and a member at PHX who is the subject of a proposed suspension and helped them finalize the response letter to management.
· I worked with Bryan Baker regarding a “Dual Downwind” concept that is going to increase the controllers’ workload and reduce the margin of safety at Las Vegas Tracon. I have also discussed this issue with the Las Vegas Hub Manager in an attempt to resolve this issue.
· While in Washington, D.C., I had an opportunity to meet with Senator Reid’s senior advisor Robert Herbert. We discussed Reno staffing, RNO to NCT Consolidation, Las Vegas Tower/Tracon staffing and runway configuration (RY 25L closure), and VGT.
· NWP Constitution Lead Troy Verville sends out his November “Roberts Rulez Review” which deals with types of motions. You can access all of Troy’s “Roberts Rulez Review” by going to the regional website and clicking on the “Regional Leads” tab and then click on “Troy's Robert's Rulez Review”
· Mike Hull and I had worked with Mike Foote and NATCA National regarding the agency’s unilateral decision to take away a team brief room at LAX. Almost a week later, LAX Facility Rep Mike Foote notified us that the LAX ATM has decided to not turn the team brief room into another office for management!!
· Recently, there was a question about dues status while on extended LWOP due to pregnancy/birth of a child. Mickela checked with NATCA national and here is what she found out:
“If they are in a complete non-pay status, they do not have to pay Dues. They cannot hold office or vote during this time, but they maintain all other benefits.
If they return from non-pay status to the same job/Bargaining Unit they were in before, then they do not need to rejoin. Their Dues should restart automatically when their paychecks restart”
· NWP Safety Lead Eric Carter and I worked with SJC Facility Rep Rich Burton regarding a new multi-use stadium that is being constructed near the SJC airport. This new stadium will have a definite impact on the operation at night time due to the bright lights. Eric Carter is discussing this issue with his counterpart in ATO Safety.
· Mike Hull, Kevin Sills, SFO Facility Rep Dave Caldwell and I had a telcon regarding a proposed adverse action at SFO.
· I discussed some options for a Center training failure at LAX with Mike Foote.
· I would like to welcome the new Facility Rep at MYF, Maliesa Swinson and thank her for stepping up. I would also like to acknowledge outgoing MYF Facility Rep Dhana Anderson for her service to the MYF local and NATCA.
· I worked with the Virtual Flight Surgeon (VFS) and the Regional Flight surgeon (RFS) regarding a member at NCT with kidney stones.
· Mike Hull discussed some options for a probationary employee with APC Facility Rep Debbie Young who is having some difficulty in training.
· I attended the annual NATCA budget scrub and National Executive Board meeting in Washington, D.C. (November 17-21, 2008).
· ZOA Facility Rep, Scott Conde notified us that one of his members had received notice that his health insurance rates with Blue Shield HMO were going to increase from $125.01 per pay period to a whopping $295.36 per pay period. This is only for Northern California Federal Employees with this particular plan.
· The disparity is only in the HMO plans. The FFS (fee for service) plans are all about the same cost for 2009, with no dual rate structures. There are still some HMO plans that look reasonable (Aetna, Pacificare, and United Healthcare).
· I have contacted Lew Zietz, NATCA Director of Membership, who in turn has contacted our subject matter expert, Saundra Harman for research and follow up. Lew also provided the following:
“OPM indicated rate increases are expected to rise 8% in 2009. As a comparison, they went up only 2.3% in ’07 and 2.9% in ’08. However, Blue Cross/Blue Shield (representing 60% of all federal employees) can increase as much as 13% in 2009. According to what I have read, the increases are blamed primarily on “elevated service costs”…”miscalculated earlier estimates”…and “an increase in the utilization of medical services and technology.” They intend to provide some incentives for employees to use generic drugs or to order larger quantities of prescription drugs online.
This may also be a good time for our retirement site (S. Harmon) to provide resources on how best to compare the over 200 plus federal options. The federal “open” season began on November 10 and will end December 8. If we can provide a method for our members to better compare plans during this time, it may help in reducing their costs which impact everyone’s bottom line.
Here is a good site for looking at various options for Federal Health Insurance:
https://www.plansmartchoice.com/Registration.aspx?nosession=Y
· NWP OSHA Lead Garth Koleszar, NWP OWCP Lead Steve Hefley and I worked with RNO Facility Rep Rich Ferris regarding noxious fumes that were making employees sick at RNO.
· With Thanksgiving just days away, I would like to once again ask for your help in assisting our brother in need, Bob Marks. As we sit down at the dinner table and spend time with our families, please take a minute and think of our brother in need Bob Marks who is also a member of our family and needs our help.
· Please take a minute and click on the following link to help Bob and his family during his time of need. Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving……….
