NWP Reps/Members:
Last week, I was in Phoenix for a meeting to improve the working relationship between Labor and Management at PHX Tower. The meeting took all day and a host of issues were discussed by both sides. I am hopeful that we will be able to transform the current demoralizing relationship and unhealthy work environment to a very productive relationship and a healthy work environment.
Following the all day meeting, Mike Hull and I met with close to thirty members from PHX and P50 for a general membership meeting and a local establishment. Once everyone had an opportunity to eat, we opened the floor up to questions and comments. Some of our younger controllers expressed serious concerns about the “B” scale and possible contract negotiations. I reminded our younger controllers that they are the future of our profession and our Union. The reason that we are still fighting for a ratifiable contract 969 days after the imposed work rules is because of the younger controllers on the “B” scale. I am very proud of the fact that our Union didn’t sell out the future of the profession by agreeing to a two tier pay system that would reward veterans and punish our new controllers. This fight is about our future. This fight is about our “B” scaler’s who do what we do, but for 30% less pay.
I firmly believe that President Obama will take concrete steps to resolve our disputes with the FAA. However, as I have previously stated, I do not see any major changes until the new FAA Administrator (Randy Babbitt) is confirmed by the Senate. We are hearing that the Senate will confirm Mr. Babbitt as early as May 2009.
Meanwhile, please keep the faith and continue to provide the superior service that you provide to the American flying public 24/7. We are a Union and Unions fight for what they believe in. In this case, we are fighting for a fair process that results in a ratifiable agreement for all of our members.
Thank you for everything that you do to keep our system safe . . .
In Solidarity,
Ham
NWP RVP
· NWP Safety Lead Eric Carter sent out a report from the ATSAP (Air Traffic Safety Action Program) ERC (Event Review Committee). All of the safety information contained in this briefing sheet has come from actual ATSAP reports.
The Event Review Committee reviews every ATSAP report and extracts valuable causal factor data. In many cases, reports are closed with a simple electronic response from the ERC indicating no further action is required on the part of the submitter. This does not mean that no action is taking place with the information that was supplied. The ERC notification simply advises the report submitter that their report has been accepted into the system.
· Mickela has the following at the Regional Office if you need to stock up: 2009 Pocket Calendars, NATCA Recruitment Packages (for non-members interested in joining NATCA), Black/Yellow Retirement Lanyards, NWP Regional Shirts to order ($30+), Miami Convention Shirts (Free/XL to 5X, quantities vary). Please email her at Mickela@natca.net if you need any of the above.
· Mike Hull and Kevin Sills work with PHX Facility Rep Steve Palmer to prepare a disciplinary action case for expedited arbitration.
· NWP LR Rep/SJC Facility Rep Rich Burton works with outgoing HWD Facility Rep Karin Guerra on some issues at HWD.
· I would like to thank Karin Guerra for her service to the HWD Local and NATCA and wish her the best as she begins her new job as a Traffic Management Coordinator at ZOA. I would also like to take this opportunity to welcome the new HWD Local Facility Rep Shane Foskey. Shane will take over as the new effective May 11, 2009. Meanwhile, Felix Rivera HWD VP is the acting Facility Rep; thanks Felix.
· I have asked SCT Facility Rep/NWP Media co-lead Mel Davis to begin building relationships with members of AAAE (American Association of Airport Executives). Mel has reached out to all of the WP major airport operators on behalf of NATCA and we are starting to see some responses.
· Mike Hull and I work with Mel Davis, Ron Geyer, and Jeff Young on an OWCP issue out of SCT.
· ZLA Facility Rep/NWP LR Rep Garth Koleszar worked with VGT Facility Rep Mark Knabel regarding a form sick leave letter issued to a member at VGT. Mike, Garth, and I are working with Kevin Sills as this sick leave template may have national implications.
· I worked with Mike Hull and Kevin Sills regarding an upcoming arbitration that deals with one of our members at HCF. The FAA has dragged their feet repeatedly on this case and has caused our member tremendous financial harm. I had discussions with our good brother out of HCF and have asked him to let us know what he needs to ensure that his wife and young children are not uprooted from their home and their schools as a result of this never ending delay with the FAA. I am hopeful that the FAA may settle the case, but if not, these constant delays may cause our member at HCF to have to uproot his family.
· HCF Facility Rep Scott Sorenson, Paul Rinaldi, and I discussed some questions regarding quarterly dues rebates.
· I worked with Mickela and Dave Caldwell regarding some planning for the HNL 2010 Convention. I am constantly amazed at the energy of the HNL 2010 Committee members; thanks guys and gals.
· Mike Hull and I worked with NGL RVP Bryan Zilonis regarding long delays for AOV to respond to return to duty plans at SCT and elsewhere in the region. AOV is supposed to respond within 48 hours. Apparently, AOV never thought that they would be dealing with this many decertification’s. Now, it’s taking AOV nine (9) to ten (10) days to respond to a return to duty. NATCA national has filed an Article 7 notice regarding this matter.
· ATSAP (Air Traffic Safety Action Program) training is coming to the Western Pacific Region. Here are some of the dates for the upcoming training:
o LAS, L30, and VGT- Week of May 18th
o ZOA-Week of June 8th
o HCF, ITO, OGG, and ZUA- June 9-11 in Honolulu
https://atsapsafety.com
· VNY Facility Rep Rich Velasquez gave us some terrific news; VNY is a 100% NATCA Facility. Rich has really stepped up as the Facility Rep at VNY and I am very proud of his activism and efforts on behalf of the membership at VNY; thanks Rich.
· Mike Hull, Eric Carter, and I worked with ONT Facility Rep Melanie Washington regarding a new interpretation that prevents the tower from being able to issue headings to departures. Eric will discuss this with his counterpart in ATO-Safety.
· Mike Hull and I work with the SFO Hub and MRY Facility Rep Eric Fleming regarding some problems with a recent CRM class in OAK and a CIC certification.
· L30 Facility Rep Sara George and P50 Facility Rep Tim Krieger share their local update’s with me; thanks. These local updates are a great opportunity for me to understand what the important issues are at various facilities in the region.
· NWP Safety Lead Eric Carter, NWP Runway Safety Lead Elliot Brann, and I work with LAS Facility Rep Troy Verville regarding some problems with ramp control and a recent LOA signed between the FAA and Clark County.
· NWP Finance Lead Eric Hughes and I work with ZUA Facility Rep Will Scott regarding the use of local NATCA funds. Please remember that any time your E-board votes to spend money that you should document the motion in your E-board minutes and attach a copy of the minutes to the voucher. All your local expenses should be receipted and vouchered with dual signatures. If you have any questions on your local finances and good documentation, please contact Eric Hughes at: air.rock@sbcglobal.net
· NWP OSHA Lead Garth Koleszar worked with SCT Facility Rep Mel Davis, Mike Hull, and I regarding a problem with the water at SCT. After the laboratory analysis, it appears the water is safe for drinking.
· NWP Finance Lead Eric Hughes shared the results of his most recent financial audit of MYF. Please remember that ALL of these audits are done in preparation of any potential DOL audits and also because our National constitution requires them. Please follow through on all of the recommendations and learn from the audit. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Eric or have your treasurer ask a question on the NWP Treasurers listserve.
· If you get injured at work, please be extremely wary of FAA representatives that call you at home or your cell and claim to want to help you. You are under no obligation to deal with these individuals. Most of these individuals are there to ensure that your claim is controverted. Just recently, one of my good friends at ZLA experienced a traumatic situation at ZLA. I was just notified by ZLA Facility Rep Garth Koleszar that a FAA representative has been repeatedly calling our brother and harassing him. Here is an excerpt of Garth’s letter to this FAA Representative (I will xx out their name and our member’s name). Please contact your facility rep, your LR Rep, Mike Hull or myself if you are ever placed in this situation:
“Ms. XXX,
My name is Garth Koleszar and I am the Los Angeles Center NATCA representative and I, not you, represent Mr. NATCA member.
This letter is to inform you that I request that you immediately cease your harassing phone calls to Mr NATCA member regarding his recent OWCP claim. Mr. NATCA member has informed the FAA at Los Angeles Center of his return to work date and has complied with every request of the DOL. It is well known that the FAA has recently begun an overt practice of harassing phone calls, home visits and other means of attempting to force individuals into revealing information that may be used against them as they exercise their Federal entitlement to workers compensation benefits. If the facility management wishes to plan for Mr. NATCA members return, I am sure that the facility manager, Ms. Kathryn Hughes, has the ability to contact Mr. NATCA member on her own volition.
Your written contact to Mr. NATCA member’s attending physician was, in the Physician's own words "very condescending and arrogant". Mr. NATCA member’s attending Psychiatrist finds your attempts to pass yourself off as a representative of Mr. NATCA member and your constant phone calls to be "blatant harassment". I will have no difficulty getting statements from these professional regarding their opinions of your actions.
Your cleverly disguised attempts to gather information from his physicians, in spite of what your knowledge should be regarding patient client privilege and the rights of Mr. NATCA member, borders on fraud and in my opinion is a violation of Federal law. You clearly represent the FAA and your goal is simply to reduce the amount of workers compensation claims filed against the agency. Mr. NATCA member has informed all his care givers of your duplicitous actions.”
· VNY Facility Rep Rich Velasquez discovers the power of relationship building with members of Congress. Rich recently began having dialogue with Congressman Sherman’s office about the aging Tower at VNY. One of Congressman Sherman’s aide’s even visited the tower. The result was a letter to the Acting FAA Administrator asking for VNY to be prioritized on the agency’s “waterfall list” for new towers.
· Late last week, the service area notified me that FAA Finance has decided to change the way they count staffing. Previously, the FAA wouldn’t count new hires in the minimum-maximum staffing range. Now, FAA finance has decided to change that since it made too much sense. The ATO is now required to count everyone in their staffing number. This will have a negative effect on any new hires that are unsuccessful in the training program, since most facilities will be within or above their staffing range. The FAA has yet to brief NATCA on this initiative. Pat will be discussing this with ATO COO Hank Krakowski.
· NWP LR Rep Bruce Bates answered a seniority question for TOA Facility Rep Victor Morales. The question was:
“When we get a new hire from the FAA Academy, does their cumulative bargaining unit time start when they report to the facility? Apparently, a few of the new hires thought that they were covered by the Union while at the academy for the purposes of seniority.
Victor, academy time in this case would not count towards seniority since new hires at the academy are not represented by NATCA. It’s only when they report to their first FAA facility that there NATCA bargaining unit time begins”.
· Last week, Mike Hull was in RNO to meet with the RNO NATCA Local and RNO Management. Mike has been acting as the NATCA designee for RNO to deal with some of the problems the local has been experiencing with RNO management.
· Mike Hull works with SCT VP Ron Geyer and SCT Facility Rep Mel Davis to prepare a disciplinary case for expedited arbitration.
