The Honor Roll

NWP “Hot Sheet” for the Weeks of 06-01-09 and 06-08-09

NWP Reps/Members:

I would like to dedicate this update to the memory of a man I never had the pleasure of meeting.  However, I know from friends such as Domenic “The Wiz” Torchia and Bob “The Pres” Butterworth that he was a giant of a man for the Labor movement.

Jack Henning, a longtime leader in California's labor movement who served in the administrations of Gov. Pat Brown and Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson, died at his San Francisco home on June 4, 2009; Jack was 94 years young.

"Jack was a lion of a man and a great labor leader," said Art Pulaski, head of the California Labor Federation. "His vision and his magnificent oratory inspired several generations of union activists."

In addition, I would also like to take this opportunity to extend my deepest condolences to my friend and brother, LAX FACREP Mike Foote, who lost his father most recently.  May God bless Mr. Henning and Mr. Foote.

In Solidarity,

Ham

NWP RVP

 

·       ZOA Facility Rep/NWP LR Rep Scott Conde shared a very nice article 65 template that he created for the ATOP “Advanced Technologies and Oceanic Procedures” refresher training.  It’s truly a shame that the FAA who is responsible for the safety of the National Airspace System agrees to field so many hardware and software issues with so many flaws.

 

·       Scott also briefed me on the unacceptable flaws with ERAM.  Scott is one of our representatives on the ERAM negotiations workgroup.  Once again, it appears that the FAA is in a rush to field a safety critical piece of equipment with numerous flaws.  The FAA plans to roll out ERAM at ZLC on the mid-shifts that began last night!

 

·       Congratulations to new BFL Facility Rep Joe Segretto and VP Michael Pernick.  They will begin their terms effective July 15, 2009.  I would like to thank outgoing BFL Facility Rep Tambra Embry for her service to BFL local and NATCA.  Tambra will be transferring to SCT.

 

·       As I read some of the financial audits of our locals, I noticed some common mistakes that I would like to share with you:

 

o   Keep copy of canceled checks. If it’s available online, please download them and keep them in your files with the appropriate year’s financial information.

o   Ensure that you have double signatures on all checks as per SRF-21(NATCA Constitution Standing Rule F-21)

o   Ensure that all expenses are documented on a voucher with appropriate receipts for each expense.

o   Develop an inventory asset list with associated year end values.  Fixed assets like computers and other equipment depreciate in value over time.  Be sure to reflect this depreciation on each succeeding year’s inventory asset list.

o   Conduct regular meetings as per your local constitution.

 

·       If you have any questions regarding local finances, please contact NWP Finance Lead Eric Hughes at air.rock@sbcglobal.net

 

·       NWP Comm/Tech Lead Kevin Sherwood disseminates his first “Tech Talk” in which he talks about keeping your PC in tip top shape.  You can access Kevin’s “Tech Talk” by going to http://nwp.natca.net and clicking on the “Regional Leads” tab and then “Kevin’s Tech Talk”.

 

·       NATCA Executive Vice President Paul Rinaldi and I attended the ZLA solidarity party with close sixty (60) members from ZLA, BFL, CNO, etc. On the way up to ZLA, we visited LGB Tower and also met with our Region X folks at the regional office in Lawndale.  Sam Samad was a gracious host at the FAA regional office and provided a most excellent luncheon following the local meeting.

 

·       The following day, Paul and I drove down to SCT for a luncheon.  As you can imagine, most of the member’s questions focused on the mediation process.  We did our best in answering all questions based on the information that we had.

 

·       Both Paul and I attended the SCT Solidarity party along with approximately 130 members from SCT, LGB, MYF, SEE, LAX, CRQ, SNA, etc.  I think LGB stole the show when they showed up with a van full of eleven (11) members to attend the meeting; congratulations to my Marine buddy Paul “Boogie” Bugarin and the entire LGB local.

 

·       I worked with acting ZLA Facility Rep Chad Geyer on an issue dealing with representation and differential pay.  If the managers code the representation as anything other than incident/accident investigation then the representatives lose out on differential pay or Sunday pay while they represent our members.  This FAA interpretation is based on an October 22, 2007 memorandum by Melvin Harris.  I made sure that our mediation team had a copy of this memorandum for their discussion with the mediators.

 

·       I also worked with Chad on a sick leave letter, operational deviation, security investigation, training failure, etc.  Chad is doing a great job keeping up with the myriad of issues that are coming up.

 

·       A member at NCT asked us to include a link to the NCT Local website.  As a result of his suggestion, we have created links to some of the websites of our locals.  You can access these links by going to the regional website and clicking the “Links” tab.  If you would like to have a link to your local website, please send an email to Kevin Sherwood at ksherwood@natca.net

 

·       I worked with NWP Hardship lead Bob Guerra and Mike Hull regarding several hardships.  As many of you know, Bob would like to take a much deserved break from his duties as NWP Hardship lead.  It has been my honor to have worked with someone of Bob’s integrity and strength.  Bob has been there for our members when they have needed him the most.  Bob, I thank you from the bottom of my heart and I am very proud of your service to our membership.

 

·       If anyone is interested in being considered for the NWP hardship lead position, please submit your name along with a brief narrative of your background and experience to me (hghaffari@natca.net) no later than Friday June 19th.

 

·       Mike Hull and I worked with Acting Western Terminal Director Rich Belmonte on some hardships, ERR’s, adverse action, GCN housing issues, and ATSAP.  So far, it appears that Rich is open to discussion and is willing to roll up his sleeves and make the tough decisions.

 

·       POC Facility Rep/NWP LR Rep John Paiva worked with PSP Facility Rep Curtis Cannon regarding a potential disciplinary action.

 

·       On June 4, 2009, a federal judge denied a motion seeking an award of attorney fees from NATCA that had been submitted by FAA manager John Gilding in his defamation suit against NATCA, NATCA Local PHX officers, former Western Pacific RVP Bob Marks, and former NATCA President John Carr.

 

·       The plaintiff manager had asked the federal court to order NATCA to pay $34,710 to cover his attorney fees in contesting NATCA's removal of the case from federal to state court.  Although the federal judge had granted the plaintiff manager's motion to have the case remanded back to state court in April 2009, the court held in its June 4 decision that NATCA "had an objectively reasonable argument on which to seek removal" and consequently denied the manager's motion for an award of any attorney fees from NATCA.

 

·       NATCA is currently seeking review of the federal judge's remand decision in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, on the grounds that, in remanding the case back to state court, the judge committed substantive errors of law with regard to the merits of the case and NATCA's preemption defenses.

 

·       Please register to vote online for the upcoming NATCA elections by going to the NWP Website and clicking on the icon “2009 Election of Union Officers” or click on this link: https://www.esc-vote.com/natcareg/

 

·       You do not need your membership number and it only takes about one minute to register.  Help us save money and help us with the environment by signing up to vote online.

 

·       Mike Hull worked with Kevin Sills to prioritize our NWP arbitration list.

 

·       PHX Facility Rep Steve Palmer shared his local update with me; thanks.  Steve and Jerry Johnston recently met with PHX management, offsite, in an attempt to improve Labor Management relations at PHX.

 

·       Chuck Chamberlain over at ATO-T advised NATCA that the agency should come out with a notice this week regarding the weight classification of a B752.  Until then, the Safety and Technology Department advises controllers to treat the B752 as a heavy jet when #1 and as a large when #2.  This will ensure you have the required separation regardless of the weight class of the B752.  Of course if a controller verifies a B752 is NOT a heavy, then they should use the separation outlined in the 7110.65.

 

·       If there are any questions please do not hesitate to contact the Safety & Tech department via email dwright@natcadc.org.

 

·       I worked with P50 Facility Rep Steve Hadley, VP Mark Wojtulski, and the Regional Flight Surgeon regarding a medically incapacitated member.

 

·       Please be sure to use the new/revised expense voucher for NATCA Members.  These forms are effective immediately but there will be a slight modification to these forms to add mileage back to the form.  They can be accessed by going to the NWP Website and clicking the “Documents” tab.  Please print off and make copies for any future business expenses with NATCA that you or any of your members incur.  Your member number is now required on the form, so if anyone needs their member number, they can email Mickela at mickela@natca.net)

 

·       I worked with CNO Facility Rep Kyle Vercautren regarding an OE at CNO.

 

·       Mike Hull and NWP Safety Lead Eric Carter worked with LGB Facility Rep Paul Bugarin regarding a recent evaluation.

 

·       NWP LR Rep Chad Geyer, Mike Hull, and I worked with SNA Facility Rep Chris Schaefer to answer some of his questions regarding the training review process.  Chris made us proud when he told us that he had read Mike’s LR chronicles #22 dealing with Training Review Boards.  Chris advised us that Management representatives at the review board were apparently trying to decide whether the member in question could be successful at other facilities as part of the review boards’ deliberations.   This is a great opportunity for us to address this issue.  This is what I sent back to Chris:

 

“Sometimes it's difficult for all the parties involved to be focused on the task at hand at a review board. The sole goal of a review board is to determine whether every opportunity to succeed was utilized or not. The board is NOT there to determine the individual's fate in the FAA or whether he'll ever make it at another facility. There are only two things that can come out the TRB; 1. Continuation of training or 2.Termination of training. Neither has anything to do with our members future.  Nice job preparing for your TRB and asking questions.”

 

·       Mike Hull continues to work with RNO Facility Rep Rich Ferris and RNO management in order to improve Labor Management relations at the facility.

 

·       Mike Hull and I worked with Service area management to address some problems with scheduling training for ATSAP at LAX and RNO.

 

·       Mickela will be taking a much needed and much deserved vacation.  She will not be in the office July 1 to July 7 inclusive.

 

·       Lastly, there are many questions out there regarding the mediation process.  The best advice I can offer you is to engage your facility rep or RVP and see if they have the answers to your questions.  I can personally attest to the fact that I don’t have all of the answers since I am not the Chief Negotiator for our Union.  However, I will continue to answer questions that are posed to me to the best of my ability and as soon as I get information from our chief negotiator/President Pat Forrey.

NWP “Hot Sheet” for the Weeks of 5-11-09, 5-18-09, and 5-25-09

NWP Reps/Members:

 

This update is dedicated in memory of our two fallen brothers from SCT and ZLA.

 

SCT San Diego Area NATCA member Chris Kloman passed away in an unfortunate aircraft accident.  While I personally did not know Chris, I knew his wife Sally from when she was a NATCA Rep for the San Diego area at SCT.  One of Chris and Sally’s friends, Bob Marks, wrote the following about Chris:

“Chris is a union brother, a pilot, a controller, and a friend.  He was quiet and reserved, but always had a smile on his face.  He was an excellent instructor, and loved all things related to aviation.  I will miss him, and as is always the case when a life is cut short, I feel a huge sense of loss.  Sally, carry on, we all love you and are there for you.”

I would like to thank ZSE Facility Rep Jim Ullmann for flying down on a moment’s notice to act as the Critical Incident Stress peer de-briefer at SCT.  This was no easy feat due to the fact that HR didn’t want to approve the funds or the duty time for Jim to fly down as this wasn’t a work related incident.  As such, I would like to also thank incoming Acting Western Terminal Director Rich Belmonte for stepping up and assisting in this matter.

ZLA Area B NATCA Rep. Bill Galarneau passed away from an unfortunate motorcycle accident on his way home from a swing shift.

 

Bill hired into the FAA directly from George Air Force Base in 1984. He was assigned to the High Desert Tracon from 1984 to 1991 and was one of High Desert Tracon’s first NATCA facility representatives.

 

Bill moved to ZLA in 1991 and subsequently served as the ZLA Vice-President while I was serving my first term as ZLA Facility Representative.  Bill was a good friend and a strong NATCA activist and wore black everyday as one of his many statements against the IWR's that he was fighting to overturn.  Bill had 155 days to go before he was going to retire!

 

Following Bill’s very well attended funeral, I had the opportunity to visit Bill’s wife Mary and pay my respects to her and their children at their home in Victorville.  When I was getting ready to leave, Mary wished us the best of luck in resolving our contract dispute and said that she would miss the various work/Union stories that she would hear from Bill about our fight to restore a fair contract for our members.

 

ZLA NATCA is in the process of collecting funds to help defray the cost of the funeral for Mary and the kids.  If you are interested in helping, please see any NATCA rep at ZLA or go to Kevin Sherwood’s site and donate via paypal (http://kevin.thesherwoods.org/)  ZLA is trying to cover all of the funeral expenses (approximately $8,000).  We only need another $1000 to hit our goal.

 

I would like to personally thank Paul Rinaldi for taking time out of his very busy schedule to call me to convey his heartfelt condolences on behalf of our two fallen brothers in the Western Pacific Region.

 

May God bless our brothers Chris and Bill and give strength to their families to deal with the loss of a loved one.

 

In Solidarity,

 

Ham

NWP RVP

 

·       I attended NATCA in Washington during the week of May 18th and was very pleasantly surprised at the turnout from our younger members who attended Lobby Week for their first time.  Many of them have a new understanding of how things work in the Federal Government and the absolute importance of relationships with members of Congress.  Our future rests on the shoulders of many of these young folks that were in Washington for the first time in their careers.  I believe in this process so much that I took annual leave on one day so that I could delegate my RVP time to a first timer from Los Angeles Center.

 

Here are some of the photos taken from NATCA in Washington 2009:

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/timsphotosite/sets/72157618341939047/

 

·       Our future can be very bright if we can all join in and work together for the betterment of our members and the national airspace system.  We need to learn from our history and ensure that all of our members are engaged in some fashion to help craft our future and avoid the mistakes of the past.  We can no longer afford to sit back.  Other than probationary employees (those with less than one year of Federal Civil Service), everyone else should be stepping up to help their local and their Union.  Please get involved at your local level and/or the regional level. The time is NOW!

 

·       Following Lobby Week, I attended our National Executive Board meeting at the NATCA National office.

 

·       As most of you are aware, NATCA is actively engaged in mediation with the Federal Aviation Administration.  As is typically the case, NATCA and the FAA have signed a ground rules agreement which doesn’t allow the parties to discuss the mediation proceedings or the process.  As soon as I get information from our Chief Negotiator, Pat Forrey, I will be sure to share them with you.  The fact that we are not hearing from the FAA in the media or through their FAA website is also indicative that the mediators are keeping a very tight lid on the negotiations.

 

·       The following week, I was on jury duty.  Lucky for me, I wasn’t called in for any service.

 

·       I wanted to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you in the Western Pacific Region for your support and encouragement during the past three years.  Nominations for National office have closed and I was the sole individual nominated for the position of NWP Regional Vice President.

 

It is with great pride and tremendous humility that I accept the nomination to be your Regional Vice President for another three years.  I am deeply honored to be given the opportunity to be at the helm as we steer our region into the future.

 

·       Since I was the sole person nominated and the sole person who has accepted the position, my name will not be on the ballot in July 2009.  My next term will begin on or about September 1, 2009.

 

·       While our Region is not in play, we still have a say in electing our National Officers for President and Executive Vice-President.  It is imperative that we encourage and assist all members to participate in one of the most important NATCA elections to date.  Please take a minute to sign up online for an electronic ballot and simplify the whole election process and keep our costs down.  If there are any questions regarding the process or elections in general, please feel free to email (hghaffari@natca.net) me or call me on my cell (661)-400-2496.

 

·       Here is how to sign up online:

 

HOW TO REGISTER FOR AN ELECTRONIC BALLOT?  If you wish to vote electronically, you must register with Election Services Solutions (ESS) by logging on to https://www.esc-vote.com/natcareg.  Please note that if you choose the electronic ballot option, a mail ballot package will NOT be sent to your home.  The registration page is secure and you will only be able to register once.  After registering, you will also be requested to provide your name, address, region and personal e-mail address (where the electronic ballot is to be sent), as well as answer a few security questions, which will be used for verification purposes during the voting process.

If you register to receive an electronic ballot, you will be sent an e-mail on June 30, 2009 with a randomly selected log-in number.  The e-mail will also include a link that will automatically direct you to the secure voting site.  The e-mail will be sent fromnatcahelp@electionservices.corp.com.  Please adjust your spam filter accordingly so as to receive this e-mail.  If you register to receive an electronic ballot and you subsequently change your personal e-mail address, please e-mail ESS the change atnatcareg@electionservicescorp.com.

If you register to vote electronically and your vote is not received by July 25, 2009, you will be sent an e-mail reminding you to vote prior to the polls closing at 11:59 on July 30, 2009.  Please note that, prior to the mailing of the ballots on June 30, 2009, if any e-mails are returned to ESS from registered members as undeliverable, these members will be sent a mail ballot package instead.

If you do not register to receive an electronic ballot before June 30, 2009, a mail ballot package will be sent to your home address.  However, even if you receive a mail ballot package, you will still have the opportunity to vote on-line using a unique log-in number that appears on the perforated top section of your ballot.  The mail ballot package will contain detailed instructions for voting on-line in this manner.

 

·       I worked with ZOA VP Mike Ward to clarify a seniority question for a member returning from a non-bargaining unit employee position.  Here is the particular section of the seniority policy that impacts this member:

 

Section 3. Any bargaining unit member who accepted a supervisor/management job after June 6, 2006 and returns to the bargaining unit will have his/her cumulative seniority date set to the day they return.

 

·       Check out www.natcacfs.net for the latest on “Communicating for Safety 2010” in Orlando, Florida.  Start making plans to attend CFS 2010.

 

·       Mike Hull continues to work with RNO Facility Rep Rich Ferris to resolve issues at RNO.

 

·       SCT Facility Rep Mel Davis, NCT Facility Rep Steve McCoy, and I have a telcon with Jose Ceballos and Frank McCarthy regarding some language that Senator Boxer wants to introduce in FAA Re-Authorization to address the problems identified in the recent DOT IG report of LAX, NCT, and SCT.

 

·       Mike Hull and I work with L30 LR rep Bryan Baker and L30 Facility Rep Sara George regarding a proposed termination case.  We have all worked long and hard on this case and this past Friday, our affected member was back in the facility and will not be terminated as the agency had hoped!  Great work to Bryan and Sara for helping Mike and I deal with this great injustice at L30.  We are still waiting to hear what the agency will decide for a penalty, but the great news is that our member will not be terminated.

 

·       I continue to work with NWP Pay Lead Jeff Tilley and ZOA Facility Rep Scott Conde on a lingering pay settlement issue dealing with the implementation of ATOP at ZOA.  Our settlement agreement was signed over two years ago and the agency has yet to make one of our member’s whole at ZOA.  I will continue to personally work this issue to fruition.

 

·       I continue to work with HCF Facility Rep Scott Sorenson, Mike Hull, and Kevin Sills regarding an arbitration for a member at HCF who was adversely affected by the ATOP implementation at ZOA and who subsequently transferred to HCF.

 

·       I would like to take this opportunity to welcome the new Facility Rep at P50 (Phoenix Tracon) Steve Hadley and the new Facility Rep at PSP (Palm Springs) Curtis Cannon.  The NWP website at http://nwp.natca.net Facility Rep tab has been updated with their information.

 

·       The FAA has notified us that they plan to disconnect all NON-FAA internet connections at all facilities.  We are not only addressing this issue via the normal channel of Labor Relations, but also plan to address it as part of the ongoing mediation talks.

 

·       FFZ Facility Rep Chris Brazys and SFO Facility Rep Dave Caldwell shared their local updates with me; thanks.

 

·       I would like to wish a speedy recovery to our very own SMO Facility Rep Pam Choi who recently underwent some hand surgery and is now recuperating nicely and even typing with her left hand!

 

·       Here are some of the upcoming ATSAP (Air Traffic Safety Action Program) training dates in the Western Pacific Region:

 

Ontario Area ATSAP Training - SNA/POC/CNO/LGB/ONT/PSP/CRQ/TOA/E10 - June 23-24^th

 

Los Angeles Area ATSAP Training - ZLA/LAX/BUR/EMT/SMO/ CMA/VNY/SBA/BFL - June 23-24

 

·       We have yet another close call at KOA (Kona International Airport on the Big Island of Hawaii).  On 5/19/2009, a BE99/A was issued a departure clearance by the Kona Contract Tower, to take-off on Runway 17.  The controller at Kona Tower had attained an approval for release, for runway 17, from Honolulu Control Facility.  At that time, Honolulu Control Facility had a commercial airliner, a CRJ2/R, on final approach to runway 17.  The Honolulu Control Facility Controller had released the BE99 aircraft for departure on Runway 17 with reference to the arriving CRJ2.  The Kona Controller issued the clearance to the BE99 to take-off from an intersection on Runway 17.  The Pilot of the BE99 took the runway and departed opposite direction Runway 35 into the CRJ2 that was on short final.  The pilot of the Regional Jet made a maneuver to avoid the departing BE99 and landed without incident.

 

KOA is operated by a contractor whose contract is coming to an end this year.  The contractor, Airservices Australia, is a government-owned corporation that operates 26 air traffic control towers at airports across Australia and six towers at United States territories in the Pacific, including airports in Kona, Lihue and Molokai.

 

When the company initially took over air traffic control services in Kona in 2000, there were about 88,000 takeoffs and landings a year by airliners, cargo and corporate planes and other "instrument flight rules" aircraft. Since then, planes have used the airport more frequently, with the number of takeoffs and landings rising to a high of 154,000 in 2005.

 

Here is a link to the full news story that appeared on KITV in Honolulu, Hawaii:

 

http://www.kitv.com/news/19596379/detail.html

 

·       Brothers and Sisters, I received the following email from our NATCA brother at SCT Don Magley.  Please do everything you can to help our brother and sister by donating some leave to them through the provided link at the bottom of his letter.  Please keep in mind that the link will only work if you use it on the FAA intranet.  Log onto a FAA computer and follow the link to donate some leave to Ronda Magley.

 

Good Morning,

My name is Don Magley, my wife Ronda and I have been in the FAA for a little over 2 years.  We both transferred from the Salt Lake City facilities (Ronda the TRACON, Me the Center) to SCT and SAN, about 7 months ago on a hardship transfer for our son Roman who was born 4 months premature.  Weighing just 2lbs at birth he was born with many medical problems, struggling with Chronic Lung Disease was the primary cause for our relocation based off his doctor’s recommendation for a climate change.  We have since relocated our family here where there are better hospitals and a vastly improved air quality over SLC.  Since moving here our son has had a tremendous improvement with his Chronic Lung Disease and has been able to discontinue his oxygen requirements.  Unfortunately that was not the end of hurdle's to be jumped for him, many other underlying medical problems have surfaced and he is now is need of multiple surgeries to correct exotropia of the eyes, and has neurological and developmental issues to overcome.  Roman meets with a Physiotherapist/Occupational therapist two times a week to help address some of his delays, he also has weekly medical evaluations/appointments at Children's Hospital to evaluate and assess his overall progress.  Roman is now scheduled to have his 2nd eye surgery at the end of June and with his medical background and susceptibility to infection his recovery is expected to take quite some time and this will not be his last eye surgery for this year.  My wife who works at Lindbergh Tower has had to miss many days and weeks of work to try and accommodate Roman's medical schedule.  She has now expended all of her sick and annual leave balances plus some advanced leave.  My wife and I are at our wit's end with the ongoing medical, nursing/nanny, and therapist bills and the loss of work to accommodate all of the appointments.  My wife is now on the Voluntary Leave Donor Program and we are asking for help from our fellow union brother's and sister's as it is our only hope.
https://webapps.awp.faa.gov/ovltp/new_enter_donorapp.cfm?here=nat&RecordID=4598