I wanted to open this months “Hot Sheet” with a huge congratulations to all of the NATCA families with graduates. As you deal with the daily stressors of life and some difficult managers or co-workers, please reflect on what’s most important in life and why we actually go to work, our families.
It’s been a very busy couple of weeks with a whole lot happening regionally and nationally. As such, I
will give you a brief update on some of the issues that we have been dealing with regionally and nationally.
Flight Deck Training
NATCA recently received Management-2 on Flight Deck Training. Bryan Zilonis, Phil Barbarello, and I
reviewed their latest proposal, conducted a telcon with FAA management, and then countered with our proposal.
The reason that it’s taken slightly longer to implement this MOU is that we want to ensure that our members are protected if they are bumped from a flight due to the very heavy load factors and not able to return for their next scheduled shift. Meanwhile, we have three (3) bargaining unit employees and several FLMs who will be taking a test flight to try and address any possible problems with the program.
Internet Service and SRF-12
During our June 2011 NEB meeting, we discussed the subject of Internet service for our smaller locals (SRF-12: those locals receiving $4000 or less in annual dues rebates) . The Benefits committee researched Internet access for smaller locals at the request of NATCA’s Executive Vice President Trish Gilbert. The Benefits committee could not find any viable service for bundling of the service for facilities. Instead, they recommended that the national office reimburse UP TO $50 a month to locals covered by SRF 12 for Internet access. The effective date for this program will be July 1, 2011. If your local pays the Internet bill annually or semi-annually, you can submit the entire bill for reimbursement. All vouchers should be sent directly to the National Office for reimbursement.
NWP Legislative Chair
I wanted to take this opportunity to thank Chuck Vogel for his many years of service to NATCA and most recently his service to the Western Pacific Region as Chair of the NWP Legislative Committee. Chuck will be working with and mentoring Trisha Pesiri who has stepped up to be the new NWP Legislative Lead. I think our entire legislative team already does a fantastic job. However, I am expecting Trisha to push this team and inspire everyone to reach for even higher energy and activism. Both Trisha and I share the same vision for the NWP Legislative team. A year round army of
energetic and tireless activists who strive to build effective relationships with members of Congress and who also help to energize and mobilize our membership when called upon.
Regional LR Team
Over the course of the last two months, Mike Hull and I have been restructuring the NWP LR Team and assignment of facilities. We have added some new LR (Labor Relations) Representatives to the Regional LR Team and we have reassigned some facilities accordingly. The new assignments have been shared with all facilities and posted on the Western Pacific website at http://nwp.natca.net
under the “Labor Relations” tab.
Please keep in mind that the LR Reps are there to provide one on one support to the facility representatives. As such, please contact them first on any issue and give them an opportunity to help resolve the issue.
I wanted to take this opportunity to thank these new activists for stepping up to be included in a very talented and energetic LR Team headed by one of the most passionate and dedicated activists in our entire union; Mike Hull.
Retired SCT Member Bruce Morey
Most of you who have been around NATCA for a while have heard of a very dedicated and talented retired NATCA SCT controller by the name of Bruce Morey. Recently, Bob Marks advised me of
some challenges that our good friend and brother Bruce will be experiencing. This is what Bob had to say about our brother:
“Bruce is a lifelong union member who has been a union officer for many years. He served Coast Approach as an Executive Board member, and was their designee on the SCT transition team. He is a mentor to me in life and career.
He is now undergoing something in his life that we need to rally around and support. He has a brain tumor that his surgeon will try to remove next Tuesday. All that Bruce is asking is for prayers and
for support.
Please send this to our region, and if you could please post this on the NATCA BBS, Bruce, Sonya (his wife) and I would deeply appreciate it. I will be on stand by this Tuesday and let you know immediately of the outcome”.
Please keep our good friend and brother Bruce and his family in your prayers. As soon as I get more
updates from Bob, I will be sure to share it with everyone.
Fatigue Workgroup and nine hours between shifts
On Sunday May 15th, at the direction of the DOT Secretary, the FAA began giving up to one-hour of excused absence to controllers who wouldn’t otherwise have nine (9) hours between their day shift
and their mid-night shift. Nationally, we have been working through our Fatigue Mitigation workgroup to work with the agency in an attempt to implement all twelve (12) of the fatigue workgroup
recommendations. We have yet to reach an agreement. Our Fatigue Workgroup Lead and NEA RVP Phil Barbarello has advised that NATCA will be filing a National Grievance on this issue and an article 7 notice. As more information comes in, I will share it with all of you.
NATCA/FAA Training Communications Workgroup
This past week, Nate Pair (ZLA), Corey Soignet (LFT), Johnny Temple (ZHU), and I met with ATO management in Oklahoma City in order to develop an effective communications structure to get timely feedback and ideas from the field on training. This structure would allow controllers and managers to provide feedback on any aspect of training in order to help us continually improve training in the FAA.
Advanced Representative Class
On June 20-21, 2011, Jay Barrett (MIA), Chris Boughn (ZDC), Mike Hull (SCT), Gretchen McMullen (NATCA LR Attorney), and I will be meeting in Dallas to develop a brand new Advanced Rep class. If you have attended the new Basic Rep class, I would strongly urge you to continue the learning process and attend the new class, which is sure to challenge you and help you become an effective NATCA
representative. We hope to have the new course material done by this fall and schedule our first advanced rep class in late 2011.
NWP September Membership Meeting
Our next regional membership meeting is looking to be one of our biggest membership meetings to date. The meeting will take place on Monday September 19 (full day) and Tuesday September 20 (1/2 day) at the Hilton Bayfront Hotel in downtown San Diego. Please reserve your room as soon as possible. All of the information regarding the membership meeting can be found on our regional website at http://nwp.natca.net, hope to see you there.
