Nov/Dec '05: Vol. 19: Issue 6

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

• NATCA Launches "Fly Us Safe" Campaign
• Presidential Perspective
• Preparing NATCA members for the campaign
• FAA flip-flop on ASDE-X 
• A Closer Look: NATCA's new generation
• Facility Focus: Unique traffic managment issues 
• Controllers' safety concerns aren't just technical
• Many "reliever airports" now in need of their own relief
• LR Source - November/December 2005
• NATCA members lend a hand for the holidays
• NATCA in Washington 2006: Preview
• 2006 NATCA election rules

2006 NATCA Election Rules

In accordance with the constitution of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, Article VII, Section 3, we, the National Election Committee, designate the following dates and timetable for the 2006 NATCA National Elections.

Section 1 - General Provisions

1. Elections will be held by referendum, and all balloting will be conducted by the use of a secret ballot. Write-in votes will not be permitted.
2. Balloting will be conducted electronically via the Internet and shall be accomplished by registering no later than June 1, 2006.
3. Balloting that is conducted via a mail-in ballot, the following procedures shall apply: the official ballot return envelope will have on its face an official number assigned to each member. A list of names of the membership, together with the corresponding official numbers, will be made available to the National Election Committee of the Association for the purpose of checking, at the time of the ballot count, the voting eligibility of the members whose ballots have been returned. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in these by-laws, all ballots will be returned to a depository predetermined by the National Election Committee to ensure the secrecy of the ballots, and will be held there until the time designated for the counting of such ballots.
4. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, any protest or challenge to the conduct of a National Election must be made in accordance with Article VII, Section 5 of the National Constitution.
5. Any further appeals must be filed with the Secretary of Labor pursuant to Title V U.S.C., Section 7120, and applicable regulations.

Section 2 - Nominations

1. Nominations shall be accomplished in accordance with Article VII, Section 2 of the National Constitution. Nominations must be in writing and must be delivered via certified mail to: National Election Committee c/o Marguerite L. Graf, NATCA General Counsel at the Association Headquarters no later than 5:00 p.m. EST on March 31, 2006. All candidates for National Office must be active members in good standing for at least one year prior to the close of nominations.
2. No member may accept nomination to or be a candidate for more than one office in any National Election.
3. The Association Headquarters will be charged with the safekeeping of these nominations, and will turn them over to the National Election Committee.
4. The acceptance of the nomination will be dated and contain the following information:
   1. The full name of the candidate and, if desired, any special name to appear on the ballot.
   2. The candidate’s facility, home or mailing address and social security number.
   3. The title of the National Office for which the candidate is nominated.
   4. A certificate in the following form, signed and dated by the proposed candidate:

“I hereby accept the nomination for the office of _____.  I certify that I am not now, nor have been for the past 13 years, convicted of or served any part of a prison term resulting from conviction of robbery, bribery, extortion, embezzlement, grand larceny, burglary, arson, violation of narcotics laws, murder, rape, assault with intent to kill, assault which inflicts grievous bodily injury, or violation of Title II or III of the LMRDA  Act of 1959 as amended, or the Landrum-Griffin Act, or conspiracy to commit any such crime.”

1. Nomination acceptance must be received at the Association Headquarters no later than 5:00 p.m. EST on May 1, 2006.  Nomination acceptances not received by this time will be considered invalid.
2. The National Election Committee will determine whether the candidate has correctly submitted their nomination acceptance and possesses the necessary qualifications for the proposed office. The National Election Committee will prepare a report listing each candidate under the office they are seeking. Each candidate will be marked “qualified” or “disqualified” according to the findings of the National Election Committee. Where a candidate has been marked “disqualified” the reason must be stated in the report. The report will be signed by the National Election Committee and submitted to the National Executive Board.
3. When the National Election Committee disqualifies candidates, they will be notified immediately by certified mail at the address listed on their nomination acceptance of the reason(s) for disqualification. Disqualified candidates will have the right to file a written appeal to the National Executive Board within 10 business days of the receipt of the disqualification notice. The National Executive Board will review the appeal and reply within 5 business days of the receipt of the appeal.

Section 3 - Balloting Procedures - Internet/Mail

1. The National Election Committee will ensure the proper and timely preparation of ballots without partiality as to candidates. The names of the candidates for each separate office will appear in alphabetical order. Ballots will contain voting instructions consistent with the provisions of these by-laws.
2. The ballots prepared at the direction of the National Election Committee will be the only official ballots. No others may be used. The National Election Committee will maintain a record of the ballots distributed.
3. Ballots must be sent to a predetermined depository, which will be paid for by the Association. Secrecy of the ballots must be assured. No signature of any voter or other distinguishing mark will appear on the ballot. A signed or marked ballot will automatically be ruled ineligible.
4. No member’s ballot will be counted unless the member is in good standing as of 15 days immediately preceding the closing of the balloting.
5. Ballots will be distributed to the membership on June 30, 2006. Balloting must be completed by 11:59 p.m. EST on July 30, 2006. Ballots not received in the depository by this date will not be counted.
6. Members will be entitled to a duplicate ballot and receive same, provided they notify the National Election Committee via the Association Headquarters. Envelopes used for duplicate ballots will be identified as “Duplicate Ballot” and of a different color other than the envelope used for the original ballot. Duplicate ballots will be counted unless the original and duplicate ballot mailed to a member are both cast, in which event neither ballot will be counted.
7. The National Election Committee will supervise the conduct of the election and take measures they deem necessary to assure a fair and impartial election.

Section 4 - Ballot Collection, Tally Procedure

1. A member of the National Election Committee will on the morning of July 31, 2006, proceed to the depository and obtain all the ballots. Ballots will be retained in the custody of the National Election Committee until such time as they are checked and counted.
2. The National Election Committee is charged with the tally of all ballots and the preparation of a report, which sets forth in complete detail the results of the election, including a complete accounting of all ballots and reconciliation of the ballots with rosters and verification lists of membership.  The report will clearly detail all discrepancies discovered and will contain recommendations for the treatment of such discrepancies. All members of the National Election Committee will sign the report without prejudice.
3. The National Election Committee will commence their work on the same day that the ballots are collected and will complete their work as quickly as possible.  The report of the National Election Committee will be filed with the Association no later than 48 hours following the completion of the count.

Section 5 - Runoff Procedures

1. In the event of a runoff election, the National Election Committee will supervise the distribution of ballots. The ballots will be distributed no later than 16 days after the National Election Committee has ruled on challenges or protests of the election or, if there are no challenges or protests, within 16 days after submission of the National Election Committee’s report.
2. The runoff election will be conducted in accordance with Section 4 of these rules.  Marked ballots will be distributed to the membership and due back into the predetermined depository no later than 30 days after the date of the distribution.  In the event that the 30-day deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, the next regular business day will be designated as the deadline for receipt of returned ballots. The National Election Committee will meet the following day to tabulate ballots and announce the results of the runoff election. 

Section 6 - Installation of Officers

1. New officers will take office on September 1, 2006.  In the event of a runoff election, such officers will take office 30 days after the results of the runoff election are finalized.

National Election Committee

George Lloyd, A11

Dee Daniel, PCT

Dan Ellenberger, A80

Mike Patterson, EVV

Harold Warncke, MCO