Vol. 11-9 October Part 4

October 1997, Volume 11, Issue 8

Aviation Labor Coalition unites organizations with similar vision

Union gives strength. Three Federal Aviation Administration labor organizations, including NATCA, knew this was true when they banded together to fight for the retention of chapter 71. The strategy worked in 1996, so the groups reconvened and resurrected the Aviation Labor Coalition.

NATCA first joined forces with the Professional Airways Systems Specialists and the National Association of Air Traffic Specialists under the name of the coalition to combat HR 2002, the law that exempted the FAA from recognizing and bargaining with all agency labor unions. In approximately 70 days, coalition leadership succeeded in retaining chapter 71 and established the FAA's obligation to negotiate over changes to the existing personnel system.  

The group has been relatively dormant since the chapter 71 victory, but it was recently revived. The group established an organizational charter and goals and objectives to formalize the coalition. The ALC charter states: "It will strive for collective action to increase our effectiveness to improving, protecting and defending the rights and benefits of union members." 

"There are many issues involving all of us," said Jon Ramsden, one of NATCA's representatives to the ALC. "For example, each group is involved in contract negotiations. Through our collaboration, FAA unions will be more effective in attaining both individual and collective goals."

The coalition plans to schedule quarterly meetings and establish a mechanism for exchange of information. The group will coordinate legislative and political actions and conduct media campaigns to actively promote the coalition and its mission.

Currently, the member groups of the coalition are pooling resources to persuade the FAA to improve conditions at a government residence complex in Oklahoma City in need of repair. NATCA supports the issue even though controllers do not use the housing. By banning together, the coalition has more leverage when confronting the agency on other problems.

"Our professions are rapidly changing," said NATCA President Barry Krasner. "The coalition must be firmly in place to meet the challenges that will undoubtedly arise in the future."

New leadership will lead NATCA into 21st century

NATCA is on the verge of a new era. It's time for the union to move into its next phase of growth and forge ahead into the 21st century. NATCA members chose Mike McNally and Randy Schwitz to take them there.

Results of the runoff for the union's top two posts and one regional race culminated in the election of McNally, currently NATCA's executive vice president, as the organization's next president and Schwitz as his successor in the EVP post. Jim Poole will retain his seat on the National Executive Board as Great Lakes Region vice president.

"NATCA has made great strides in the past few years, but the status quo is not good enough," said McNally. "I plan to look to the future and proactively work to provide controllers with gains in compensation, benefits, equipment and working conditions."

McNally is one of the founding members of NATCA. In the past 10 years he served on NATCA's Contract Negotiating Team, Contract Resource Team, National Constitution Committee and the Convention Rules Committee. He was also New York Center fac rep and national Quality Through Partnership coordinator.

"I've been with this organization since the beginning, so I know what makes it tick," said McNally. "I want to empower NATCA's membership and encourage them to become involved at all levels."

Schwitz has been an air traffic controller for more than 14 years at the air traffic control center in Hampton, Ga. He was elected regional vice president of the Southern Region in 1990 and functioned in that position for three terms. He also served as national staffing negotiations co-chair and Atlanta Center fac rep.

"One of our main goals is to aggressively pursue legislative initiatives to improve controller working conditions and aviation safety. In the next few years we will build upon the cooperative partnerships with labor, Congress and user groups as well as utilizing a more proactive approach to dealing head to head with the Federal Aviation Administration," said Schwitz. "But we also know the importance of enhancing NATCA's communications network at all levels. I know we can draw the members in and make them feel they are an integral part of NATCA."

McNally praises all candidates who ran for office. "Each of these individuals is a dedicated union activist," he said. "They work hard to make NATCA and the profession stronger. I commend and thank them for their efforts and look forward to working with them in the future."