This Week’s News and Notes: E&A BU Celebrates 15-year Anniversary
Friday, November 09, 2012

Happy 15th Anniversary Engineers & Architects Bargaining Unit!

On Nov. 10, 1997, the Federal Labor Relations Authority certified NATCA as the exclusive bargaining representative of the unit.

“Time has sure flown by!” said Region X Vice President Mike MacDonald, himself a member of the bargaining unit from Day 1. “This was the very first unit in what is now Region X. I am so incredibly proud of how our members in the unit have worked to grow the unit, the region and the union. Their solidarity and union spirit have been infectious to all the other Region X bargaining units we’ve organized since 1997. We are NATCA and we are very excited to have reached this milestone.”

NATCA-represented engineers are separated into four bargaining units. These engineers are accountable for a wide range of duties that are imperative in keeping the nation’s air traffic control standards the safest and most efficient in the world. About 500 NATCA members belong to the first and largest unit, the Engineers and Architects, and are responsible for the design, construction, modernization and remodeling of air traffic control facilities and equipment as well as maintaining the National Airspace System (NAS) equipment, and are in charge of the engineering for the fleet of flight inspection aircrafts.

Many other NATCA engineers are employed in either the Safety and Operations Support Group, responsible for maintaining the National Airspace System (NAS) equipment, or the Aviation System Standards group, in charge of the maintenance for the fleet of flight inspection aircrafts. Approximately another 100 engineers work in Aircraft Certification, where they ensure aircrafts are properly designed and tested. This group also investigates aircraft incidents. A smaller number of engineer members comprise the Airports Division, accountable for the approval of airports improvements, the implementation of new programs and the oversight of development projects. There are also engineers located in En Route and Terminal Automation, providing operational computer software support and maintenance for en route centers and terminal environments.


Please Help NATCA Brothers and Sisters With a Leave Donation

Jacksonville Center (ZJX) member Louis Hancock was involved in a horrific automobile accident two months ago and is still recovering from his serious injuries. His pickup truck slammed into the back of a flatbed pickup truck that had broken down in the lane of traffic in which Hancock was driving. There was no time to react.

Hancock remains unable to work and has exhausted all of his annual and sick leave. He has been added to the Voluntary Leave Transfer Program. You can view our natcamembers.org website database of all NATCA members needing leave donations here.

Update on other members in the VLTP:

Cole Yahara, the young son of Detroit TRACON members Amy and James Yahara, received a bone marrow transplant on Thursday. He still has a long road ahead – 3-4 months in the hospital before he can come home. Please continue to help Amy with any leave you can donate. And at Atlanta Center the support for member Ian Kelley and his wife, Jessica, is providing heartfelt proof of the incredible generosity and spirit of family that NATCA members show in taking care of their own. Kelley is on the VLTP so that he can spend time at home with Jessica and their 4-year-old son, Henry, who has a brain tumor that has been diagnosed as fatal. Among the many facilities and members who have stepped up to provide not only leave but also financial assistance to help the family with extra expenses incurred has been Memphis Tower (MEM), which this week sent a check for $1,777 to ZTL to pass along to Ian.

Thank you Memphis brothers and sisters. And thank you – ALL of you – for the support and leave donations you continue to provide our members in need. If you know a member who is also in the VLTP and needs to be added to our database, please email Director of Communications Doug Church (dchurch@natcadc.org).


New ATSAP Briefing Sheet: B747 at LAX and RASKL1 STAR at Raleigh-Durham (RDU)


Please click HERE for the latest ATSAP briefing sheet.


ARCHIE LEAGUE MEDAL OF SAFETY AWARDS: Nomination Deadline Dec. 31


Please take a few moments to think of notable and extraordinary efforts made by your brothers and sisters at the facility this year to ensure safety. They would be great candidates for an Archie League Medal of Safety award and we urge you to nominate them. Click HERE for more information. The 2012 winners will be honored at Communicating for Safety 2013 in Las Vegas on March 6, 2013.

NATCA MERCHANDISE ITEM OF THE WEEK: Hitch Cover

Add that personal touch to your vehicle and dress up your hitch. Our pewter hitch cover measures 3" in diameter. Fits most standard hitch receivers.

Made in USA In stock for immediate shipment. Available for just $29.00!

Click here to see the item and order it on the NATCA Store website.


BENEFIT HIGHLIGHT: Union Plus Legal Service


The Union Plus Legal Service Difference:

  • Substantial savings with no annual fee. The Union Plus Legal Service has the best fee-discount percentage of all free group legal services plans in the United States.
  • Free initial consultation -up to 30 minutes with a lawyer. Most additional services – 30 percent discount.
  • Largest attorney panel - including lawyers from over 2,000 law office locations nationwide.
  • Over 20 years serving union members.
  • Labor union-friendly. Lawyers are screened for being labor union-friendly and union-approved.
Call 1-888-993-8886 or visit http://www.unionplus.org/legal-aid-services


Upcoming Retirement Seminars

November 16 - Cleveland
November 30 - Indianapolis
December 7 - Atlanta/Peachtree City, Ga.
December 11 - Hauppauge/Ronkonkoma, N.Y.
            
If you wish to register for one of the above referenced seminars, please do so by signing on to the NATCA Portal: http://portal.natca.org.

Please verify the personal information listed for you including email and cell phone number. If any information is incorrect or missing, please correct or add it under the "My Profile" tab.

To register for a seminar, click the "Events" tab. Then click "2012 Retirement Seminars-Membership Registration." Complete the requested information and hit "next." When you come to the screen listing the seminars, click on the box next to the one you wish to attend, hit "next," verify your requested seminar information and then click on the "done" key.  You will receive a confirmation email that your registration was complete.

Spouses and significant others are also invited to attend. Please ensure that you add them to the registration when asked if you will be bringing a guest.

For your guide to “Understanding your NATCA Federal Benefits Package,” please visit this Web site: http://natca.sharmansite.com/. If you attempt to register for a seminar on this site, it will automatically lead you to the NATCA Portal.

If you have any questions regarding these events, registration process – or would like to have a retirement seminar take place in your area - please contact Sallie Sullivan at NATCA’s National Office by either emailing her at ssullivan@natcadc.org or calling 202-220-9803.


Great Source of Quick News and Information: Our NATCA Facebook Page

Between issues of The NATCA Insider, our NATCA Facebook page (facebook.com/natcafamily) is the best place to go to get quick bites of news, information, photos and other material. We want to hear from you about your photos, events, outings and news. Either post to the NATCA wall or send ideas for Facebook page postings to either Doug Church (dchurch@natcadc.org) or Sarah Dunn (sdunn@natcadc.org).


Do We Have Your Current Contact Information?


Visit http://portal.natca.org. Under the "My Profile" tab, please verify and update your address, email and cell phone number. If you have never used your NATCA Portal, there are step-by-step instructions to register on the opening page.


Winter’s Coming … Skiing Anyone?


The annual International Air Traffic Controllers SkiFest is scheduled for Jan. 19-26, 2013, at Whistler Blackcomb in British Columbia, Canada.
 
For more information, please go to: www.skifest.us

In addition, the Golden Flight Level international ski event will be held in Finland this coming winter. For more information, please go to: www.gfl2013.com.