This Week’s News and Notes: Archie League Awards Deadline Approaching
Thursday, November 29, 2012

The deadline for submitting a nomination for the ninth annual Archie League Medal of Safety Awards is 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.

We ask for information about the specifics of the flight assist as well as an audio recording. Please act soon so members representing your facility will be considered for an award.

Click HERE for more information. The 2012 winners will be honored at Communicating for Safety 2013 in Las Vegas on March 6, 2013.


This Month in NATCA History

November 30, 1984 — Controller organization dissolves: The United States Air Traffic Control Organization (USATCO) officially disbands due to a lack of money. USATCO was created in April 1982 and included about 800 members at its peak in 1983. Existing without a contract or an employer, USATCO focused on reinstating the fired controllers. Membership continually dwindled, however, in the face of a May 1984 federal Circuit Court ruling against reinstatement and President Reagan’s re-election in the fall.

November 18, 1987 — NATCA schedules first national election: The Union’s provisional Executive Board votes to hold national elections and sets February 1, 1988, as the opening date for nominations for president, vice president, and representatives from nine regions that mirror the FAA’s structure.

November 15, 1995 — FAA reform: The appropriations bill funding the Transportation Department for fiscal 1996 becomes law. Two sections of the bill mandate that the agency institute new personnel and procurement systems by January 1, 1996, remnants of a Clinton administration effort to create a government corporation to run ATC operations. The law is intended to make the FAA’s procurement process faster and more cost effective, and enable the agency to negotiate pay with NATCA.

To help implement these reforms, the bill exempts FAA employees from various rights under Title 5 of the United States Code, effective April 1, 1996. However, key rights included in Chapter 71 of Title 5 will be lost, stripping the union of its powers as a labor group. During the next few months, several NATCA members work hand-in-hand with the FAA to create the new systems. The Union also mounts a concerted lobbying effort to retain Chapter 71 rights.

November 1991 — Quality Through Partnership: NATCA President Barry Krasner and William Pollard, FAA associate administrator for air traffic, formally agree to implement “Quality Through Partnership.” This program is intended as a collaborative labor-management relationship that creates “an environment where employees are empowered to participate in decisions that affect their work lives.” QTP National Coordinator Mike McNally initially oversees the program for NATCA, followed by Bill Murphy from Kansas City Center (ZKC). Program funding is discontinued several years later.

1997: The FLRA certified NATCA as the exclusive bargaining representative of AF Engineers. This bargaining unit recently celebrated their 15th Anniversary.

This Month in Labor History

1888: The time clock is invented by Willard Bundy, a jeweler in Auburn, N.Y. Bundy’s brother, Harlow, starts mass producing them a year later.

1915: Joe Hill, labor leader and songwriter, was executed in Utah on what many believe was a framed charge of murder. Before he died he declared, “Don’t waste any time mourning. Organize.”

1916: To the huge relief of Post Office Department employees, the service sets a limit of 200 pounds a day to be shipped by any one customer. Builders were finding it cheaper to send supplies via Post than via wagon freight.  In one instance, 80,000 bricks for a new bank were shipped parcel post from Salt Lake City to Vernal, UT, 170 miles away.  The new directive also barred the shipment of humans: a child involved in a couple’s custody fight was shipped — for 17 cents — from Stillwell to South Bend, Ind., in a crate labeled “live baby."

1983: President Reagan signs a bill designating a federal holiday honoring the civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr., to be observed on the third Monday in January.

1989: Carmen Fasanella retired after 68 years and 243 days of taxicab service in Princeton, N.J, earning himself a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.  He started driving at age 17 and, reportedly, chauffeured Princeton Prof. Albert Einstein around town.


Members In Need of Leave Donations

Our list of members in the Voluntary Leave Donation Program (VLTP) can be found on the members website at this link:
http://natcamembers.org/members_support.aspx?zone=Membership%20Support&pID=547

These are brothers and sisters who are going through some very tough times and need whatever help you can provide.

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).


NATCA MERCHANDISE ITEM OF THE WEEK: Beanie Hats
      
Do you like winter sports or just taking a walk down the street during the cold season? Keep your head warm with one of our beanie hats! 100 percent acrylic beanie hat measures approximately 8.5 " long. Sold at just $12! OR try our knit cuff 12.5" beanie priced at just $13.00. Both beanies proudly display an embroidered NATCA logo.

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


CFS T-SHIRTS NOW ON SALE

This year, in addition to the popular Communicating for Safety (CFS) T-shirts, Polo shirts will also be for sale and pick-up at CFS 2013, which you can wear as your business casual attire.

Order your Polo today and pick it up at the CFS registration table. If a Polo isn't your style, other types of T-shirts will also be available online as you register. If you have already registered, but did not order your T-shirt, simply log back in on the registration website here and re-enter your username and password. If you'd like to view the Polo, or any other T-shirts, please visit natcacfs.com and click on the T-shirt box located at the bottom right corner of the homepage.


BENEFIT HIGHLIGHT: SkyOne Bank Account

Open a Local Account with SkyOne – No Monthly Fees, No Balance Requirements.
 
SkyOne Federal Credit Union has helped 83 facility representatives manage their locals’ accounts with ease and convenience. And they can help you enjoy the same convenience and cost savings.
 
Because SkyOne has served the air transportation industry for more than 60 years, they understand the unique demands you face.
 
Why choose SkyOne for your local’s account?
 
SkyOne is not for profit, so providing excellent service is more important to them than reaping profits. That’s why their Organizational Checking Account comes with all the bells and whistles, but without the excessive fees:

  • No monthly maintenance fees
  • No monthly service fees
  • No minimum balance requirements
  • Easy to switch the signer on the account
  • A dedicated representative managing your account

For more information, please click HERE.


Upcoming Retirement Seminars

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.


ATC SkiFest Coming Up in Just a Few Short Weeks

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.