Any individual engaged in sexual harassment will be subject to disciplinary action, which may include exclusion from events or meetings, up to and including termination of employment, or expulsion from NATCA, as appropriate. Sexual harassment can involve unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal, visual, or physical conduct of a sexual nature. It can involve conduct by a person of either gender toward a person of the same or opposite gender and can occur at any place. NATCA will not tolerate retaliation against any individual who complains of unacceptable behavior under this Standing Rule. NATCA will take any steps necessary and appropriate to ensure that retaliation does not occur and, if there is reason to believe that retaliation has occurred, NATCA will immediately take all necessary and appropriate action to stop the retaliation. Any complaint brought to a NATCA member will be treated confidentially to the extent that it is possible to do so while properly assessing the situation. NATCA will take all appropriate steps to ensure that the complainant is no longer subject to the unacceptable behavior. NATCA shall thoroughly investigate any allegations or complaints of discriminatory conduct, including sexual harassment, when properly notified and shall take corrective action to stop any and all such conduct found to be occurring. Immediately following an investigation, if an individual in an elected or appointed position within NATCA is found to have engaged in sexual harassment or retaliation, the individual shall be removed from all positions. They will be prohibited from holding any elected or appointed position for a minimum of four years from the time of removal, in addition to facing any other consequences deemed appropriate.

Rationale: While there are some members that have always stood against harassment in all its forms; for far too long, many in our union have been at best willfully ignorant, or at worst complicit in the sexual harassment of its members—perpetuated by both fellow members and NATCA leadership. This issue is especially prevalent during national events, where members, seeking to improve their chances of securing a transfer, attempt to network with local union representatives, only to be subjected to harassment.