Grassroots Legislative Effort at Convention Yields Big Success
Thursday, September 23, 2010

NATCA enjoyed a very successful grassroots legislative effort at the Hawaii Convention last week.

At a special booth set up outside the convention hall, manned primarily by veteran NATCAvist AnnMarie Taggio from CLT and Corey Soignet from LFT (Lafayette, La.), along with the National Legislative Committee (NLC), the NATCA political action committee (PAC) was increased by more than $165,000 per election cycle during the three-day convention.

"So many of our controllers do not realize that our PAC and grassroots activism is NATCA's lifeline to survival," Taggio said. "I truly care for all my brothers and sisters and I want to make sure that they survive their life in this union. Educating them and asking them for help in joining the PAC is my way of helping us achieve a goal to continue to grow as one union, become strong as a one union, and keep us together as one NATCA. I was at the PAC table for four days from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and I enjoyed every minute of it!"

There was also a strong push on NATCA's efforts to get the FAA bill -- and our Title 49 language -- passed in the Senate. Convention attendees were asked to complete a checklist of assignments at the legislative table, including making calls to their Senators and sending e-mails. In return, each participant was entered into a drawing for an iPad. Anthony Ruffino from IAH was the winner (see picture below).

But Taggio felt like she was the winner after this event: "For me, meeting new brothers and sisters in the union is like wining the lottery! There were so many young controllers learning about what NATCA does with the PAC money and our grassroots activism. Getting them to call their Senators was an easy task. Everyone was so willing to help and contribute a few minutes to call their Senators and get them to support our cause with Title 49."


Above: From left to right -- Brody McCray (NW Legislative Committee Chair), AnnMarie Taggio (CLT), Anthony Ruffino (IAH), Steve Weidner (NLC Chair), Corey Soignet (LFT).

http://www.natcamembership.org/convention2010/