This Week’s News and Notes: NATCA Well Represented at ATCA Conference
Friday, September 28, 2012

ATCA Conference: NATCA Representation

NATCA will again be well represented next week at the 57th Annual Air Traffic Control Association (ATCA) Conference and Exhibition, one of the most important events on the aviation calendar that focuses on safety and technology issues.

NATCA will have a booth in the trade show and is also a conference sponsor. Former NATCA President Pat Forrey serves as this year’s Conference Committee Chair. NATCA will be represented on these panels during the three days of the event:

MONDAY, Oct. 1

ATCA AWARDS LUNCHEON
RECIPIENTS FROM NATCA: John Blakeney, Kissimmee Tower (ISM), will receive the ATCA Air Traffic Control Specialist of the Year Award, Brian Graham, Jacksonville Center (ZJX), will receive the Andy Pitas Memorial Award, given to an “individual or group who provided flight assistance that resulted in the safe recovery of an emergency aircraft through the application of exceptional air traffic service;” and Robert Carr, Los Angeles Center (ZLA), will receive the William A. Parenteau Memorial Award, presented to “an individual for an outstanding achievement or contribution, which has added to the quality, safety or efficiency of air traffic control.”

PANEL: “Facility Consolidation – Infrastructure Path to NextGen”
NATCA REPRESENTATIVE: Dan Stefko (Region X EEA, Eastern Region)

PANEL: “UAS in Today’s Airspace and What to Expect by 2015”
NATCA REPRESENTATIVE: Chris Stephenson, Terminal Technology Coordinator

TUESDAY, Oct. 2

PANEL: “Is the Future of NextGen in Jeopardy if Funding Continues to be Cut?”
NATCA REPRESENTATIVE: Mel Davis, NextGen Representative

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 3

PANEL: “Challenges at the Facility Level to Implement NextGen”
NATCA REPRESENTATIVE: President Paul Rinaldi

PANEL: “CDM – How to Integrate More Proprietary Design Tools to Support User and System Operators”
NATCA REPRESENTATIVE: Ron Foley, Cleveland Center

PANEL: “Redefine Change with New Technology and New Procedures”
NATCA REPRESENTATIVE: Dale Wright, Director of Safety and Technology



New NATCA Ad To Debut at ATCA Conference

We have designed a new print advertisement with a clear message of our commitment to participating as a collaborative stakeholder in the modernization of the ATC system and NextGen. The bottom line for our involvement is this — Make it safe, make it better and make it work.

This ad will debut at next week’s ATCA Annual Conference and run in a full page of the event’s daily newspaper.

To see this ad, please click HERE.


This Month in NATCA/Labor History

This Month in NATCA History

Sept. 22, 1986: NATCA's founding convention begins in Chicago. September 29,

Sept. 29, 1988: NATCA’s first contract — President Steve Bell, Vice President Ray Spickler and contract negotiation team Co-Chairman Mark Kutch present the union’s first proposal to FAA director of Labor and Employee Relations Joseph Noonan. The proposed labor agreement contains about 80 articles.

Sept. 28, 1989: NATCA establishes its political action committee (PAC), which collects over $21,000 in contributions during its first election cycle.

Sept. 20, 1993: NATCA's first legislative conference (lobby week) — the union's inaugural efforts to educate the rank and file about working with Congress — begins.


This Month in Labor History

1916: Federal employees win the right to receive Workers' Compensation insurance coverage.

1963: The march for jobs and freedom—the Martin Luther King, Jr. "I Have A Dream" speech march—is held in Washington, D.C. with 250,000 participating.

1991: Members of five unions at the Frontier Hotel-Casino in Las Vegas begin what was to become the longest successful hotel strike in U.S. history. All 550 workers honored the picket line for the entirety of the six year, four month, ten day fight against management’s insistence on cutting wages and eliminating pensions.

2009: Richard Trumka is elected president of the AFL-CIO at the federation’s convention in Pittsburgh. He had served as the secretary-treasurer under predecessor John Sweeney from 1995 to 2009, and prior to that was president of the United Mine Workers for 13 years.

2011: The Occupy Wall Street movement is launched with an anti-Wall Street march and demonstration that ended up as a two-month encampment in Manhattan’s Zuccotti Park. The event led to protests and movements around the world, with their focus on economic inequality, corruption, greed and the influence on government of monied interests. Their slogan: “We are the 99%.”


Please Help Our Members in the Voluntary Leave Transfer Program

We have many members in the Voluntary Leave Transfer Program (VLTP). You can view our online database here.

We have added a veteran member in need of assistance from the Great Lakes Region to our database. Chuck Adams, former Grand Forks (GFK) Facility Representative and North Dakota NATCA State Legislative Rep, has a herniated disk in his neck which will likely need surgery. His recovery will result in an extended medical disqualification while he goes through physical therapy.  

We ask that you please consider making a donation to assist them if you have leave to spare, and we thank you for any help you can provide.

If you know a member that is also in the VLTP and needs to be added to our database, please email Director of Communications Doug Church (dchurch@natcadc.org).



Our NATCA Facebook Page is Growing!

With 5,400 likes as of this writing, our NATCA Facebook page (facebook.com/natcafamily) continues to grow and thrive. This is one of the best places to get quick bites of news, information, photos of NATCA members and fun events, and other material, especially between weekly issues of The NATCA Insider.

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).



Merchandise Item of the Week: Money Clip/Wallet

Tired of carrying a bulky wallet? The NATCA Store has the perfect solution! A credit card wallet with attached money clip and insert. It’s made of soft cowhide leather with the NATCA logo Die Struck Brass on the magnetic clip. This item can be purchased for just $39.95 at www.natcastore.com.

*All items are Union-made in USA; in-stock for immediate shipment.
 


Upcoming Retirement Seminars

October 5 - Huntsville, Ala.
November 7 - Detroit/Romulus, Mich.
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.
 


Do We Have Your Current Mailing Address, Email Address and Other 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.



Still Time to Get Involved in Ski Fest

The annual International Air Traffic Controllers SkiFest is scheduled for Jan. 19-26, 2013, at Whistler Blackcomb in British Columbia, Canada.
 
Skifest packages start at $1,095 (based on quad occupancy in standard hotel room). Hotel reservations and all payments are due by Oct. 15, 2012.  After that, prices are not guaranteed and is space-available only.

For more information, please go to: www.skifest.us

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