November 15th, 2024 New England Bi-Monthly Regional Update

Nov 15, 2024

From Jake Detwiler, NATCA New England ARVP

Hello NATCA New England. For all of the NATCA and NATCA family Veterans, thank you for your service.

Most NNE facilities are completing bidding their 2025 Basic Watch Schedules and Annual Leave. While this feels like an annual Fall tradition for the life of an ATC, for 2025 there will be an additional layer of bidding at the conclusion of BWS bidding.

In the Fatigue MOU dated July 19, 2024, Section 5.a. states: “The Agency has determined it will not require employees to work overtime (scheduled/called in) on their RDO on more than two consecutive sets of RDOs unless the employee volunteers to work a third consecutive overtime shift.”.

To apply this new rule, BUEs will have the opportunity to bid their set of RDOs sets that they will be able to limit their availability to be assigned Overtime. These RDO sets will then remain static through your BWS, repeating every 3 weeks. Simply put, pick one of the first 3 weeks of the schedule year (you will bid one of them) and every 3 weeks from that week you will be able to “limit your overtime” availability, giving you the option for a full set of RDOs without any assigned overtime if you choose. For facilities that are not yet bidding these days, expect more information from your local and to begin this process shortly.

Looking towards 2025, we will put a renewed focus on ensuring staffing is adequately monitored and supported throughout NNE. Whether a shift is published below guideline numbers, or a shift ends up requiring a staffing trigger, we are working on a process to track the final staffing condition of every shift through the region, so that the appropriate resources can be directed when a facility is overwhelmed or overworked.

Are you interested in learning more about NATCA? The biennial Activism and Training Expo, ATX is coming up December 9-12 in Las Vegas. Registration closes on November 18. This is a great event to sample a variety of NATCA classes and courses. SRF-12 applies to those facilities per the National Policy.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Legislative

From Jamie Green, NATCA New England Legislative Chair, PVD

The future challenges facing our organization will always be difficult. Protecting our members’ rights, pay, and benefits, advancing mental health issues, or bridging the gaping hole in funding for critical infrastructure, to name a few, will be difficult regardless of the administration.

The effort, energy, and enthusiasm our volunteer team brought to this campaign cycle was admirable and deserves praise. As a team, we ensured every NATCA member had the resources needed to cast their votes, talked directly to our members in key battleground states, and volunteered over 3,500 hours calling, texting, and canvassing. Add in the amazing work of the Boots on the Ground team and the efforts they made engaging in the labor-to-labor program NATCA has a lot to be proud of.

NATCA stood shoulder to shoulder supporting the members of the NATCA Majority in numerous ways. Our voices were seen and heard both on Capitol Hill and at home in each district.

Of the candidates and members of Congress NATCA supported, approximately 90% have held their office. Here in New England, we will continue to work to maintain the relationships we have and foster relationships with the newly elected members of Congress.

Our relationship with members of Congress is one of our greatest strengths as an organization. We build and maintain the NATCA Majority for this reason. We do not seek adversity, but we have faced it head-on before and we’ve come out stronger because of it.

Today is a new day, the beginning of the next chapter, a chapter each of us still has a part in moving NATCA forward. We will continue to focus on the strengths that have brought us to this point and will carry us to the next chapter.

Local Elections

From Caitlyn Valeri, NATCA New England Election Support Rep, ZBW

For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Caitlyn Valeri out of ZBW and I am the New England Region’s member of the Election Support Committee (ESC). The ESC was developed by NATCA to help with local elections. We help by answering any questions or concerns and solving issues before they turn into a contested election. If an election is contested, the election needs to be handed over to the National Election Committee for review and solution of the contested issue. Below you can find some answers to frequently asked questions, but if you have any other further questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out via email at [email protected] or by text at 603-305-4724.

Who runs the election?
An election is run every 1-3 years depending on the facility. Each FacRep should solicit volunteers to make up the local election committee. There should be a minimum of two (2) committee members. The members must not be running for any of the positions up for election. The committee and all union elections are bound by the regulations set forth by the Department of Labor (DOL).

Who is eligible to vote?
Every NATCA member in good standing.

Who verifies ballots and how are the ballots verified?
The committee members are those who verify every ballot’s eligibility. The members are verified by making sure that they are all members in good standing in accordance with NATCA National policy. There should be a secret ballot envelope with an identifying mark (letters, numbers, initials, etc.) so that the committee can verify before opening that all votes are from members in good standing.

New England Members Attend LEAP

Twice a year, each region sends two of its Reps or involved members to NATCA’s Leadership Experience Acceleration Project (LEAP). This fall, New England had the chance to send three of our members and took that opportunity to send Jennifer Dickinson (BOS), Robert Hernandez (Y90), and Dustin Frost (ZBW). LEAP represents a commitment to enhancing our members’ skills and investing in our Union’s progress into the future. LEAP molds leaders who will spearhead our Union’s forward momentum.