December 15th, 2024 New England Bi-Monthly Regional Update
From Jake Detwiler, NATCA New England ARVP
NATCA just wrapped up its biennial Activism and Training Expo in Las Vegas this week. This event is a great opportunity to dip your toes into a variety of topics that you might be interested in learning about or getting involved in. We appreciate Amy Bussell, Tom Lefebvre, AJ Garcia, and Tom Rudmin for sharing their experiences at ATX which you can read further on in this email.
Looking forward to 2025, I’m excited to share that for the first time in many years, the NATCA Academy schedule has many classes being offered on the East Coast, in Baltimore. Hopefully, the shorter travel time might afford the opportunity for more interested members in our region to attend. These are great classes to take a deeper dive into the CBA for knowledge that will better equip you to advocate for yourself and our brothers and sisters, not just as an elected Rep but also to be an informed member.
As a reminder, NATCA partners with UNUM for long-term disability insurance, this is a great way to ensure financial stability through a long-term disability. The open season for sign-ups was extended and is currently open until December 20th. For more information, and to sign up, visit http://www.natcadisability.com.
If there is something you would like to learn about from your New England leadership, please reach out with any questions and we would be happy to include it in an update. I hope everyone has a great Holiday season and close-out to 2024!
Activism and Training Expo Recap
New England had 18 members attend NATCA’s Activism and Training Expo last week in Las Vegas. A few members were asked to write about their experiences at the event, which you can read below. You can also check out our ATX Recap video on our NATCA New England Facebook and Instagram accounts.
I attended NATCA’s 2nd Biennial Activism and Training Expo (ATX) this past week. As a first-time attendee, I was surprised by the variety of classes offered. Some of my favorite classes I attended were “Conducting Local Elections, Article 6: Representation Rights”, and “Understanding Your NATCA Benefits”.
I went into Understanding Your NATCA Benefits thinking I knew everything NATCA offered to members, I couldn’t have been more wrong. One benefit I was not familiar with was the services Cambridge Financial Partners, LLC offers. Cambridge can help you plan your financial future, answer questions about TSP, FEB health plans, disability, and much more. The biggest benefit I learned about was that Cambridge will complete your retirement paperwork at NO COST to the members!
I would highly recommend attending ATX 2026; there is something for everyone!
Amy Bussell, BED
As a first-time attendee of NATCA ATX last week I did not know what to expect. I had the agenda of where to be and at what time, but did not truly understand what I was going to walk away with. After choosing and taking 12 classes, it was more than I imagined. The classes were organized and well thought out. Some were interactive and some were lectures, but all of them kept me engaged in the subject.
Being a FacRep, I found “Article 6: Representation Rights” and “Grievance and Arbitration Process” extremely helpful. The CISM and EAP class however left the most impression on me. Our career field is at a breaking point. The stresses and lifestyle of what we do is clearly affecting our members’ physical and mental health and this needs to be aggressively addressed. This class gave the foundation of CISM and EAP, we touched on statistics specific to our members, how to utilize and navigate its process, and put to bed any misconceptions of its intent. It definitely prepared me for returning to my facility and answering most questions from my members with confidence and being able to get them started in the right direction.
I encourage all members to try and attend a day or two or the entire week of ATX in 2026. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been in this agency, I promise you’ll go back to your facilities with new knowledge or a new outlook on the subjects you were briefed on.
AJ Garcia, PWM FacRep
Going to ATX gave me an opportunity to learn from more NATCA leaders than any other class or event I’ve been to. I was able to learn about Local Finance in one class, and then Grievance Arbitration next door. I have taken many regular NATCA Academy classes, and flying to Las Vegas for a day or two course is always difficult.
I highly recommend attending ATX for newer members, or those who are just getting started in their union rep or activism roles. ATX can help you determine how to get more involved, and to give you a chance to figure out where your interests are.
Tom Lefebvre, ZBW
Having attended last year’s NATCA convention and Rep Training 1, this was my third national NATCA event. I attended eight different classes on Monday and Tuesday, four each. I will mention a few of the most impactful classes for me.
I had the motive to attend two classes, “Legislative NOT Political” and “NATCA’s Power on Capitol Hill”. I wanted to arm myself with information to give to controllers who ask me about contributing to the NATCA PAC and where that money goes. These two classes were invaluable to me and opened my eyes as to how that fund actually works for us. Both classes were led by David Skarphol and Allison Schwaegel, both of whom are great sources of information.
Briefly, what I thought I understood about how our PAC works legislatively and how it actually works were entirely different. We support those who support us – across party lines. When NATCA solicits volunteers to phone or text bank, they do so for what is called the “NATCA majority”. These are legislators who support NATCA and reach out to us when an issue that might affect us reaches their desk. The PAC also funds sending our members to fundraiser events – these are opportunities for us to build relationships with members of Congress or their staffers. In short, attending these two classes gave me information to provide to anyone who asks me.
One class of greater interest was the briefing on controller pay, “Air Traffic Controller – Facts and Myth” by Eugene Freedman who provides Special Counsel to the President of NATCA. Mr. Freedman presented data showing that our 1.6% contractual raises and non-negotiated Presidential raises have not only kept up with but beat out inflation.
I found the data presented comparing our raises with those of airline pilots to be interesting; I hope our union does not settle for the status quo when it comes to our pay and benefits. We should not be in parity only in pay with our pilot counterparts but also in our quality of life.
With our dwindling staffing the Agency has reduced overhead with our pay and benefits but relies more heavily on those of us who still work traffic with the airlines bringing in record revenues. We should continue to bargain for the benefit of our members and not lose sight of the purpose of NATCA.
“Unions were created to make living conditions just a little better than they were before they were created, and the union that does not manifest that kind of interest in human beings cannot endure, it cannot live.” – Philip Murray
Tom Rudmin, ZBW Area D Rep
