In This Issue:
NATCA EVP Gilbert Tells FAA Panel NATCA Members' Focus on Safety Stays Constant, No Matter the Crisis Faced
NATCA Executive Vice President Trish Gilbert participated in an Aviation Safety Town Hall hosted by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) last week, via Zoom. Gilbert represented NATCA on the second of the event’s two panels, moderated by FAA Flight Standards Executive Director Rick Domingo, discussing safety risk management through the current COVID-19 pandemic and into future operations.

Gilbert said, “NATCA is a very professional organization, representing aviation professions across the National Airspace System and also over 100 of the Federal Contract Towers. Safety above all is our motto, and that doesn’t change even in a worldwide pandemic,” Gilbert said. “That stays constant.”

“They’ve been through different levels of crises, whether it be government shutdowns, the Chicago (Center) fire, even 9/11,” she added. “And they are very flexible and responsive to figuring out a way to get the work done and keep the system safe as they move through any crisis. This one, however, is a bit different. The level of concern for their own well-being and that of their families certainly is of the utmost concern to us as well as it is to their employer, the FAA.”

Gilbert said the actions taken by the FAA throughout this period, from protocols in place when there have been positive COVID-19 tests of an employee, to changing the level of cleaning that has been done, to dealing with isolated crew schedules have reflected concern for the employees.
 
“All the actions taken showed the workforce that the employer cares about their safety and enables them to better focus on keeping the airspace safe and moving as it is very important for the country,” she said.

The Town Hall was virtually attended by nearly 500 people on Zoom. It was live streamed on the FAA’s Facebook page, drawing nearly 50,000 views, likes and shares. It also drew more than 6,600 views on the FAA’s YouTube page.
 
Operation Traffic Counts Across the U.S.
DOT Secretary Chao Appoints Gilbert to Women in Aviation Advisory Board
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao has appointed NATCA Executive Vice President Trish Gilbert to the newly-formed Women in Aviation Advisory Board (WIAAB), an announcement that Gilbert described as “an amazing opportunity for NATCA.” 

The WIAAB was established on Oct. 3, 2019, under the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018. The purpose of the WIAAB is to develop strategies and recommendations that would encourage women and girls to enter the field of aviation. The objective is to promote organizations and programs that are providing education, training, mentorship, outreach, and recruitment of women for positions in the aviation industry. The strategies and recommendations will then be provided to the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, Steve Dickson.

“I thank Secretary Chao for this tremendous honor and I look forward to working with the other dedicated members of the board in carrying out its important mission,” said Gilbert, whose aviation career includes 21 years as an active air traffic controller at Houston Air Route Traffic Control Center and the past 11 years as NATCA EVP. “As an air traffic controller and representative of 20,000 aviation safety professionals I am proud and honored to serve on the WIAAB. We must create new paths – and strengthen existing ones – for students and aviators to pursue careers in aviation, particularly women, who are underrepresented in the highest paid professions of our industry.”

Added Gilbert: “The underrepresentation of women in STEM professions is not unique to aviation. The WIAAB gives us another opportunity to change that.”

Even With New Way of Teaching, Reloaded Classes Aim to Inspire Unionism
From the new schedule of NATCA Academy Virtual Learning classes being offered , 12 are being taught by members of the Reloaded Committee, including three this week. Committee Chair Dawn Johnson (Atlanta Center, ZTL) described these three courses:

Building a Stronger Local : This is a class designed to enhance the strength of your local by emphasizing the importance of teamwork, education, and communication,” Johnson said. “Building a Stronger Local all starts with your local leadership and those members who step up to fill other important roles from legislative activist to safety rep and much more. Increasingly, each individual member plays a role that has a direct and profound effect on the strength of the entire local.”
Upcoming class schedule: 
May 22, 1 p.m. EDT
May 30, 3 p.m. EDT
June 5, 11 a.m. EDT
June 10, 2 p.m. EDT
Register here

How to Have a Difficult Conversation : “People are not always equipped to communicate effectively when perspectives differ or when discussing a sensitive topic,” Johnson said. “That could be anything from training challenges, personal differences, or being faced with a last-minute problem. This course will cover common workplace conversations, but will also give you strategies and tools to get through tough conversations in your personal life. You will learn to have a more productive conversation with a better outcome and to create a path forward that both parties agree on.”
Upcoming class schedule:
May 28, 11 a.m.
June 1, 1 p.m.
June 13, 11 a.m. EDT
Register here

Building Lasting Relationships : “Unionism involves varying types of relationships, and all of them are important to help our activists fulfill their roles,” Johnson said. “Areas addressed include identifying common pitfalls, essential communication skills, and valuable tools for building and maintaining sustainable relationships.”
Upcoming class schedule:
May 27, 2 p.m. EDT
June 4, 3 p.m. EDT
June 9, Noon EDT
Register here

“Our mission is shaping NATCA’s future by inspiring unionism and providing opportunities for involvement through education,” Johnson said. “We are looking to reload the ranks of NATCA activists at every level. From the newest member to the most seasoned NATCAvist, our goal is to create an environment where members take ownership of our Union’s future. Our courses and workshops help provide tools that our members can apply not only at work but also in their personal lives.”

The challenges faced in presenting online thus far, Johnson added, are mostly adapting to the virtual world. Without the same level of open dialog as teaching live, instructors have learned to utilize the tools within the Microsoft Teams platform to allow for questions and conversations, such as using the chat box and using polls. “Virtual learning is a great way for us to offer educational initiatives on a flexible schedule that reach more of our members,” Johnson said.

PICTURED ABOVE (clockwise from top left): Building Lasting Relationships class architects Jamie Sanders (Denver Centennial, APA), Justin Faircloth (Austin ATCT, AUS), Jennie Dickinson (Boston ATCT, BOS), Cynthia Lowther (Philadelphia ATCT, PHL), Kelly Richardson (National Office Deputy Director of Public Affairs), and Kristi Perigo (Kansas City Center, ZKC). Each of them serves on the Reloaded Committee.
Full Academy Virtual Learning schedule and class descriptions here

We hope that you will take this opportunity to learn more about your Union, your rights, and how you can become more active in the areas that interest you.

Below is the schedule of upcoming classes. Register here today!
National Professionalism Award: Inspire, Motivate, Demonstrate
Who do you work with that inspires, motivates, and demonstrates professionalism? Nominate your peer for the National Professionalism Award to be presented by the Professional Standards program at Communicating For Safety 2020 in Las Vegas in November. A winner will be selected from each service area.

Any NATCA member may nominate another member for the award, with no limit on the number of nominations received from a single facility, region, or service area. Only members in good standing will be eligible to receive the award(s).

The nomination period has been extended. The deadline to submit is July 15. 
Nomination Period Closing May 31 for Archie League and Region X Safety Awards
There are just 10 days left in the nomination period for both the 16th annual Archie League Medal of Safety Awards and the fourth annual Region X Commitment to Safety Award.

The Archie League Awards will honor the best saves that have occurred at your facilities from May 1, 2019 through May 31, 2020. A member may nominate another member. Deadline to nominate: June 15. 

The Region X Commitment to Safety Award is given annually to a Region X member who has shown a profound dedication to ensuring the safety of the National Airspace System (NAS). The award is peer-nominated, and any Region X member in good standing can be nominated for work done between May 1, 2019 and May 31, 2020 in their role as an aviation safety professional. Deadline to nominate: June 15. 

Winners of both the Archie League and Region X Awards will be honored at Communicating For Safety on Nov. 18 at Bally’s Las Vegas.
NATCA Biennial Convention: Registration is Open
The 18th Biennial Convention is rescheduled to take place at the Marriott Marquis in Houston, Saturday, Aug. 29, through Monday, Aug. 31. Registration is a two-step process.

STEP 1: Register for the convention here

STEP 2: Register for your hotel room here .
Paying it Forward: NATCA Members Continue Efforts to Support Other Essential Workers
Traverse City ATCT (TVC) : Member Alec Cruikshank, who headed up a donation program, and FacRep Ty Hayman dropped off gas cards and pizza to employees at B-Dubs and Munson Medical Center. B-Dubs contributed food during the government shutdown.
Seattle Center (ZSE) : Members collected money and gave $500 checks to five different food banks in their local community, with hopes to continue to do more. “We’ll keep it going as long as funds are coming in,” ZSE Vice President Amanda Sizemore said. “It’s been a goal of mine to get my facility more involved with the community, and I’m very proud of what they’ve done!”
Kansas City Center (ZKC) : A 16-person volunteer group, led by members Nancy Tutt and Tracy Parker, has led a variety of activities. First, they organized a barbecue lunch for teachers and staff at Top Flight Kids, a government-subsidized daycare facility located next door to ZKC. The group also made a donation to KidsTLC, an Olathe, Kan., organization which helps kids in the local area and has received NATCA Charitable Foundation support over the last few years.

Next, the volunteer group organized a food drive at the facility and delivered the goods to a local food pantry. Currently, the group is organizing a raffle to raise money for the same food bank.
Boston Center (ZBW), Boston TRACON (A90) : The facilities finished up their wonderfully successful pay-it-forward effort over the last few weeks, purchasing needed groceries and donating them to the Nashua Soup Kitchen & Shelter. In total, they raised over $12,000 from 140 donors, delivered over 1,700 meals, and donated over 1,200 pounds of food and supplies. They supported 12 local restaurants and food pantries, and made 37 deliveries to 31 locations around the southern New Hampshire area to those on the frontlines of COVID-19.
News and Notes
Second Generation NATCA Member Gallucci Says DRC Can Help Members in Many Ways

Caitlin Gallucci (Denver Center, ZDV), who represents the Northwest Mountain Region on the NATCA Disaster Response Committee (DRC), has a message for members interested in knowing more about one of the Union’s newest and most visible committees:

“We want NATCA members to know that the DRC is here to help in any disaster big or small and that we don’t just provide supplies or emergency funds, but that we are also a great resource for information,” Gallucci said. “If you are in need of help, and not necessarily hands-on help, we can guide you in the right direction for consultations, tenants’ rights, damage assessments, and more." 

Gallucci’s DRC role is just the latest in her effort to get involved in NATCA, which is truly a family labor of love.

“I knew as soon as I started the ATC process that I would be involved with NATCA,” Gallucci said. “I had been very familiar with NATCA as a kid - my father (John Gallucci) was a controller at New York TRACON (N90) and New York Center (ZNY). Starting my own ATC career, I understood how important the Union was.”
NATCA Masks For Sale on Store Website

NATCA has procured higher-quality, thicker cloth face masks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends wearing cloth face coverings in settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain. The CDC also advises the use of simple cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others.
In addition to these masks being shipped out to all facilities for all NATCA members, they are also available for purchase in the NATCA online store. NATCA staff are working remotely due to COVID-19. Please expect slight delays as we work with our suppliers to assist in the shipment of this item. The $10 price of this mask includes the cost of the mask, taxes, and shipping. Order here .

PICTURED: Top - Don Schmeichel (Engineers Northwest Mountain); Right - Maliesa Nichols (San Diego-Montgomery ATCT, MYF).
NATCA-led EAA Pilot Webinar on Weather Draws Big Interest 

Even though the Experimental Aircraft Association’s AirVenture Oshkosh has been canceled this year, taking away NATCA’s opportunity to meet with pilots in person at the annual fly-in event, interest in pilot-controller communications - all year long - remains very high. Virtual meetings are popular, as evidenced by the more than 650 pilots who took part in last week’s EAA webinar, hosted by NATCA members Richard Kennington (Portland, Ore., ATCT, PDX) and Bob Obma (Indianapolis Center, ZID).

The webinar was called “ATC and You: Don’t Let That Cloud Mislead You.” It centered on the issue of weather as viewed from both the pilot’s and the controller’s perspective, with both having pieces to the weather puzzle, but both having their limitations. Kennington and Obma discussed what pilots can expect from controllers and how controllers can help them avoid inclement weather. Their presentation was very well received. One participant wrote to EAA, afterwards:

”Do this one again! I did not want it to end! These guys were off the charts, gave me an entirely different view of their job and how I can help them, and vice versa. As pilots, we just want to keep getting better at what we do and now I have a sense that ATC guys (also many are pilots, which I didn't realize) have the same goal! Awesome! Removing inhibitions is key. They gave us strategies and processes that will enable us to keep out of trouble, and get out of it too. Thanks!”
Notable Quotable
“I want to give a special shout-out to the air traffic controllers who have worked so hard to keep our national airspace open and safe. This department is working with you 24/7.”

DOT Secretary Elaine Chao , in a video message to employees last week that was shared on social media. Watch video
“The collaboration and partnership with Paul certainly has made all the difference to me, in this position; the ability to work together and to really focus in on common interests and get work done. I think the work speaks for itself. Certainly, we’ve had several years to get good at this. It’s a pleasure to work with Paul and Trish and the entire NATCA team."

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Air Traffic Organization Chief Operating Officer Teri Bristol , during a virtual fireside chat with Air Traffic Control Association (ATCA) President and CEO Peter Dumont, responding to a question from Dumont referencing NATCA President Paul Rinaldi, who participated in an ATCA virtual fireside chat last month.
“Everyone is doing a fantastic job. Our managers in the field have just been outstanding and so have the controllers in making sure that the facility itself is cleaned and protected as well as themselves and each other. That includes what they do when they’re away from work, because that can obviously be brought to work. Our folks have just been incredible. I’ve heard resilient used a lot lately, and it’s a great word for what’s going on out in all the towers.”

Midwest ATC President and CEO Shane Cordes , reporting in a virtual fireside chat with Air Traffic Control Association President and CEO Pete Dumont that none of the company’s employees have yet reported any cases of COVID-19. Midwest operates 91 of the 256 facilities in the Federal Contract Tower (FCT) program, including 16 that are staffed by controllers represented by NATCA. View full list of NATCA-represented FCTs .
NATCA-Sponsored Smithsonian STEM Video on ATC Nominated for Emmy Award
The NATCA-sponsored STEM in 30 video series episode, “Top of the Tower: How Air Traffic Control Keeps the Skies Safe” has been nominated for a Capital Emmy award by the National Capital Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in the education/schools category. 

Three NATCA members were included in the 30-minute video, produced by the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum: Arielle Clark (Manassas ATCT, HEF), Michelle Salcedo (Peachtree/DeKalb ATCT, PDK; formerly at HEF at time of the video last year), and Jamaal Teel Washington Dulles ATCT (IAD).

NATCA and the National Air & Space Museum are working together to update the museum's air traffic control (ATC) display. The video is part of this collaboration. Clark, Salcedo, and Teel had the opportunity to talk about their roles as air traffic controllers, the types of information they relay to pilots, and how weather plays a part in their day-to-day responsibilities. 

Since first broadcasting in 2014, the STEM in 30 program has covered dozens of topics including the NASA's Apollo program, Tuskegee Airmen, astronaut training, the Wright brothers, and the Orion program. The award winners will be announced on Aug. 8, 2020 during the 62nd annual Emmy Awards Gala (if permitted because of the COVID-19 global health crisis). 
Union Members Feature: NALC
NATCA continues to highlight our union sisters and brothers who are also essential workers during the COVID-19 national emergency. Michelle Simmons is a union sister letter carrier who lives and works in Grand Island, Neb. Simmons is a member of the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC). Grand Island is a COVID-19 hot spot with one of the highest density rates of contagion anywhere in the country.

“Don’t forget when we were essential. We’re being praised as being on the front lines, putting our lives at risk and serving our communities right now,” she said. “When those essential workers rise and say they want better working conditions, wages and environments for themselves and their families, don’t scrutinize them. They will always be essential.”

NALC recently launched a new website , which features ads running on tv and digital, their polls, information, and an action center.

Aviation Labor News

Reuters - United Airlines only needs 3,000 of 25,000 flight attendants in June : United Airlines has told staff that it only has work for about 3,000 of its about 25,000 flight attendants in June, sources said, and warned of job losses if demand does not recover by the time government payroll aid expires in the fall. United is paying flight attendants until Sept. 30 thanks largely to $5 billion the airline is receiving in government payroll aid under the CARES Act, which prohibits any job or pay cuts for employees before October.

Chicago-based United and other airlines have begun to share more details with employees about the scale of their dilemma in trying to match crews and fleets to an uncertain recovery from the economic crisis sparked by the new coronavirus pandemic, which has sent the global economy into a tailspin.

Delta Air Lines told its 14,500 pilots on Thursday that it expects to have 7,000 more than it needs in the fall, according to a memo first reported by Reuters. Read more

Fort Worth Star-Telegram - American Airlines battles COVID, are bankruptcy or job cuts possible? When Boeing’s chief executive predicted that one of the United States’ largest airlines would go out of business because of the COVID crisis , many industry observers speculated that the unidentified company he was referring to was American Airlines. The Fort Worth-based airline is losing $70 million a day, company executives said during a recent earnings call, and has more debt than the nation’s other major carriers. Any misfortunes at American would be bad news for the Dallas-Fort Worth economy , where the airline employs about 33,000 people and is North Texas’ largest employer.

But several people who follow the air travel industry closely say they believe American can survive the pandemic without filing for bankruptcy protection. To do so, they say, American must become a smaller company, with fewer airplanes and a smaller payroll. Read more

This Month in Labor History

1894 : The Pullman Strike in Illinois was the first national strike in U.S. history. Before coming to an end, it involved over 150,000 persons and 27 states and territories and paralyzed the nation’s railway system. The entire rail labor force of the nation walked away from their jobs in May 1894. In supporting the capital side of this strike President Cleveland, for the first time in the nation's history, sent in federal troops, who fired on and killed U.S. citizens, against the wishes of the states. The federal courts of the nation outlawed strikes with the Omnibus Indictment Act. This blow to unionized labor was not struck down until the passing of the National Labor Relations Act (also known as the Wagner Act) in 1935. Read more

This Month in NATCA History

1984 : Less than three years after PATCO was decertified, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) filed a petition with the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) to form NATCA at Washington Center. The petition was signed by 214 controllers, about two-thirds of those working. The next month, AFGE also filed petitions for Atlanta Center, New York Center, and New York TRACON for a union called the American Air Traffic Controllers Council (AATCC). The birth of NATCA evolved over the next three years, culminating with NATCA’s FLRA certification on June 19, 1987, to be the exclusive bargaining representative for air traffic controllers employed by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Retirement Webinars Scheduled Through July
All upcoming retirement seminars for the months of June and July have been merged and reformatted to be webinars due to the COVID-19 national emergency. They are open to any member nationwide. The webinars in June and July are as follows:   

June 2 : 9 a.m.-3 p.m. PDT
June 3 : 9 a.m.-3 p.m. EDT
June 24 : 9 a.m.-3 p.m. PDT
June 25 : 9 a.m.-3 p.m. EDT
July 16 : 9 a.m.-3 p.m. PDT
July 17 : 9 a.m.-3 p.m. EDT

An additional webinar, called NATCA Edge, open to any member nationwide, is scheduled for July 9 at 10 a.m. CDT.

IMPORTANT : If you had previously signed up for these seminars and are unable to attend virtually, please consider canceling your reservation as space is limited for virtual classes as well.

To register for both the seminars and the webinars: use the NATCA Portal, portal.natca.org . Click on the “events” tab in the main menu at the top of the screen. 

For questions or any problems with registration, please contact Lisa Head at the National Office: 202-628-5451 or lhead@natcadc.org .
NATCA Member COVID-19 Resources
Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) MOU

On May 8, NATCA and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) regarding Human Resource Policy Manual (HRPM) Policy Bulletin 115, Paid Leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). Policy Bulletin 115 and the MOU specifically address the FAA’s implementation of FFCRA, which was signed into law on March 18. FFCRA provides expanded paid leave options for NATCA bargaining unit employees (BUEs) who have been affected by COVID-19. FFCRA provides two forms of paid leave: Emergency Paid Sick Leave and Expanded Leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which can be utilized for the employee’s own health needs or to care for family members.

Emergency Paid Sick Leave quick reference guide  here .

Expanded FMLA Leave quick reference guide  here .

FFCRA Frequently Asked Questions can be viewed here .

Download the full MOU  here .

Download only the FFCRA leave request form attachment  here .
 
Comparison of the Emergency Paid Sick Leave and Expanded FMLA Leave  here .
Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM)

During the COVID-19 pandemic, please know the  CISM team  is here to help you. CISM is a peer-to-peer service designed to help you post-accident or during a personal crisis. You can call us 24/7, 265 at 202-505-CISM (2476). If you reach our voicemail please leave your contact info, and someone will call you back. Keep in mind, we are aviation safety professionals and may be actively working at the time of your call. Messages are kept strictly confidential. You also can reach us via email at  CISM@natca.net   or check out our website at www.natca.org/CISM
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