Insider Features:
NATCA Honors the 38th Anniversary
of the PATCO Strike
At a time when the rights of federal workers to organize are under attack in a way that they haven’t been in a generation, we remember an important anniversary. Thirty-eight years ago, our union brothers and sisters took a remarkably brave and honorable stand for our profession and the safety of the National Airspace System (NAS). On Aug. 3, 1981, after 95 percent of its members rejected a contract the Federal Aviation Administration's had offered five days earlier, the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO) decided to strike for safer work conditions, reliable equipment, adequate staffing levels, and fair work and pay rules.
 
Nearly 13,000 controllers - about 85 percent of the union's membership and 79 percent of the workforce - honored the picket line. Two days later, President Ronald Reagan fired all striking controllers. About 875 controllers returned from the picket line to work before the firings, but 11,350 PATCO members stayed out and subsequently lost their jobs. According to the Department of Transportation, U.S. controller staffing dropped 74 percent from 16,375 to about 4,200. 
 
These men and women gave up their careers and salaries to defend a profession they loved. The costs to many of them and their families were profound and lasting. Looking back, we remember them and honor their sacrifices, their commitment to our profession, and their bravery in fighting for union principles.
 
The thousands of new controllers that entered the workplace during the next few years encountered the same poor working conditions and substandard equipment that had made the job so brutally difficult for their PATCO predecessors. These concerns would not be addressed until the federal government allowed controllers to organize once again.
 
Controllers, who faced threats of additional firings, met secretly and organized a new collective voice for our profession, that would become NATCA. The bargaining rights of NATCA's founding members were officially recognized when our Union was certified on June 19, 1987, as the exclusive bargaining unit representative for FAA controllers by the Federal Labor Relations Authority.
 
NATCA is the union it is today, because our founders never forgot the great legacy of PATCO. NATCA must continue to reach out and educate our newest members, so they understand what came before. As we face current challenges, we must not take our jobs or our union rights for granted.
 
We ask NATCA members to join us in remembering our PATCO brothers and sisters. We continue to be humbled by their solidarity and commitment. We honor them by continuing their legacy of protecting our profession and the NAS. We must fight every day to ensure the rights of NATCA members are always protected.
Unum Extended Through August 12
Our Union had a great response from members signing up during this open enrollment period for the NATCA/Unum LTD program.

Unfortunately, there have been some technical issues dealing with enrollment this past week. Because of that, Unum has granted a short extension until the close of business on Monday, Aug. 12, to give every member an opportunity to sign up during this period. This gives us a few more days to ensure members are properly signed up and enrolled. If you still want to sign up, please reattempt to do so on the website at  www.natcadisability.com . If you need assistance, contact Don Smith at investidon@aol.com  or 1-866-309-0304.

This benefit is available to NATCA members only and disability insurance isn't just for catastrophic events. As a NATCA member, you know the flight surgeon can pull your medical for an array of reasons eliminating your ability to earn a paycheck. NATCA's disability plan protects your financial future should you become unable to work by providing income when you need it most.

If you haven’t considered signing up, now is the time. Don’t wait until something bad happens to wish that you had made the decision to protect yourself.
Notice of Deadline for Submission of Proposed Constitutional Amendments for 2020 Convention
Preparations are underway for NATCA’s 18 th Biennial Convention to be held in Houston, Texas on May 27-29, 2020.  Pursuant to Article XIV, Section 1 of the NATCA Constitution, “[a]ll proposed amendments to the National Constitution shall be submitted to the National Constitution Committee through the Executive Vice President one-hundred and twenty (120) days prior to the Convention.”  The deadline for submitting proposed amendments for the upcoming convention, therefore, is 11:59 p.m. EST on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020. Proposed amendments should be submitted to Executive Vice President Trish Gilbert at  tgilbert@natcadc.org .
  
Amendments may be proposed to make changes to Articles I through XV of the Constitution and/or to add new articles. All proposed amendments submitted to the Constitution Committee are reported out of committee and will be submitted to the membership as part of a constitutional amendment package that will be mailed on or before March 28, 2020. 

Members may also submit proposed resolutions to the Executive Vice President in advance of Convention. As defined in Article VIII, Section 7 of the Constitution, “[r]esolutions approved by the National Convention shall form the Standing Rules and Policy/Position Statements of the Association.” Any resolution submitted to the Executive Vice President  on or before Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020,  shall be published along with the proposed amendments. Pursuant to Standing Rule C-1, no resolutions will be accepted between Jan. 28, 2020, and the beginning of Convention. Resolutions may be submitted at the Convention in accordance with Convention Rules.

NATCA encourages any member who would like to submit a proposed amendment to do so in a timely fashion by  11:59 p.m. EST on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020 , in order for the amendment to be considered by Constitution Committee. Anyone with questions or concerns regarding the proposed amendment process should contact a member of the Constitution Committee or NATCA General Counsel Marguerite L. Graf.
Members Join EAA in Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of AirVenture at Oshkosh
EAA AirVenture Oshkosh is the world's greatest aviation celebration and air show. This year marked the 50th consecutive year of the annual fly-in convention in Oshkosh, Wis. The very first convention was held in Milwaukee in 1953. In 1959, the event moved to Rockford, Ill., where it was held annually through 1969 before coming to Oshkosh. Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) moved its permanent headquarters from the Milwaukee area to Oshkosh in 1983.

EAA founder Paul Poberezny saw Oshkosh as the perfect place to bring together aviation enthusiasts, and it has become synonymous with the World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration.
More than 50 NATCA members arrived in Oshkosh to volunteer for the ever-popular events of the week. Their NATCA Oshkosh polos, as seen above, feature a Beechcraft Baron, and the gray polos NATCA members wore throughout the week featured an F-22 Raptor. 
Attendees from near and far packed NATCA sessions, ranging from "Best Practices for Avoiding Common Mistakes" to "Don't Let That Cloud Fool You," and even "Communicating with Confidence and Clarity." In all, NATCA members participated in 23 presentations and sessions.
Members staffed the "Ask ATC" booth and educated pilots and provided answers to enthusiasts alike about general aviation and top safety issues.
NATCA volunteers also participated at KidVenture, the place where kids were able to experience hands-on, educational, and fun aviation-based demonstrations and presentations, including air traffic control basics, choosing a flight plan, and learning the phonetic alphabet.
Click here to listen to NATCA President Paul Rinaldi at EAA Radio
Many NATCA members, including President Paul Rinaldi, participated in EAA Radio interviews about air traffic control, best practices for pilots, runway safety, the recent government shutdown and its effects on aviation safety, H.R. 1108, runway safety, and more. Click here to listen to many more radio episodes with NATCA members and EAA Radio.
Thank you again to all the volunteers who shared air traffic control with attendees and worked to make the NATCA events at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh a success!
NATCA Members Increase Donations to
The Trevor Project by 65%
NATCA Executive Vice President Trish Gilbert; Los Angeles ATCT (LAX) FacRep Michael Pimpao; LAX Vice President Michael Flores; LAX members John Blake, Brock Shetley, Anu Shreedaran, and Sterling Snedigar; and NATCA Public Affairs Director Thom Metzger visited Trevor Project’s Los Angeles headquarters to get an update about their vital work and give them a donation raised by NATCA members.

Through NATCA’s 2019 Pride Month activities, our Union again raised money for Trevor, the world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ+ young people. This year, through the sale of shirts in the NATCA store; with members participating in local Pride events in Washington, D.C., Indianapolis, Chicago, and San Francisco; and an increased match from the NATCA Charitable Foundation, we distributed 470 shirts and raised $6,700 — an increase of 65% from 2018 — for The Trevor Project.
NATCA’s support will help The Trevor Project grow their work. One out of six students nationwide seriously considered suicide in the past year. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people ages 10 to 24. LGBTQ+ youth contemplate suicide at three times the rate of heterosexual youth. The Trevor Project aims to always be there for youth in crisis with a clear message: they should be proud of who they are, and they are not alone.

Visit The Trevor Project's website to learn more about their organization. 
Facilities in the 100% Membership Club
Expanding membership is the key to growing an organization. Below are two more facilities that have taken pride (and won't let go) in reaching 100 percent NATCA membership. They offer advice on what it takes to create a union-oriented environment in their facility, based on solidarity.
Wilmington ATCT (ILM)

Wilmington (N.C.) ATCT (ILM) has 26 bargaining unit employees and regained its status as 100% NATCA membership in 2018. The key, said ILM FacRep Bill Kirby, is getting people to join as they come in the door.

“When you have new hires, invite them off site for lunch and make them feel part of a family,” Kirby said. “Show them the facts of how things were during the White Book and how things have gone from good to great since the Red Book and now to the Slate Book. Tell them the need to stay ahead of the power curve so things don't go back the other way."
“Since I have been at ILM," continued Kirby, "everyone who has been at this facility or any new hire that has come in, has joined NATCA. I truly believe that everyone joins NATCA because they see the good the organization does and will continue to do, and they want to be a part of that.”

ILM had been 100% for a long time, but a few members left the Union when dues changed. “Once my last ‘dues’ person retired we went back to 100%,” Kirby said. “While we are a standard small facility, we are a hard working group who cares about the National Airspace System and NATCA. We go out of our way to provide a service because without people flying, we wouldn't have jobs.”
Dallas Addison ATCT (ADS)

With 12 local NATCA members, Dallas Addison ATCT (ADS) just passed the six month mark for being 100% NATCA. FacRep Chad Gayle, who has been in the position just over a year-and-a-half, believes getting people involved is key to achieving 100% membership in your local.

“ADS is a relaxed environment where we look out for each other,” Gayle said. “We work to get people involved and make sure our Executive Board makes ethical decisions about local business.”

The biggest detriment to union leadership is lack of transparency, added Gayle. “Make sure that you are conducting yourself in an ethical manner. Members can see through hypocrisy and selfish intentions.”
CFS 2019: 15th Annual Archie League Medal of Safety Awards, Winners' Spotlight
Eastern Region: Brian Rabinowitz - New York TRACON (N90)
It was a routine takeoff from Westchester County Airport (HPN) in White Plains, N.Y., for N142KR on Dec. 13, 2018. The single-engine 2009 Mooney Acclaim Type S (M20) departed Runway 16 after obtaining clearance from New York TRACON (N90), which had coordinated with HPN ATCT on a 90-degree left hand turn and a climb to 3,000 feet.

Things started to get busy for controller Brian Rabinowitz, a 10-year veteran at N90. He immediately observed the Mooney pilot not adhering to the pre-coordinated instructions. The aircraft was flying erratically, initially turning to the northeast, then to the south-southwest, and then back to the east. HPN ATCT called, reporting that the aircraft needed to return. It was solid instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), with 1.5-mile visibility and moderate snow. HPN then switched control of the aircraft to Rabinowitz. The pilot was at 1,500 feet and requested a “re-landing” at HPN.
 
“I could tell from the pilot’s voice that something was wrong, but at that time didn’t know the severity of the issue,” Rabinowitz said. Read more .
Southern Region: (Paul) Ray Keeling - Memphis Center (ZME)
On Feb. 23, 2019, a single-engine Socata TBM 930 (N897TF) departed Paducah, Ky., en route to Houston. But about 50 miles south of Paducah, the pilot experienced problems in controlling the aircraft and was not responding to air traffic controllers.

The high-altitude controller at Memphis Center (ZME) was able to regain communication with the pilot and coordinated a lower altitude clearance with Ray Keeling, the ZME R7 (McKellar Low Altitude) controller. Shortly afterward, the pilot was switched to Keeling’s frequency. The pilot checked in with Keeling but seemed disorientated and was having difficulty maintaining altitude control of the aircraft. Keeling questioned the pilot about the situation and discovered that the aircraft lost pressurization. Initially, the pilot requested a clearance to 10,000 feet to stabilize the cabin pressure.

Keeling advised the pilot of the position of McKellar-Sipes Regional Airport (MKL) in Jackson, Tenn.--a NATCA-represented Federal Contract Tower--and also out of the line of thunderstorms and heavy precipitation to the west of his position. While the pilot weighed his options, Keeling contacted MKL Tower and advised them that he had a potential emergency aircraft inbound. At that point, the pilot requested a clearance to MKL. Read more .
Now Is the Time to Nominate Your Colleague for a 2020 Archie League Award
The Archie League Medal of Safety Award highlights aviation "saves." As noted above, some involve a team of professionals working together, while others are the result of just one person's efforts. Any NATCA member can nominate another member in good standing year-round! The nominating period for the 2020 Archie League Awards is open now, and covers aviation events that have occurred from May 1, 2019 to April 30, 2020.  Click here  to complete the nomination form.
NATCA News and Notes
Region X Hosts Annual Regional Meeting
Region X members staged their regional meeting in Los Angeles. 25 representatives from around the country were in attendance to review, discuss, and address internal communications, organizing, drug and alcohol compliance, and current legislative issues and updates. 

The group heard presentations and had discussions with NATCA leadership including Executive Vice President (EVP) Trish Gilbert, National Office Chief of Staff Dean Iacopelli, National Organizing Committee Chair John Bratcher, National Finance Committee Chair Kyle McHugh, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Committee Chair Karena Marinas and Region X OSHA Rep David Kirkwood, Region X Air Traffic Safety Action Program (ATSAP) Rep Al Arcese, and Region X National Safety Committee Rep Don Schmeichel.

Later the members hosted a solidarity event at the Proud Bird Aviation Event Center and welcomed NATCA President Paul Rinaldi, EVP Gilbert, Western Pacific Regional Vice President (RVP) Joel Ortiz, and local members from Los Angeles area facilities. “This contact with regional and national leadership is critical to our local membership,” said Region X VP Curt Howe. “Local members gain the perspective of our leaders while providing feedback from their view. Multiple attendees told me the Region X meeting and solidarity event was valuable, successful, and essential to growing NATCA.”
Charlotte Douglas ATCT Gives Scholarship to
Deserving Student
Congratulations to Reid Riddle on winning this year's Charlotte Douglas ATCT (CLT) NATCA Scholarship. Reid will be attending Clemson University and pursuing a degree in Civil Engineering. Pictured left to right are CLT member Mindy Riddle, CLT Vice President Chris Riddle, scholarship recipient Reid Riddle, and CLT FacRep Anthony Schifano.
NATCA 101 Interactive Learning Course
NATCA 101 is an interactive learning course used to introduce our new members, as well as those looking to get more involved, to the organization and structure of NATCA. This class provides a foundation with information about NATCA that will help members understand and become more involved with the organization that is working on their behalf every day. 

Having the basic knowledge and background of our Union and then building on it with personal involvement are the first steps toward a stronger local, a more powerful national Union, and a better future for your family.

Join NATCA's next course on Thursday, Aug. 15 at noon ET. Visit the NATCA Portal to register.
Jacksonville Center Members Host BBQ for NATCA Sister
Members at Jacksonville Center (ZJX) raised more than $2,100 at a recent charity barbecue to benefit Atlanta Center (ZTL) member Kristin Lonergan, who recently underwent brain surgery and is on an extended absence from working as a Certified Professional Controller as she battles cancer.

“I worked with Kristin for over 10 years at ZTL," said ZJX Traffic Management Unit Area Rep Adam Finch. "True NATCA blood runs in her veins, and we help our own. I proposed we do something for her during a ZJX executive board meeting, and the leadership took the idea and ran with it. This is a great way to give back to a member who is still in need and has given so much to our Union.”

In August 2017, Lonergan was diagnosed with two different breast cancers, one in each breast. She has been undergoing treatments including radiation, chemotherapy, and invasive surgery continually since her diagnosis, and has run out of sick leave while fighting the disease. In June, Lonergan underwent surgery to remove a tumor in her brain, also inhibiting her from working.

Visit Kristin's blog to read about her cancer journey.
Register for the Upcoming OSHA Webinar
As a NATCA member, you have the right to know what chemicals are used in the building in which you work. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) or Safety Data Sheets (SDS), as they are now called, provide us with information about chemicals used in our building. This information is required by the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard, State “right to know” laws and our contract with the FAA. This webinar will look at how to read and interpret SDS. During this course, we will look at how NATCA resources can help you interpret this important information. Register here.
The NATCA Podcast: Fresno ATCT (FAT)
FacRep Jerry O'Gorman
Just a couple of weeks after open heart surgery to implant a new prosthetic valve in place of his failing bicuspid aortic valve, longtime Fresno ATCT (FAT) FacRep Jerry O’Gorman says he is feeling great and already well on the road to recovery, anxious to regain his medical and return to the facility. With the love of his wife, Cara, and three young children, a team of great medical professionals, and the incredible support of his NATCA family, O’Gorman tells Deputy Director of Public Affairs Doug Church in this episode of The NATCA Podcast that he is truly a very fortunate man. Click here to listen.
Store Item of the Week: Mesh Polo
Features of this produc t: Try our eco-friendly mesh polo shirt with cuff panel. Made of 46% bamboo charcoal and 54% polyester. The polo is double knit mesh. moisture wicking, and is easy care. Available in sizes S-3XL. Union-made in the United States.

Starting price: $38. Ships in 3-4 weeks.

To see the item and how to order: 
Click here to view the men’s style shirt.
Click here to view the women's style shirt.

Select USPS or UPS as your shipping preference on your orders. To check on stock availability or for further assistance, call 800-266-0895, or email  natcastore@natcadc.org .
Member Benefits: AMAS
Counseling, Depression, and Psychological Support

Many Americans are affected by psychological stressors in their every day lives. Sources of stress vary widely ranging from arguments with family members, pressure from bosses and management, urgent deadlines to meet, unrealistic workloads, financial difficulties, or the prolonged illness or death of a loved one. Positive events in life also can cause stress and anxiety, such as a move to a new location, marriage, a new child, or the purchase of a house.

Stress may disturb sleep patterns, appetite, sex drive, and energy levels. The cumulative effect of these stressors may result in feeling of barely maintaining control or helplessness in certain situations. Sometimes, people experience these physical and emotional disturbances for no readily identifiable reason. Most people in this situation are reluctant to ask for help from medical experts, their clergy, friends, or even family. Read more .

Aviation Medicine Advisory Service (AMAS) is your trusted source for confidential risk-free assistance with the FAA medical certification process. As aviation experts, they employ a full-time team of board-certified aerospace medicine physicians with a wealth of commercial and military experience for NATCA members. Online, on the phone or in person, AMAS is here for you, free of charge. Click here for more information.
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