Correct. The biggest mistake NATCA has ever made was embracing “collaboration” over the past decade. These morons were under the impression that the union and management were basically co-running the agency, and that they had a great working relationship. It’s been a fantasy from the start and has only degraded the influence of the union and any respect the agency once held towards it. The FAA realized they could essentially implement whatever they wanted and NATCA would rubber stamp it in the name of “collaboration.” This all culminated with COVID. For basically 2-3 years, the agency was able to force whatever hare-brained idea they had on the workforce in the name of “safety.” Stopping training entirely for nearly a year, then intermittently and arbitrarily stopping it for a year after that. Forcing people to wear masks. Forcing people to get the vaccine. Forcing schedule changes. Etc etc. All while NATCA sat back and said “yep, we think this is all great, the FAA definitely has everyone’s best interest in mind.” That sealed the deal that the union has no backbone and no influence. Now here we are today, ridiculous schedule changes being announced by Administrator royal decrees, controllers being forced to move facilities against their will, and of course, not even a semblance of a pay raise or improvements to working conditions are anywhere on the horizon.
NATCA has failed.