2024 NATCA President Election

[HurryUpandWait]

Collaborate all they want. At the end of the day NATCA needs to negotiate for better working conditions and benefits.

NATCA screaming hire more people isn’t improving conditions: oh you aren’t hiring enough and improving conditions….let’s open the contract up and increase overtime pay/ limit or make ZERO the number of hours one can be assigned in a year if on NO list since they are abusing the workforce. One way to improve conditions, let there be delays let the public get pissed.

I am hoping they are doing both.

 

[ATC Zero]

And it’s going to take years to fix. There is no quick fix as much as we all hate it, it’s the reality we live in

Correct controllers at my facility start retiring in 3 years and it’s going to be steady once that starts nationwide.
Unless they start giving out bonus each year to stay past eligibility most wouldn’t do it for less that $25k/year.

 

[32andBelow]

Agreed. It’s a good benefit for the 4 hour earners, I like it but would give that up easily for more pay.
The fact that they voice they are scared to lose things is absolutely pitiful.
What are we getting that’s so damn special in Slate book that other government employees aren’t getting????

This is the biggest thing. Most of the controllers don’t know what benefits the whole government get. A lot of our benefits are just what everyone gets. A lot of places don’t limit the credit hours either lol. The one big thing we get is to negotiate pay. So that’s what we need to focus on

 

[ATC Zero]

This is the biggest thing. Most of the controllers don’t know what benefits the whole government get. A lot of our benefits are just what everyone gets. A lot of places don’t limit the credit hours either lol. The one big thing we get is to negotiate pay. So that’s what we need to focus on

Preach!

 

[HurryUpandWait]

Correct controllers at my facility start retiring in 3 years and it’s going to be steady once that starts nationwide.
Unless they start giving out bonus each year to stay past eligibility most wouldn’t do it for less that $25k/year.

Well keep an eye on these upcoming bills that got extended. They are looking to push back the retirement age for pilots and if that happens you know what they will try and do next.

 

[32andBelow]

We should really do an exercise here. This is benefits only. We have established that we can negotiate pay.

What benefits do we get that aren’t just government wide benefits?

 

[Rico]

Only the scammers are this worried about credit hours. No one should be working for free right now. Make them pay 1.5x always

The only reason to get credit is to make sure you retire with a 24 hour balance so they pay you out in overtime pay. Otherwise, working credit is dumb.

 

[HurryUpandWait]

This is the biggest thing. Most of the controllers don’t know what benefits the whole government get. A lot of our benefits are just what everyone gets. A lot of places don’t limit the credit hours either lol. The one big thing we get is to negotiate pay. So that’s what we need to focus on

mandatory breaks?

 

[KP-ATC]

We should really do an exercise here. This is benefits only. We have established that we can negotiate pay.

What benefits do we get that aren’t just government wide benefits?

Early retirement. That's a big one.

 

[32andBelow]

Early retirement. That's a big one.

Every age limited federal job gets that. Fire, LEO

There’s also federal benefits that exist that we don’t get.

Like 60k student loan repayment. If a benefit exists we should be trying to get it for starters

 

[PlasticBag12]

The only reason to get credit is to make sure you retire with a 24 hour balance so they pay you out in overtime pay. Otherwise, working credit is dumb.

Credit time is nice to slowly build a balance and in the off chance the building has enough staff to take spot leave, you can take the day and get shit done or do absolutely nothing and still not be at work. Credit time earned last year is worth 5% more now too so that’s a plus.

I agree working full shifts for free is dumb unless you know you can earn and burn it. But 15-30 mins of credit time here and there adds up over time.

That said I’d give it all up to be paid more and have the agency use more OT.

 

[ATC Zero]

Early retirement. That's a big one.

Firefighters and LEO get it also we aren’t the only ones.

 

[SunnyATC]

Southwest got 300 dollars an hour because they authorized a strike. UAW got everything they got because they actually executed a strike. If we could strike we’d all make double. Somebody should work in that at the next NiW.

The airlines authorizing a strike is symbolic. No major airline is going to get authorized to strike. Last one was Spirit in 2010 and they were a minor player at the time. Biden the “pro-labor” president stopped a railway strike. Airlines are covered by the same law.

 

[AB19]

The airlines authorizing a strike is symbolic. No major airline is going to get authorized to strike. Last one was Spirit in 2010 and they were a minor player at the time. Biden the “pro-labor” president stopped a railway strike. Airlines are covered by the same law.

Yes and they got their sick days and Biden also backed the auto workers who just endorsed him, why are you blaming Biden when our union hasn't asked for shit other than more bodies

 

[SunnyATC]

Poor wording on my part. I’m not blaming Biden or any other President. Railway labor laws which cover the airlines as well make it very unlikely a large scale strike would happen. So saying the airlines are getting big contractual gains because they can strike isn’t really true. Not being able to strike doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be demanding contractual improvements. We have seriously lagged behind airlines in pay, QOL, entry level pay (regionals), retirement matching, and a lot of other things.

 

[32andBelow]

Yes and they got their sick days and Biden also backed the auto workers who just endorsed him, why are you blaming Biden when our union hasn't asked for shit other than more bodies

Natca only asks for things that are the FAA responsibility.

 

[HurryUpandWait]

Yes and they got their sick days and Biden also backed the auto workers who just endorsed him, why are you blaming Biden when our union hasn't asked for shit other than more bodies

Natca only asks for things that are the FAA responsibility.

Southwest and Auto Workers were in contract negotiations when they were "asking". Do you want NATCA to shake hands and come to agreement with the FAA just to turn around every year and "ask" for more breaking their word?

If NATCA doesn't "ask" for anything during negotiations then yeah that is an issue.

Also, NATCA ask for things that are the FAA responsibility because the FAA won't ask or take care of it.

Poor wording on my part. I’m not blaming Biden or any other President. Railway labor laws which cover the airlines as well make it very unlikely a large scale strike would happen. So saying the airlines are getting big contractual gains because they can strike isn’t really true. Not being able to strike doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be demanding contractual improvements. We have seriously lagged behind airlines in pay, QOL, entry level pay (regionals), retirement matching, and a lot of other things.

I haven't been to any of the candidates campaign or facility events yet but I would assume they are aware of the demands we want and deserve

According to a Rep I am in contact with who asked about it:

If negotiations aren't officially opened by February 2nd then both the Purple and Light Blue books automatically go into a 1 year extension (something about 150 days prior to expiration being an automatic trigger). And allegedly NATCA doesn't want to open up negotiations because they think they will lose more than they will gain.

If that's true, I'll just be speechless at their fecklessness more than anything.

Although, if the auto-extension occurs and ya'll can get jdatc in there to straighten things out a bit... who knows.

Any way we can look this up to see if this is legit?

Are you going to get Congress to pass a law that says we can strike? Because that is what it would take.

99% of these people have no clue how or what it takes to get anything done

I think we have a high skilled job that the public appreciates. I’m not a self hating controller.


No but I think when they go for their yearly steak trip they can go when the actual reps are in town. Is that too crazy?

You know in most cases it is actually more important to have strong relationships with the staff of the congressman/woman

Don't know if this was posted already but here is quick look on what Southwest Pilots received

"The agreement includes a date of ratification pay-rate increase of 29.15% followed by 4% raises in 2025, 2026, and 2027, and a 3.25% raise in 2028. It also includes sweeping changes to pilot scheduling, industry-leading maternity and paternity leaves, company-provided disability coverage, increases to retirement, and continued industry-leading Scope protections. "The implementation of this contract will take some time to get right," said Murray. "But we will work with Southwest to make sure that all of the changes that improve our pilots' quality of life take place as quickly as possible. I want to offer a sincere thank you to our pilots for their support and backing over the last few years. You are the reason we got here."

Labor unions are pushing hard for double-digit raises and better hours. Many are winning

UPS workers and airline pilots have won rich labor deals. Hollywood writers and actors as well as auto workers could be next.

www.cnbc.com

 

[Nothanks]

Collaborate all they want. At the end of the day NATCA needs to negotiate for better working conditions and benefits.

NATCA screaming hire more people isn’t improving conditions: oh you aren’t hiring enough and improving conditions….let’s open the contract up and increase overtime pay/ limit or make ZERO the number of hours one can be assigned in a year if on NO list since they are abusing the workforce. One way to improve conditions, let there be delays let the public get pissed.

You don’t have to open up the contract to do these things. You can sign MOUs like the OJTI pay increase MOU and then roll it into a better contract when the politics are in our favor. Have to be smarter than that.

You should rejoin the union and run for an elected position to do something about it.

 

[32andBelow]

You don’t have to open up the contract to do these things. You can sign MOUs like the OJTI pay increase MOU and then roll it into a better contract when the politics are in our favor. Have to be smarter than that.

You should rejoin the union and run for an elected position to do something about it.

Drink. He said it.

 

[ATC Zero]

Drink. He said it.

I’m not thirsty for that 🤣 besides it’s dry January after all.