There are attempts through anonymous social media forums to deliver misinformation to our membership. This misinformation is not only meant to deceive the voting members, but is a catalyst for distrust and division with industry, the FAA, and our collective ranks. We have been committed to providing the members of NATCA with facts and the truth, which you will find below.
We have heard calls to open the contract (now) and start work on a successor to the Slate Book Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). We have seen Mick Devine and Rich Santa campaign on that very fact. Unfortunately, when they are in the appropriate crowd, they speak to the need to negotiate now without regard to the reality of the circumstances. Yet, in other crowds, they speak to the understanding there are other options. However, Rich Santa briefed the National Executive Board that he attempted to get the Agency to reopen the contract (now), which is early, as a limited reopening, and the agency declined the offer. Therefore, since the Agency declined an early opening to the contract, there is NO ability to open it now.
Article 106 of the contract states, “Subject to member ratification, this Agreement shall remain in effect for seventy-two (72) months from the date it is approved by the Parties and shall be automatically renewed for additional periods of one (1) year unless either Party gives written notice to the other of its desire to amend or terminate this Agreement. The written notice must be given not more than one hundred eighty (180) calendar days and not less than one hundred fifty (150) calendar days preceding the expiration date of this Agreement.” What does that mean? Well, it means the earliest a unilateral initiation of contract negotiations could occur is January of 2026. At the March 26-27 NEB meeting, there was a motion made regarding the slate book contact. That motion was, “Absent the ability to delay the decision, extend the slate book contract to 2029 with the ability to open in 2026 by mutual agreement”.
Why would NATCA do this? NATCA has a duty to protect this union, its members' rights, and working conditions and find creative solutions to the United States political climate. It is known there are two candidates for the office of President of the United States of America. One of those candidates is the previous President, and while he was in office, he implemented Executive Orders aimed at destroying the ability of federal sector unions to negotiate on behalf of and represent their members properly. The overall goal was to render unions ineffective.
The mentioning of the potentially looming Executive Orders isn’t a scare tactic. Under these executive orders, the agency would have the authority to unilaterally impose schedules, and dictate when annual leave is taken without local negotiations. The executive orders become law the moment they are signed and would greatly affect every member of our union. We have been steadfast and unwavering in our faith in ourselves and NATCA to deliver a strong contract to follow the Slate Book. We have been equally unwavering that we wouldn’t play games or politics with something as important as CBA negotiations. It does not show bravery or strength to willfully risk the gains that we have made over decades of contract improvements in the face of one-sided labor, and labor-destroying executive orders; it, in fact, shows arrogance and hubris.
The 13,000-plus members covered by the Slate Book and their families deserve representatives who put their well-being before their desires to hold positions. What the NEB delivered the President of NATCA was the ability to protect the members by extending (only if needed) and only if we retain the ability to reopen the CBA in 2026. This was the best option being the Agency told Rich they were unwilling to open the Slate book CBA early.
We will be honest, and direct, and will always provide facts for the positions we take on behalf of our fellow NATCA members.
In Solidarity, |