This is a private blog. It does not represent NATCA's views in any way.
NATCA's last election was an important one. There was truly a difference in our choices. Only 52 per cent of eligible members voted. This is untenable if one wishes our union to move forward. This is unacceptable if we want Congress or the aviation community to take us seriously.
So here's my contribution at helping "Get Out The NATCA Vote".
In the blog to follow are some questions I posed to the candidates for NATCA's President and Executive Vice President. I have and will publish any responses without comment. Some of the the candidates may not have responded yet. I will add their positions when they do. Candidates can also expound on, change or add to their original statements at a later date if they like. The comments have been turned off. Take any discussion or debate back to the BBS or contact the candidates themselves.
I sent out the original questions on June 10 to all the candidates. I also gave each an opportunity to provide a 300 word statement, a mini "stump speech".
Thanks to John Carr/The Main Bang, Paul Cox/The FAA Follies, Anonymous/Jurassic Bark and Madman/The Potomac Current and Undertow for the shout outs and their support.
Mike Esau- POU ATCT
President
Patrick Forrey-(http://www.forrey4president.com/)
My priority, NATCA’s priority is to secure a ratified collective bargaining agreement and ensure that the agency can NEVER impose work and pay rules on us again. I have never wavered from that focus.
Leadership Begins at the Top – Under my leadership, we have regained our credibility, changed the politics in Washington DC, increased our activism and support with the AFL-CIO, and changed the message and discussion in the media surrounding our differences with the FAA. We are now on the threshold of correcting the gross injustice of the previous administration and it is my promise to never let what they did to us in 2005 and 2006 happen again.
Solidarity – Those of you who are new to the FAA can be assured; NATCA has always stood with you. I give you my word and promise that you will never be forgotten or left behind. Experience – I am serving my 21st consecutive year as an elected NATCA representative. That experience has taught me the patience, temperament, and knowledge needed to deal with friend and foe alike on all levels. I am the only candidate running for President who has developed, negotiated and successfully delivered national agreements that have secured higher compensation and retirement benefits for the membership.
Results – I am the only candidate who has successfully conducted high-level negotiations with so much at risk to our membership and union. From developing and negotiating reclassification to a new pay system, each and every time, I have delivered results that benefit our members in the short-term and long-term.
Goals – My goal is to ensure that our members will never face imposed work and pay rules again. To secure legislation that protects us from privatization, provides for permissive subject bargaining, and requires Union participation on all changes, from the realignment of facilities and services, to NextGen, to the National Air Space System.
Trust proven leadership, Vote Pat Forrey for President and secure your future!
Ruth Marlin- (http://www.ruthmarlin.com/)
NATCA has a bright future ahead. We have entered a period of unprecedented opportunity as well as challenges that will shape our professions for decades to come. We must position NATCA so that we can make the most of these opportunities. Success will not come without significant effort on our part.
We must look forward and prepare for the challenges ahead. We will see more efforts to split off towers, consolidate TRACONs, ARTCCs, and engineering centers. Efforts to contract out our jobs may slow, but will not end. On the technology side, the FAA has already moved to build a system that is completely owned and operated by contractors. This is a dangerous development as it not only reduces safety oversight, it opens the door to rapid cost escalation, squeezing out critical funds for personnel.
While these challenges are serious, NATCA has never been in a better position to counter them. After eight years with an administration that ignored its workforce while it padded the pockets of contractors, our nation has learned the value of government oversight. No longer is the prevailing view that the private sector knows best.
NATCA is poised to regain its influence. In addition to an army of skilled and experienced activists, we have thousands of bright, talented, educated new members ready to take up the cause and fight for their futures. We must augment our traditional training with innovative new programs that capitalize on this opportunity.
Effective leadership is critical in preparing to meet the challenges ahead. We must engage, inspire, and inform our members. NATCA is not a service we purchase, it is a union we build together with contributions from every member. Together we will build that bright future.
Paul Rinaldi- (http://team4thefuture.com/)
I hired in with the FAA in !991. I have committed 17 years of my life to working for our union and membership. I have the experience of serving our Union as Vice President and FACREP at IAD, ARVP to the Eastern Region, Arbitration Advocate, Eastern Region Third Level team lead, Air Safety Investigator and currently as EVP. I have extensive legislative and media experiences. None of the other candidates can match my accomplishments and my experience.
I have shown the integrity to stand up for NATCA and do the right thing. This election is a good example of this since the easy thing for me to do would be to run for executive vice president again. I saw that NATCA needed a different type of leader to bring us back to our rightful place and that I was the best person to take on that role. NATCA deserves a leader who will stay focused on the tasks at hand: for NATCA members to be treated fairly and with respect at work and to be paid properly as the highly skilled professionals we are.
My leadership style is different than the others running. I will empower, educate and motivate our members with a clear message and direction on every level. This will ensure our FACREPs, activists and members are on the same page across the country.
As EVP, I have fiduciary responsibilities over NATCA’s finances and am accountable to our membership and the Department of Labor. My vision has brought us many things, such as the Boots on the Ground program to help get a labor friendly candidate in the White House. I will not back down from the FAA. I have the tenacity to hold the unaccountable, accountable.
Executive Vice President
Rich Santa- (http://www.richsanta.com/)
I am a CTI graduate from Beaver County. I was hired into the FAA to the New York Tracon and I joined NATCA as soon as I received my Union orientation from Dean. I have been a NATCA controller for 13 years. I certified in the Kennedy sector and transferred to Washington Center (ZDC) in 2001. I volunteered for many projects at ZDC and successfully ran for area rep as a write in candidate. I ran for fac rep after 2 years as an area rep and am currently finishing up my second term. I have been that fac rep for every day of the IWR’s.
I decided to run for NATCA Executive Vice President after a long talk with the ZDC E-board. I am encouraged and inspired by their ravenous support for me and my candidacy. Strong communication is essential to keep the membership informed and to include the members in the direction of NATCA. Our members are the foundation of this Union.
I train and involve as many volunteers that we have step up. If a members whats to help, I embrace that offer. The members need to be acknowledged not alienated. The members are NATCA. I have used evolving tactics to stay ahead of the agency. We need to be less reactionary and more pro-active against the FAA’s aggregations to the Union workforce.
My fiscal responsibility has been excellent. I am the approving official to all of our expenditures. I do more than just fill out vouchers for others to approve. I hope to use my topical experience and fundamental beliefs on the national level as NATCA EVP.
Trish Gilbert- (http://team4thefuture.com/)
My name is Trish Gilbert and I am running for the office of NATCA’s Executive Vice President. I currently serve the membership as the Chair to the National Legislative committee. Prior to joining the legislative committee as the SW Region chair in 2001, I served three terms as the Houston Center’s facility representative. Those six years molded and solidified my beliefs in the dignity of work, the protection of workers’ rights and the importance of a democratic voice in the workplace. When a union is strong those beliefs become reality.
Our Union’s strength and energy depend on the commitment and loyalty of the membership. An educated, committed, proud and supportive membership is essential to the success of our union whether it be at the contract table or through political or legislative victories. Education and communication are key to building a stronger union.
On Communication, we must understand that the ways in which our membership receives the information from their union must change as our membership changes. What worked even 4 years ago may not work with all our members now. Technology gives us many more options and opportunities to not only disseminate information but also to receive valued input from the membership. We have the ability to webcast to the membership NIW and CFS but should and will go even further with frequent webcasts from the NEB, National Office Staff, Committee Chairs and Project Leads. Face to face contact with the membership is the best way to hear their concerns and answer their questions. As the chair of the National Legislative committee, in the last year and a half & on my days off, I have attended membership meetings in Dallas, Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, Detroit, Seattle, Sacramento, Albuquerque, Kansas City, Tampa, Miami, Jacksonville, Orlando, and Minneapolis and have spent time at many of the Oklahoma City meet and greets.
As your EVP, I will continue to visit facilities and attend membership meetings frequently in order to stay connected with the membership. I have and always will be an active participant on the NATCA BBS and want to see it further evolve into a more viable source of information.
Effective leaders motivate, encourage activism, and communicate with their membership. Leading in that manner garners maximum support and buy-in from the membership. That is the type of leader that I am and will continue to be.
