Facility Update September 10th

Executive Order Vaccine Mandate

As of writing this, we know there is an Executive Order for Federal workers to get the covid vaccine but we still don’t know exactly what it looks like. As soon as it comes out, we will send another email and get some more specifics. Right now there are more questions than answers.

Attestation Form

If you happened to check your FAA email, you may have seen an vaccination attestation form. The email was sent out before consulting NATCA and is not applicable to us yet. Do not worry about filling it out until we get back to you on it.

Covid-19 Testing Adminstrative Leave Change

There was a change to the HR Policy Bulletin 120 (covid procedures). The change pertains to vaccinated individuals and reads:

The Parties have agreed that the Agency shall grant up to three days of excused absence to fully vaccinated employees that:

a.     Have been identified by a RFS as a close contact during a work-related contact tracing, and;

b.     Have requested time to obtain a COVID-19 test through their supervisor to be scheduled between the third and fifth day from the identified potential exposure.

It is important to note that in accordance with CDC guidance, testing should occur between the third and fifth day from the identified potential exposure, not from the notification of potential exposure.

The full change can be found HERE.

Elections

All the positions except for the Secretary position and the C area rep went unopposed and here are the results:

FacRep: Amy Sizemore

VP: Drew Stewart

Treasurer: Devin Carlisto

TMU: Sherri O’Neil

A Area: Dan Rasmussen

B Area: Loren Cameron

D Area: Trevor Laush

C area people: If you have questions about or are interested in being your area’s representative, please let James know as soon as possible. 

Thank you all for you patience with the sporadic nature of these updates the past few weeks, 

Amy Sizemore and Derek Adams

Facility Update August 20th

Good afternoon all, hopefully you are staying as safe as possible. 

Contact Tracing / Covid Information

Just a reminder, if you are given a contact tracing form, it is required to be filled out. Furthermore, every question must be answered. Recently, we saw a situation where test results took many days to get back to the facility and by that time the overlap was substantial and management ended up deciding to give contact tracing forms to everyone in that area. In that case, people that can prove that they didn’t overlap with the covid positive case (ie, Your shift ended at 1300 and the other person’s shift didn’t start until 1400). 

We need to stress that lack of candor will not be taken lightly by the FAA. We are seeing this nationwide. Long story short, don’t mess around with this. 

As an aside, we are hearing some very justified frustrations with the speed of the contact tracing process. There are a couple of issues that are at play. First, they will not contact trace for a “possible” covid hit. Only when it is determined to be a positive test result will they start the contact tracing program. Secondly the testing process itself. That may be delayed by a number of things like the testing facility speed, the availability of tests, hours of operation, etc. 

Another question asked often is why there isn’t a “mass announcement” when there is a covid positive in the building. The sharing of medical information is very strictly governed but for this pandemic they have developed a process. Contact with another person is defined as being within 6 feet of another person for more than 15 continuous minutes. If you do not meet that qualification, you will not be notified of another person’s medical information. 

Gym

The gym downstairs has been reopened. Here’s an email from Patrick Long, our OSHA Rep:

The gym will be reopened in a “Full” capacity with some precautions and procedures to ensure proper COVID-19 safety standards are met, which have been directed from FAA Headquarters.  As of this message the entire portion of the gym is usable to include the free weight area.  There are a handful of machines that are wrapped out of service, which need to be left as is.  There is 6 feet of space between usable machines/equipment and this must remain, please do not move equipment.  The free weight section is usable with free weights available.  In order to comply with HQ cleaning requirements, when complete with a workout all weight must be returned to either one of the pyramid rack stands or the side of the machinery.  When returning the plates DO NOT STACK the plates.  Each post/peg shall only have 1 plate on it.  This will allow for the cleaning crew to clean both sides of the plate without the need to lift or move it.  As a common curtesy to other users, do not leave plates attached to bars or the active area of the machines (ie Leg press).

The reopening of the Fitness Center is due to the cooperation of the FAA, PASS, and NATCA.  All parties understand that the cleaning requirements must be allowed to occur without interference.  If all users of the fitness center are able to comply with the requirements as stated above, the fitness center can remain open.  Seattle ARTCC is incredibly fortunate to have a fitness center of this size and quality.  It took several months for NATCA and the ZSE OSHA Committee to come up with a solution that would comply with HQ requirements and satisfy safety concerns of all parties.  Please do your part in maintaining safety, which will also ensure the fitness center remains open. 

Have a good night,

Derek Adams and Amy Sizemore

Facility Update August 13th

As you all might have seen, masks are back. This is a VERY recent development so we do not have much more than everything that was sent out in the national email. If you did not get that, please let us know, we can forward it. Here’s what we do know: the actual start date for this MOU at ZSE is to be collaborated between the FACREP and ATM and that will be done within the next couple of days. Just a reminder, when this goes into effect, the control room is considered a “shared space” and therefore masks must be worn at all times regardless of distance from others or vaccination status until our county’s covid rate goes down.

CA-1 Workplace Injury Form

The OWCP (Office of Workers’ Compensation Program) has expanded the CA-1 to include covid as coverable. What this means to you is that if you test positive and therefore cannot come to work you may apply for this program. This is oversimplifying it but basically, you will be paid a “straight 40” (no night diff, etc.), and you will not be charged sick leave. There is also an avenue to pursue this retroactively, just let us know if you would like more info.

Contact Tracing Form

The contact tracing form has changed and includes a question regarding your vaccination status. All questions on this form are mandatory and must be filled out in totality. The following was sent out from National:

“Disclosure: Submission of this information is mandatory. Failure to complete this form in its entirety, or providing misleading information may warrant disciplinary action, including, but not limited to, removal from Federal Service.  This information will become part of the Privacy Act System of Records OPM/GOVT-10, Employee Medical File System Records, 75 FR 35099 (June 10, 2010). 

We have also agreed on how this information may be used as follows:

The intent of making completion of contact tracing forms mandatory, to include all questions, is for the purposes of contact tracing to support the health and safety of employees. The information within the contact tracing forms will be used by the RFS to make a medical decision regarding a potentially exposed individual’s ability to return to work safely. The information may also be used to ensure compliance with the negotiated mask MOU.”

Please remember the importance of honesty on government documents and in the MOUs. If you are found to be otherwise, you are putting yourself at risk for disciplinary actions.

Nominations are ending this weekend, get those in! In case you forgot, the forms are on top of the box outside the control room. Have a great weekend,

Derek Adams and Amy Sizemore

Facility Update August 6th

Good Evening All!

Masks, Vaccinations, Sick Leave

The FAA has converted the MOU that we had with them regarding masks and sick leave usage into an HRPM Policy Bulletin. That makes it more permanent and will remain in effect until further notice. Here are the key points but is available here for you to peruse if you wish. 

• Masks are mandatory if you are not vaccinated

• All employees must complete the “Wellness Check” before entering the facility. If you answer yes to any of the questions you may not enter and will need to take sick leave. 

• This bulletin also specifies the policy for EA regarding testing, contact, etc.

Still no official word on vaccination mandates but as it stands, anyone without a mask on in the building is declaring that they are vaccinated. If it is found to be otherwise, you are putting yourself at risk for discipline in the future. 

Back Up System 

Changes are coming to some of the late swing/early mid shifts. Bear with me for a little background info…. Some of you might remember a briefing we had a long time ago that talked about the FAA discontinuing the back up to the back up for ERAM (depending on how old you are, you might call it DARC or EBUS). We will still have channel A and B. When we do the chart changes and system upgrades, Tech Ops will take down a channel, load the changes onto it and then make that the active channel. In the past that was all done with EBUS running in the background but now it’ll be without and called “single channel operations.” The Agency has mandated that more staffing is present during these times. Right now most areas are scheduling the 16s to be held for 2 hours OT but we are trying to hammer out a more permanent solution since this is a permanent operation change. 

TL;DR: There will be 3 people staffed in each area every night we go to single channel operations.

ZSE E-Board Nominations

The nomination period is coming to a close (8/15) and the election will start soon thereafter. If you have changed your phone number or mailing address in the last couple of years, please click on this link and fill out the changes so we can update the system. By law, voting must be done via mail so it is imperative that we have your current address. 

Retirement Party

It’s a little belated but Andy Olson has retired after 30 years (wow!) with the FAA. They are having a gathering at Half Lion Brewery in Sumner tomorrow (8/7) from 4-8pm. It would be nice to see you there. Half Lion is a family friendly location so people of all ages are allowed.

1723 W Valley Hwy E #101, Sumner, WA 98390

Have a great weekend,

Derek Adams and Amy Sizemore

Facility Update July 29th

Good afternoon all, we thought maybe by now we’d have some concrete information to report to you about the Presidential announcement regarding vaccines but still nothing. As soon as there is new guidance we will let you know.

Convention / CFS

By now you’ve heard that due to covid numbers rising, the 2020 (2021) NATCA Convention has once again been postponed with the new date of December 6-8. This delta variant is proving to be very aggressive. The National Executive Board decided that the risk was too great of a possible super spreader event. Hopefully things will improve in time to make the December date work out. Also, as of today, CFS was cancelled. The new dates are September 12th-14th, 2022.

If anything new comes out, we will send out another short email. See you at Zimmy’s (socially distanced and outdoor) going away tomorrow!

Derek Adams and Amy Sizemore