Comment

Facility Update June 3rd

Hello all!

Covid CA-1 Changes 

These are pretty big changes so please remember this. 

  • The DOL will no longer approve covid COP claims that are based on anything but a 3rd party PCR test. So you must go to a lab to get a PCR test, rapid tests no longer will work and at home tests are still not approved. This has nothing to do with the flight surgeon, only if you are filing a CA-1 to keep from burning your SL. 

  • As soon as you are symptom free without medication, send the FS an email stating that. There are a few exceptions but mainly, COP only works for 10 days and we want to ensure that if you’re getting close to that then we have the documentation to switch to EA if it is taking the Flight Surgeon too long to clear you for duty.

Test and Training Lab Subject Matter Expert (TTL SME) Detail Solicitation

We are soliciting for a TTL SME. This is related to DataComm but this is different from the cadre that we have been soliciting for so far. This is similar to some of the other details people have in the building that travel to the Tech Center in Atlantic City, NJ and sometimes to other ERAM facilities. 

  • Duties:

  • Part-time position / as needed.

  • NATCA SMEs on the Data Comm TTL training team will support Data Comm transition training through the following duties:

    • Support the creation of and troubleshooting of CPDLC training scenarios

    • Instruct SGET developers and ghost pilots in CPDLC scenario development and practices

    • Conduct validation of CPDLC training scenarios

    • Support functional testing of CPDLC

    • Additional support as assigned

  • Travel:

  • Travel frequency is two weeks per month, primarily consecutive, occasionally nonconsecutive . 

  • Travel locations are William J. Hughes Technical Center (WJHTC) in Atlantic City, N.J, and all 20 ERAM ARTCCs.

We will want to start getting you trained right away but there will be some overlap with the outgoing person with this detail. You will also be expected to participate in the Datacomm training process onsite.

The deadline to apply is 6/24/22. Let your rep know if you are interested.

Safety Advocacy Class

This class is designed to teach you about PRoCs, SSRs, and general understanding of safety programs, processes and requirements. All Members are eligible to attend but is really helpful for LSC members, QC specialists or anyone interested in knowing more about those jobs. This class is a full two days and will be held Aug 2-3 in Salt Lake City. Let me know if you’re interested and I’ll forward you the sign up link. 

Lastly,  the NATCA negotiated 1.6% pay raise will show up on your June 28th paycheck. 

Have a great weekend and please sign up for the Sunset Dinner Cruise!

Amy

Comment

Comment

All Members Meeting Minutes 5/23

Hey everybody! The minutes from the All Members meeting last week are below.

Chico

All Members Meeting 5/23/22 Rail Hop’n Brewery

Start time:  3:06 PM Attendance:  See attached

Food:  Costco Pizza, sandwiches, and pretzels, provided by ZSE Natca Local

To start the meeting, it was brought up that we need to officially adopt the minutes from the prior All Members Meeting.  This is to make sure there is nothing in the official minutes that is inaccurate, omitted, or otherwise incorrect.  With that being explained, the minutes from the previous All Members Meeting were unanimously adopted.

Constitution -

Drew talked about how the process for amending our local constitution currently works.  There is a small window of time for nominations of members to the E-board.  We are going to try and change that to make that window bigger.  We are also looking at changing the wording for the term limits for the E-board to make it start and end on January 1st, rather than what it says currently which is tied to the federal pay periods.  If you have any ideas for other changes, bring them to Drew.  If you want to access the local constitution you can find it in the member portal, or also on our website:  natca-zse.com

Overtime Assignments - 

We are being assigned a lot of overtime recently, throughout the building, so we wanted to discuss a few things about it.  If you are trying to get out of an overtime assignment the best thing to do is to find a replacement.  Another potential option is if you have scheduled travel that was booked prior to the overtime being scheduled, you can potentially use that to have the overtime taken off of your schedule.

Dan mentions that the A-area in particular has a lot of overtime being assigned currently.  There are people using sick leave all the time.  It is hard on the rest of that crew that is working short.  Amy says that Pro Standards can be one option to steer a supervisor towards if they are intent on pursuing discipline when there is a chronic problem with people calling in sick for overtime.  That really falls on management to decide when they are going to look into discipline for it, and the union will be there to make sure it is legitimate and that the process is followed.

One last note about overtime is that once overtime is determined to be needed for a shift, it must then actually be overtime.  It can’t be somebody working credit or some other solution.

Representation Rights - 

We want to try and do some more education at these meetings, on topics like certain articles in the contract, how certain processes work, benefits that the union provides, etc.   That is why we wanted to cover representation rights today.  There are a lot of supervisors who like to talk behind the sector and ask questions about a session, about a trainee, about the schedule, etc.  You do need to be careful in these types of meetings where you are “pulled aside for a moment” because if at any point the conversation steers toward potential discipline that is when you should stop and ask for a NATCA rep.

You hear some members say they have a good relationship with whichever supervisor, and it's ok if I talk about whichever topic with them.  However, there are certain topics that supervisors have to report on further.  So then you end up in a Weingarten meeting which could have been avoided.

There are no emergency meetings.  It has to be planned ahead of time with a rep available.  You can get a rep that you would like to work with as long as they are available in a reasonable time frame.  They also can’t dictate that you use a certain e-mail address or have the room set up in a particular way.

Every so often there are security investigations.  If the investigators are coming to you directly, that is wrong.  It should all go through your supervisor.

We reviewed some general tips about Weingarten meetings.  One of the most important ones is to not lie.  You should always tell the truth when you answer each question.  You also do not want to elaborate on any of your answers.  You answer the question asked and offer no additional information.  Management can’t ask the same question twice.  If you have answered a question then the rep should step in and say that has already been answered.  If the questions to the investigation are known ahead of time, they must be provided to NATCA.  Erich reminds everybody that you should be filling out an ATSAP report when it is appropriate to do so as well.  If you are filling one out well after a situation has occurred and you are heading into a Weingarten meeting it looks like you are hiding something and it isn’t received well.

Solidarity Event - 

The flyers for the solidarity event are out.  We are hoping to have around 100 people, but can make some changes to some of the event details based on the final number of guests.  We haven’t had any solidarity events in three years, so the local has some funds that we would like to give back to the members.  When you meet the NEB members at the event, it really is your chance to make your voice heard.  If you are upset with any aspect of the union or the direction it is heading, this is a great opportunity to let that be known.  They want to hear your feedback and it is often more impactful coming directly from members rather than from NATCA reps that they hear from more often.

New Logos - 

Drew and Amy have been working on some new logos for the center.  They will be on an upcoming T-shirt that every member will get at no cost.  There will be an order form to provide your shirt size.  We are also thinking about doing hats, stickers, or something similar.

Follow up on TOP discussion from last meeting - 

Lindsay was wondering if there was any new information about how TOP is being tracked.  Stan is supposedly tracking all time worked in addition to time on the radar scope in a spreadsheet and defending our facility to the region.  It is unknown if that really would have any impact however.  Lindsay would like there to be more done.  There is a question about whether our staffing at the center is based on these numbers.  Drew says that there isn’t much we can do at the facility level.  The change needs to happen with the actual tracking program that the FAA uses.  Our NATCA counterparts at that level should be advocating for us there.  Erich says that in his experience the only thing that really matters is when it actually starts affecting air traffic in a visible way.  If there are major delays to an airport or ATC alerts at facilities, that is what gets their attention.  The TOP isn’t a major factor.

It is hard because you don’t want to be the reason there are air traffic delays so you work harder, but you shouldn’t have to.  There should be adequate staffing to handle the workload.  If you ever need the sector split, or need a D-side, and the supervisor can’t provide any help, you need to file an ATSAP.

Meeting adjourned at 3:51 PM

Comment

Comment

Facility Update May 25th

Hello All,

Our meeting went well Monday, the Rail Hop’n Brewery is a nice space, hopefully we can have another meeting there in the future. Chico will send out the notes shortly.

New Covid Policies

Policy Bulletin 126 was released Tuesday. We will link the full document but here’s the gist of it:

  • If you meet all the requirements to come back to work but the Flight Surgeon hasn’t cleared you yet, it will be EA now. 

  • Another difference is the inclusion of employees who are confirmed positive using a rapid antigen test and then test negative with a molecular (PCR) test may return to work after obtaining clearance from the Regional Flight Surgeon.

With all that said, please still file a CA-1 if you test positive for covid.

POLICY BULLETIN 126 and RETURN TO WORK POLICY full documents

LR Update:

We are going to try to start adding some LR updates on grievances we have filed or other issues we are currently working with mgmt.

  • The biggest one we have in the works right now is a grievance we filed last week regarding the agency’s decision to not follow federal law regarding placing people on COP once they filed a CA-1.This is frustrating because it is very clear what the law is and they are just choosing not to follow it. The changes to PB-126 might have made this a moot point but we still want an answer from them on why they think they can willingly violate the law. The decision to not follow the laws on COP was made outside the building just FYI.

  • Awaiting a response to a grievance regarding a skipped OT.

  • Held a successful Article 8 meeting with James Darlington in the C area regarding the agency incorrectly charging leave in accordance with FMLA/PPL/Contractual Rules. He can give you the details on that if you are interested.

  • Compiled information from the CDC on how immunocompromised people have a similar antibody count to unvaccinated people and thus should be treated the same as unvaccinated with regards to contract tracing and whatever else might go along with that. We sent this information up and made a recommendation but have not yet received a reply. The Flight Surgeon tends to march to the beat of their own wildly inconsistent drum.

Please remember to RSVP for the sunset dinner cruise via this LINK or scan the QR code below on any of the flyers. Members and significant others are welcome

Thank you all allowing us to represent you,

Amy Sizemore and Drew Stewart

Comment

Comment

Facility Update May 21st

Hello NATCA family! It always seems so busy after being gone for a little bit but this week was especially jam packed. I am so happy to be back!

All Members Meeting

Please remember to show up to the All Members Meeting next Monday. It will be a Rail Hop’n Brewery in Auburn. We will provide pizza and if you wish, beverages will be available to purchase if you so desire. Show up as early as 2:30 to grab some food and drink but the meeting will start at 3pm. 

Agenda items: discussion of some potential ZSE Constitution changes, Representational Rights and OT assignments. As always, you are welcome to bring any other items you feel we should be discussing as well. 

Rail Hop’n Brewery

122 W Main St #101b, Auburn, WA 98001

https://railhopn.com/

NATCA PTSD Shirt

There is another NATCA charity benefit shirt available, this one is very near to many people’s hearts. This one is for PTSD awareness and benefits the PTSD Foundation of America. If you are interested the link is here: https://www.customink.com/fundraising/ptsd-awareness-month

Solidarity Event

We have finalized the flyer and sign up link for the sunset lake cruise we are hosting along with SEA, S46, BFI and PAE. This is a catered cruise around Lake Union / Lake Washington on an Argosy ship. This will be an awesome event and if you wish, please bring your significant other too! We will need time to finalize the catering/drink contract so please RSVP HERE (or scan the QR code) by June 25th.

I am so proud to be part of this local, you all are the best!

Amy

Comment

Comment

Ojt info

Hey everyone! Amy asked me to send out an email regarding the suspension of OJT at our facility due to Covid. While a huge bummer, this decision from aerospace medicine was based on the rate of transmission in the facility based on the number of employees, number of confirmed and probable cases, and to the extent feasible, specifics relating to the confirmed and probable cases within the 14 day days prior. Thus, all OJT with the exception of OTS recertifications is suspended immediately. Additionally, the Parties at the national level highly recommend ALL employees wear a mask in public indoor settings within the facility despite the Community Level. AAM is closely monitoring the cases and will advise as the situation changes.

As always, we will keep everyone informed of any changes to this as soon as we hear them.

In Solidarity,

ZSE Eboard

Comment