Weekly Update January 10th

Good Evening, I hope 2020 is running smoothly for you all so far.

TR2 (Tech Refresh)

Due to some unresolved issues, TR2 has been suspended indefinitely. Right now, there isn’t a fix action for the issues that the two key sites have been experiencing so we are on hold until those are fixed. For those that are unfamiliar with this project, the two most visible changes included in TR2 for us are the larger monitors and the removal of EBUS. The FAA is planning on mandating 3 person or mids or using holdover OT during software updates once EBUS is gone. Data Com’s timeline is running independently of TR2 so that should not affect when we get this capability.

IST Cadre

The training department is planning on doing IST slightly differently this round. We will be looking for 2 volunteers to teach the entire 2 weeks of IST. There are a couple facilities in the area that already do IST this way and prefer it. The cadre class will be either April 7th & 8th or the 9th & 10th. Teaching the class would be during the weeks of April 26th & May 3rd. If you are interested in this and available, please let your area rep know.

Super Bowl Raffle

NATCA Charitable Foundation is raffling off Super Bowl 54 tickets!

Details: $15,000 Value. Winner Announced January 20, 2020. Chances to win starting at $50.00 2 Tickets to Super Bowl 54 in Miami, Florida on Sunday February 2, 2020. 3 Night Hotel Stay Friday January 30-Monday February 3, 2020. TBD Event Saturday Night February 1, 2020. 2 Tickets to the NFL Player’s Pre-Game Tailgate Party Sunday February 2, 2020

Enter at: NCF Super Bowl Raffle Link

In solidarity,

Amy Sizemore

Weekly Update January 3rd

Happy New Year. I hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable holiday season. Now that things are settling down a bit let’s talk about some of the goals we are hoping to achieve in the coming year(s).

I will be working closely with the Eboard to establish several workgroups over the coming months. One of the big priorities will be looking into a facility wide airspace redesign. This is a large scale project with many moving parts so please be patient with us as we try to tackle this endeavor. More to come on this in the upcoming weeks as we work on a scoping document and start looking for volunteers to serve on the workgroup.

Many of you probably know that there is going to be a new 3120.4 rolling out in the upcoming months. With it comes many changes that should help in the overall training process and also increase success rates throughout the NAS. One of the big requirements that the new .4 has is the need for a facility training rep. We are hoping to take this one step further by having area training reps that will oversee the entirety of the training process for their area. This is a position that the Eboard has long discussed and now with the support of the new .4 we’re hoping to see it finally come to fruition.

At our most recent All Members meeting, we adopted some amendments to the Local constitution that allows for a staff specialist rep as well as alternate area reps. The Eboard will be meeting soon to appoint people to some of these vacancies. If being an alternate area rep is something you are interested in, please let your area rep know. It should be noted that having an alternate area rep is at the discretion of the area reps and not necessarily a requirement. However, all alternate area reps shall be vetted through the Eboard.

As a final note, I would like to take a moment to thank you for allowing me to continue serving as your FACREP. It is not always an easy job, but I do find it to be one of the most rewarding things I have ever done in my professional career. As the dust settles from the chaos of the last couple years, I look forward to working closely with the Eboard and with all of you to make ZSE a great place to work. I hope to foster the brother and sisterhood that being a part of NATCA is all about. There will always be disputes, whether it be between individuals, areas, other facilities or even on a national scale, but our voice is always loudest when we are unified in our efforts. Thank you for your membership, your professionalism and your passion for our career and our Union. Here is to a fantastic 2020.

In Solidarity,

Derek Adams 

Weekly Update December 27th

I hope everyone is having a good holiday season and enjoying some time with family and friends.

There is not a ton to update about the Local at the moment. I was out of the facility for most of the week and I will be coming and going most of next week. Once the holiday season settles down, it will be back to business as usual.

As many of you are aware, we will be receiving a pay raise in 2020. Just to clear up any questions, you will see that pay raise in the first full pay period of 2020, which is PP2. Due to our locality, we will see a 3.4% raise which is slightly higher than the national average. In addition, we will receive our contractual pay raise of 1.6% in the first full pay period of June, which is PP13.

The Eboard is in the midst of our new year changeover. It has been an honor to work with all of the outgoing reps. I hope they find other endeavors that satisfy their desire to do good work for NATCA. I also would like to welcome all the incoming reps. It takes a lot, especially for a new rep, to step up and take on these jobs. I look forward to working closely with them to make ZSE the best place to work that we can make it.

The new year is just a few days away. Please be sure if you are out and about, you stay safe. Remember, if you’ve had some drinks, even during surge pricing, an Uber or a Lyft is the cheapest way to get home. Enjoy the next few days of 2019. See you next year.

In Solidarity,

Derek Adams

Weekly Update December 20th

I hope you are all ready for the Holidays, I know I am not.

Holiday Party

Thank you to all that were able to make it out, the evening was quite a success. I was so happy to be able to visit with you all outside of work and meet your significant others. I hope we can do it again next year! If you follow Northwest Mountain Region on Instagram or Facebook, you might have seen some pictures, if not, no biggie, I’ve attached a couple.

Night Differential

Because of the upcoming Holidays there was an early cutoff date for submitting Time and Attendance, 4pm eastern today.  Lori showed everyone normally working a swing shift on Friday and Saturday on a day shift.  You will lose night differential on this paycheck but would be reimbursed on the next.  Her reasoning for this is that if anyone on a swing shift that changes to a day would get a Debt Collection Letter for the excess night differential. If you do not see this on the next paycheck or if something else is amiss, please let us know.

I spent a couple days last week in Washington DC for media training. It was a very interesting experience and would have been useful in the case of another shutdown, but thankfully we are just one signature away from being funded until September along with a 3.1% raise. Derek will be on leave for most of this coming week but I’ll be around if you need anything. As always, we’re both available via call/text/email.

As always, it is an honor to represent you all,

Amy Sizemore

2538806414

amatc20@gmail.com

Weekly Update December 6th

I don’t know about all of you, but I can’t believe it’s already December. Just a quick update on what’s going on around the facility.

I have been asked to solicit four volunteers (one from each area) to be tech refresh SMEs. The duties include becoming thoroughly familiar with the new 43” scopes that will be getting installed in the facility this winter/spring and then helping controllers in the lab while they are running scenarios and getting used to the new scopes. Frank Champaco will instruct the SMEs in late January. If you are interested in this, please let me or another Eboard member know ASAP so we can forward the names to the area schedulers prior to the posting of PP3.

Just a reminder that the all members meeting at Oddfellas is on Monday, December 9th at 1400. There will be a financial report from Devin Carlisto and we will be voting on amendments to the Local constitution. As always, I want to remind you that this is your Local and the Eboard is looking forward to having you there to discuss these amendments and help guide the direction of the Eboard going into the new term.

Finally, I hope to see many of you at the holiday party tomorrow. It will be a fantastic time with great food, drinks and people. Although I am taking this opportunity to dress up, don’t feel hesitant to come because of an assumed dress code. It’s more important to get together than to dress fancy. See you there.

Please be sure to reach out if there is anything the Eboard or I can do for you, your area or our Local. It is truly a pleasure to work for you and this great Union.

In solidarity,

Derek Adams