National Association of Air Traffic Specialists

Aviation Safety is Our Business

NAATS HEADQUARTERS EMAIL UPDATE

Number 62
March 30, 2001

As you may already know, the Bush administration is supporting privatization of the ATC system. Both DOT Secretary Mineta and Administrator Garvey are opposed to privatization. NAATS as well as the other FAA unions are also opposed to this approach. We�ll keep a close eye on this as events develop.

The appropriations hearings are in full swing and we�ll be submitting our testimony next week. Expect us to focus on staffing, OASIS and personnel reform, including pay negotiations. Once the testimony is finalized a copy will be posted on the NAATS web page.

The NAATS PAC Poster is being mailed to the FacReps at their facilities this week. The poster accurately portrays the way business is done on Capitol Hill and is appropriate for posting on the NAATS bulletin boards. Obviously we need to raise more money in our PAC fund if we�re going to be as effective as we want in this forum.

Nine NAATS representatives attended arbitration advocacy training in Kansas City this week. The idea is to train a cadre of advocates who can conduct arbitration hearings for NAATS. Once these advocates are up to speed we�ll be able to conduct many more arbitrations, both regionally and nationally, than we�ve done in the past.

Our Public Relations Team (PRT) is continuing its work on educating the aviation public on who we are and the services we provide. For more information on PRT contact Chairman John Dibble or visit the NAATS Web page.

We are soliciting interest from members who would like to serve as NAATS representatives to workgroups or for one-year details to FAA HQ. If you are interested please forward your name and a brief resume to NAATS Headquarters. It would also be helpful if you would indicate your specific area of interest (e.g. operations, labor management relations, equipment, etc.)

Our next pay negotiations meeting with the FAA is scheduled for April 17. Once again we will meet at the offices of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services. Our proposal has not changed.

Wally Pike

Walter W. Pike, President

This page was last updated on 30 March 2001