 Update April 25, 2004 Without any real action occurring in appropriations or authorization arenas, these last few weeks haven’t had a whole lot to report on. Many behind doors meetings, rumors and general preparations are being dealt with which are not quite factual enough yet or ready for publication. One piece of interest is the White House’s revision of overtime eligibility rules which have themselves been revised due to large scale protest (thank you to all who responded to the requests for action), but the release of the newest provisions is still so recent that we haven’t been able to accurately assess their impact. Somewhere within the rumors and spin lies the truth in hard copy form and as soon as I get that I’ll pass it on. As many of you recall, we conducted a grassroots action a couple of months ago to educate Congressman Sam Graves on where he went wrong co-authoring a letter on the FAAMA’s behalf about supervisor staffing. The results were impressive. He and his staff were shocked when they found out the FAAMA told them a bald-faced lie when they said we were all in favor of the letter. They realized after we showed them voluminous data that the FAAMA’s suppositions were wrong. In the long run our relationship got even better and the FAAMA’s credibility took a one way trip south. So it was with quite interesting when last Friday I, along with other controllers from MCI and ZKC, attended a fund raising function for the Congressman in Kansas City. This was a long haul for me to do in a one day turn but it was worth it. A few of the thoughts that stood out in my mind were; --Congressman Graves exemplifies the successful work of many of our activists and our policy of reaching out across party lines to create a “NATCA majority within congress. Sam is a straight shooter who realizes safety is not a partisan issue. And while he is well respected within the Republican leadership, he is not afraid to throw a flag up when the majority moves in a direction he doesn’t agree with. It is always a bit surreal to be in a prominent position representing a labor union at a function littered with folks who on the whole are anti-labor. But the Congressman and his staff don’t allow themselves to be atrophied by those stereotypes and we have responded by backing the campaign with PAC funds and campaign volunteers. --The FAAMA paid for a table there and it was somewhat amusing to look into their eyes. It’s a shame really that they refuse to work together with us on areas of common interest Instead they choose to carry on in the same renegade manner that got them kicked out of the FMA and will eventually seal a reputation for themselves on the hill as loose cannons willing to say anything to get their way. I wonder if any of those management types at the table were on official time during this function? --Vice President Cheney was the keynote speaker and it’s always good to get the story, briefing and/or spin right from the source. He talked on many national and international issues, the campaign and their opponent but mentioned nothing about the White House management-privatization agenda that is poisoning our relationship with the FAA leadership, potentially compromising the safety of the safest ATC system in the world and could ominously threaten our way of life. Not that I expected him to comment on any of this during an election year, but I guess I took some comfort in the fact it didn’t make his top ten at this moment. I should have the final approvals and info for those who wish to attend lobby week emailed out tomorrow. If you expect to be going and don’t see your name, call me immediately at 417-894-6887. It looks as if, counting myself and John Tune, that we will be taking 25 activists from the Central Region this year to lobby on your behalf in Washington. For those of you who will be covering for them in their absence, your stepping up to the plate is greatly appreciated and I promise you every one who is going will be working their tails off for you and your families. Here is the agenda for the event as it is known so far. NATCA in Washington 2004 Sunday, May 16, 2004 Participants
Arrive-Event Registration 1p.m. to 5p.m. Hyatt
Tuesday, May 18, 2004
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