Brothers and Sisters,

REGIONAL STUFF

Here is a little about my week in the Central Region.  I was in the office most of the week and worked on grievances.  We have plenty of grievances for the next third level and management is not sure how to handle them with the new ATO thing coming about.

Wednesday I attended a meeting at the Regional Office that appeared to be a listening session for regional staff.  John Pipes (who is leading the implementation of the ATO) and an organizational development specialist asked and answered questions concerning the ATO implementation.  The theme for the regional staff was basically I am not sure what is in my future and no one is telling me.  This is pretty typical from all over the country.  Most regional staff personnel I have talked to are concerned about being in a FSS Service Area and getting out of Air Traffic.

Did some work on hardships and transfers.  The big FAA moving machine is not really moving.  It appears to be crawling.  It does not matter if you are going to a facility that is one under staffed or thirty one under staffed the answer is the same.  You will have to wait until the magic decision maker can make a decision and bless you move.  It is a terrible way to run a business when you have facilities that need people but have no internal method to fill the slots.

Larry Darling advised me this week he is taking a supervisors position and could no longer be the regional Runway Safety Representative.  Therefore if you are interested in being the regional Runway Safety Representative please let me know.  This position does require some travel.

Ruth Marlin, NATCA Executive Vice President testified on the hill this week.  Staffing is a big issue and it appears Administrator Blakey may be changing her mind on our staffing needs.  The banter of we do not need more controllers is a sad evaluation of reality.  Ruth's testimony was direct and to the point on a number of issues surrounding staffing.  Ruth did a great job of sending "your" message to the hill.

If any one is interested in developing a full page ad for the 2004 Convention booklet let me know.  I would like it to represent the entire Central Region and it should be in a computer format.  I would really appreciate the help on this as I have neither the time nor the talent to develop this myself.  I will provide a token of appreciation to the individual whose work I select.  This will be in the manner of NATCA apparel.  Let me know if you want to help because I need this pretty quick.

Here is the information I received this week pertaining to the new hubs.  These hubs are based upon the implementation of the new ATO Central Terminal Service Area.

Well that is it for this week.  I will be on vacation next week and if you need help contact Scot Morrison.  Have a safe week.

Drug and Alcohol Update

This past week has been very quiet on the testing front; I received no reports of testing in the region.  We can still expect to see the drug testing continue in the region, especially in the Kansas City area.   I have been on vacation and only had a few questions arise that I won’t include here.  Please take the time to review the checklists we have provided for substance testing, they will give you an outline of how the testing should be conducted.  If you have questions on how the process works or if you do not have checklists in your facility please contact me.

Next week I will be back at work, where I may have the opportunity to observe the collection process.  Anyone who has an arrest for any drug or alcohol related offense or anyone who may be considering self referral as a result of a DUI/DWI or otherwise please contract your facility  representative or me before you talk to any representative of management so that we can help protect your rights.  Please report any testing at your facility and do not hesitate to call if you need assistance.

Mark J. Spies

mspies@natca.net

PIN12006

Safety & Technology Bullet

(June 17, 2004)

Issue: Terminal Automation Color Survey

·     The Terminal Automation Color Survey has been completed by the Human Factors folks.  We need to spread the word on this and get as much controller input as possible.

·     The survey can be accessed online at http://www.faa.gov/ats/atb/ateam/ ; there is a large button in the middle of the page for the Color Survey.

·     This survey has been approved by the NATCA LR and S&T Departments.

 

For Immediate Dissemination

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OPM Pushes Telework on Managers

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is holding an on-line telework "webinar" for managers on June 24 in its effort to increase management buy-in for telework. OPM and the General Services Administration have been working toward increasing federal telework. A webinar is an internet-based seminar - a virtual meeting - where participants view slides on their computer while they hold discussions via a telephone conference call. This webinar aims to teach federal managers to be more effective in teleworking and better understand how it works. OPM Director Kay Coles James said with telework, employees can still do their jobs from home in times of emergencies when they cannot get to their offices. The webinar will include a panel of managers discussing their experiences with employees who telework. Despite the increase in teleworking among federal employees, "agencies can and must do more," James said. "We will continue to educate managers and employees on the benefits of teleworking, and agency managers must further incorporate telework into their planning and operations."

Hiring Flexibilities are Under-Used

A government-wide survey on what ails the federal hiring process found that agencies are not using HR flexibilities and tools granted by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) effectively, nor to the fullest extent possible. The "Working for America: Agency Survey on Improving Federal Hiring" also concluded that OPM must "launch an agency by agency effort" to help them improve their hiring processes. "Federal hiring takes too long and that must change," OPM Director Kay Coles James said. According to the survey, one of the major problems in hiring is that hiring officials and program managers act as competitors. Also, factions within agencies often compete against each other for job candidates. The survey was completed in May by the chief human capital officers of 45 federal agencies. In response to the problems, OPM plans to hold training on how to expedite the federal hiring process.

Call for Review of Federal Programs

Legislation recently passed a House committee that would require review of government programs at least once every five years to evaluate their performance. The House Government Reform Committee passed the Program Assessment and Results Act (PAR), H.R. 3826, on June 2. If the bill becomes law, the director of the Office of Management and Budget would review each program at least once every five fiscal years, but more frequently if needed. The legislation states that Congress finds that:

- inefficiency and ineffectiveness in federal programs undermines the confidence of the American people in the government,

- congressional policy making, spending decisions and program oversight are handicapped by insufficient attention to program performance and results; and

- programs performing similar or duplicative functions that exist within a single agency or across multiple agencies should be identified.

OPM Grants Direct Hire Authority

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) granted the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) flexibility to hire 490 positions that perform intelligence activities and functions related to the agency's national security mission in the Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection (IAIP) Directorate and the Office of Security. "By granting DHS the direct hire authority in specific areas, OPM has paved the way for us to quickly bring on board the additional intelligence and security staff we need to carry out our mission of securing the Homeland," said Ron James, DHS Chief Human Capital Officer. OPM granted DHS the use of direct-hire authority for intelligence research and operations specialists and security specialists, as well as for telecommunications specialists and various interdisciplinary and specialist positions that serve as "critical support" to IAIP. OPM also recently granted direct- hire flexibilities to the Department of Health and Human Service's Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Department of Agriculture, Department of Energy, the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight and the Department of Justice.

ATX UPDATE

Here is the weekly ATX Update from Mike Hull.

The agency has written a letter to NATCA regarding Advanced Technologies and Oceanic Procedures (ATOP) for the AOS-300 bargaining unit.  The letter states that the agency position regarding the AOS bargaining unit is that any issue or issues need to be resolved at the local level in accordance with Article 4 of the AOS interim agreement.

NATCA has written a letter to the agency regarding an informational briefing that we received on the consolidation and relocation of employees' official personnel files (OPF).  The letter states that based on NATCA's review of the information provided, we believe that negotiations will be necessary concerning the impact of this plan.  The letter states that no changes should be made until the conclusion of negotiations and that they can expect our first proposal no later than June 22, 2004.  POCs are Fitzpatrick/Hull.

NATCA has submitted U2 to the agency regarding Airport Surface Detection Equipment, Model 3X (ASDE-3X), which includes AMASS Safety Logic.  LR POC is Ryan, S&T POC is Rudolf.

The agency has submitted M1 to NATCA regarding changes to the Employee Express paper option.

The agency has notified NATCA of its intent to deploy an emergency build of Automated Radar Terminal Systems (ARTS) software revision 31b.  The build is based on recent occurrences of a program fault and several stability-related problems.

The agency has notified NATCA of its intent to add a system enhancement to the Airport Surface Detection Equipment, Model-X (ASDE-X), that will enable it to alert air traffic controllers of unsafe situations on or approaching the airport surface.

NATCA has notified the agency that we are requesting an Article 7 briefing regarding system enhancements to ASDE-X.  LR POC is Ryan, S&T POC is Rudolf.

The agency has notified NATCA that Regulation and Certification branch (AVR) does not require using the Voluntary Early Retirement Authority (VERA) and the Voluntary Separation Incentive Pay (VSIP) provisions.

NATCA has requested a meeting regarding the VERA and VSIP provisions.  POC is Sills.

The agency has notified NATCA that they are extending Kevin Debenedittis (ATT Liaison) through July 24, 2004.

NATCA has notified the agency that we have selected the following individuals as additions to the ASDE-X IOT&E team: 1.  Tom Phelps (CLT) 2.  John Minnix (SDF)

The agency has verbally notified me that NATCA can expect the reprinting of the Air Traffic collective bargaining agreement in book form on or about July 9, 2004.

The following meetings/briefings were scheduled this past week:

1.  On Tuesday, the Parties met to clarify some issues regarding the implementation of ASDE-3X with AMASS safety logic.  This meeting went well and NATCA has submitted U2 regarding this equipment.  LR POC is Ryan, S&T POC is Rudolf.

2.  On Friday, there is a meeting scheduled with the agency to discuss issues regarding the Arbitration that is scheduled on the Stand Alone Weather Sensor (SAWS).  LR POC is Ryan, S&T POC is Walton.

Next week, the following meetings/briefings are scheduled:

1.  On Tuesday, there is an Article 7 briefing regarding the agency's intent of changing direct clearances.  POCs are Hull/Porter/Stanfield/Pallone.

2.  On Tuesday, there is an Informational briefing scheduled regarding DSR software change BCC-24, URET build 4, DPOS and EBUS.  LR POC is Kim, S&T POC is Troy.

NEXT WEEK

I will be on vacation next week.  If you need assistance please call Scot Morrison at 402-474-3011 or PIN#12002.  Have a safe week.

In Solidarity,

John R. Tune