Against the Wind - National Air Traffic Controllers Association

As Washingtonians shivered through the first
few months of 1996, NATCA fought two battles. On
one front, the union sought to include language restoring
workers’ rights in a continuing resolution, the
only way it could get legislation enacted in time. Congress
was passing a series
of the bills to prevent the
government from shutting
down while it ar-
gued over balancing the
budget.
The other front entailed
strengthening the
“in consultation” phraseology
to “shall negotiate.”
Even if Chapter 71 rights
were reinstated, the FAA
could still develop procedures
before bargaining
with its unions over
putting them into effect.
The new language would
obligate the agency to involve its workers throughout
the process.
To expand its lobbying fight, NATCA joined
forces with the FAA’s two other major unions—the
National Association of Air Traffic Specialists and
the Professional Airways Systems Specialists—to
form the Aviation Labor Coalition. At the same time,
3
June
“
We’re scabs in some of your
eyes … but, by God, we are
a union again. Good, bad or
indifferent. And they’re about
to kill us one more time.
Michael McNally, who’d won election as executive
vice president in 1994, launched another offensive
by turning to the AFL-CIO for help.
Occupying MEBA’s seat at the mid-February
meeting of the Executive Council in Bal Harbour,
Florida, McNally faced the
eighty members and their
staffs gathered around a
long, rectangular table.
— Executive Vice President
Michael McNally
Citing lengthy delays and cost overruns of about $1.5 billion, FAA Administrator
David Hinson cancels most of the Advanced Automation System
project. However, he allows the Display System Replacement project to
Technically, as a MEBA affiliate,
NATCA did not have
the authority to speak at the
proceedings. Breaking protocol,
he introduced himself,
spelled out the threat to the
FAA’s unions, and asked for
help. The council members
were surprised; this had not
been on the agenda. McNally
was whisked away to speak
with Richard Trumka, the
AFL-CIO’s newly elected
secretary-treasurer.
Walking down a hall, Trumka said, “We have
to find a room.” They pushed open a door and stepped
inside the hotel kitchen. To the accompaniment of
clanging pots and pans, McNally outlined again what
was happening in Washington. Vice President Linda
Chavez-Thompson showed up and escorted McNally
Chapter 5: The Art of the Deal
157
In a one-two punch,
Congress stripped
away what little
remaining authority
the agency’s unions
had to negotiate.
move forward at the nation’s twenty-one en route centers. DSR consists
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