Against the Wind - National Air Traffic Controllers Association

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Against the Wind
John Carr: After NATCA’s fourth
president took office in 2000, he expanded
communication with the membership and
mounted an aggressive PR campaign to
advance the union’s perspective on flight
delays and privatization. / NATCA archives
2000
Although its origin is a closely guarded contract team
secret, the moniker came to typify Carr’s tenaciousness
and his campaign materials often included the
slogan: “Want no bull? Then know Bull.”
Members welcomed the refreshing change and
elected Carr in a landslide over Joseph Bellino, who
was seeking the presidency for
a second time, and Atlanta
Center’s Lee Riley, who
was mounting his third
attempt.
After taking office,
Carr established
himself as the communications
president
in several ways. Taking
a cue from Rodney
Turner, he posted detailed
weekly updates on
the Web to keep the membership
informed about union activities.
He also made it a priority to meet with the editorial
boards of major newspapers such as The New York
Times, The Washington Post, and Chicago Tribune.
As his administration progressed, the Communications
Department underwent a metamorphosis.
Dealings with the news media became more
proactive, the Web site expanded further, and staff
members produced a redesigned newsletter as well
July Aug.
14
The FLRA certifies NATCA as the exclusive bargaining representative
for the FAA’s Aviation Systems Standards specialists
and seventy-five AOS-510 engineers in Oklahoma City.
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as several other special interest publications for the
membership.
Like McNally, Executive Vice President Randy
Schwitz had spent a decade on the national board
and was ready to go back to Atlanta Center. He still
enjoyed widespread support, however, and says he
“let people talk me into” a bid for re-election. He
faced challenges by Will Faville Jr., the former
Alaskan regional rep and safety and technology
director who was making a second
run for the position, and Ruth Marlin
from Miami Center.
Marlin joined the FAA in 1990
and became actively involved in the
union’s local after checking out as a controller.
She attended NATCA’s second annual
Lobby Week in Washington, saw the
power of political activism, and persuaded
the Miami Center local to establish its own
legislative representative, a position Marlin initially
occupied.
When Congress threatened to abolish the 5
percent differential for controllers, she worked with
Miami Tower controller Andy Cantwell and Barry
Wilson from Fort Lauderdale Executive Tower to
form a group of seven facilities called the South Florida
Legislative Committee to mount a coordinated
lobbying effort. The ongoing success of this group
became a model for similar organizational structures
The FLRA certifies NATCA as the exclusive bargaining representative
for the FAA’s 30 occupational health specialists,
occupational health nurses, and medical program assistants.