Against the Wind - National Air Traffic Controllers Association

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Against the Wind
New acronym: When MEBA took over
the organizing effort in December 1985,
the union resurrected the name created at
Washington Center two years earlier.
1985
16
Dec.
with a sense of vindication as one of their ranks successfully
debated the FAA administrator in a national
forum. Engen ignored the facts and seemed out of
touch with the realities of his work force.
Barte’s appearance “was one of our biggest
tools,” says Dave Landry from Lebanon Tower in
New Hampshire.
“The
i n t e r v i e w
pushed people
who were
sitting on the
fence.”
In mid-
D e c e m b e r
1985, Engen
fulfilled a
promise he
made on
“Nightline”
and met with
five controllers
at FAA
headquarters in Washington, away from the intimidating
presence of facility managers. Among those
at the unprecedented 2½-hour meeting were Barte
and Washington Center controller Walt Simpkins,
who had taken over as president from Jack Crouse
and also served as the alternate Eastern regional
Five controllers meet with FAA Administrator Donald Engen to discuss
the state of the ATC system and controller morale. The gathering is a result
of the “Nightline” program. Afterward, Howie Barte and John Thorn-
representative on the controllers’ provisional Executive
Board.
Following up on the “Nightline” debate, both
controllers drove home the point that continued
understaffing translated into excessive overtime.
Simpkins acknowledged they were able to take summer
leave, but stressed that their colleagues suffered
as a result.
“While we were on leave, we knew that someone
at the facility was working overtime so we could
be off,” he said. Simpkins had not enjoyed two consecutive
days off during the past ten months.
After the meeting, Barte hopped in a cab for the
ride across The Mall to MEBA headquarters on North
Capitol Street to talk about the organizing campaign
with Thornton, who had been hired as national coordinator.
Once again, the question arose over a name for
the new group. This time, there was little discussion.
Thornton had prepared a list of possibilities and they
quickly agreed to resurrect the National Air Traffic
Controllers Association.
Back on Track
The new year dawned on a bright, if confusing,
note for controllers. AFGE and MEBA each vied for
their loyalty and the all-important signatures on election
petitions in letters mailed nationwide. Although
ton agree to change the name of the proposed union to NATCA, which
Washington Center controllers used during organizing. They also agree to
adopt the AATCC logo used in New England as the new NATCA logo.