Against the Wind - National Air Traffic Controllers Association

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Against the Wind
Helping hand: When the FAA instituted
random drug testing in 1986, NATCA educated
the work force about its rights. In
the fall of 1987, a few months after certification,
the union signed an agreement with
the agency outlining testing procedures.
1985/86
m o s t
activists quickly jumped aboard
MEBA’s deck, a handful clung to AATCC’s sinking
ship. AFGE cranked out a handful of newsletters
during the spring trying to retain support, but its
limited efforts foundered.
Unwilling to go down quietly and keen to re-
Dec. Jan.
First NATCA organizing letter is sent via U.S. mail from
NATCA New England to activists across the country.
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coup its organizing investment through future dues,
AFGE forced the issue of organizing rights for
the controllers at an Article 20 hearing before
the AFL-CIO in June. It soon became a moot
point. Still struggling with money problems,
AFGE convention delegates voted later that summer
to stop funding the AATCC drive, opting
instead to focus on the organization’s existing
unions.
By contrast, NATCA hit the ground running
and never looked back. MEBA’s support
breathed life back into the smoldering effort and
soon stoked a roaring blaze.
Many familiar faces were on hand at its first
national organizing meeting on January 11, 1986,
including several who had been nominally elected
to represent their regions in AATCC: Barte from
New England, Dan Keeney from Southern, Gary
Molen from Northwest Mountain—who endured
ribbing for wearing cowboy boots and a belt buckle
with his suit—and O’Brien from Eastern. Walt Simpkins
also attended, along with representatives from
Boston, Denver, Los Angeles and Miami centers, and
elsewhere.
Notably, the president and vice president of the
Professional Airways Systems Specialists were among
the crowd. PASS, which became a union at the end
of 1981, represented workers in the FAA’s Airways
Facilities, Flight Standards, and Office of Aviation
First NATCA organizing letter is sent to all controllers in the
country from NATCA/MEBA headquarters in Washington, D.C.