Here are some of my plans to move the union forward-
My priorities include prioritizing transparency in our financials. This involves prominently featuring the NATCA LM-2 form and NATCA’s Annual Financial Report on our website for easy access to all financial data. Additionally, I will ensure NATCA provides thorough explanations for any financial issues, offering detailed information to address concerns promptly. Members deserve equal access to national financial data as they have to their local data.
Regardless of the current administration, when our contract expires, it must be opened for negotiations. As a union, we are obligated to initiate discussions and advocate for the benefits and changes necessary to improve the quality of life for our members. Extending the contract would have the opposite effect.
NCEPT requires adjustment. While it has facilitated movement for many, it has also failed others miserably. The first step is acknowledging its shortcomings and addressing them rather than blindly accepting the program. It lacks safeguards to prevent gaming the system, offers no path for FSS members to return to air traffic, and has hindered controller swaps, among other issues. Let’s begin by tackling these problems and communicating our successes and failures to the membership.
I propose that national executive board meetings, currently held in person, take place at our headquarters. Additionally, remote meetings should be live-streamed, allowing members from anywhere to observe proceedings firsthand. This would ensure transparency and enable all members to stay informed about upper-level activities and the functioning of the executive board. Moreover, this approach would eliminate the need to wait for meeting minutes to be released and result in cost savings from reduced travel expenses.
Article 114 representatives, with very limited exceptions, should be mandated to maintain both currency and a current medical. All 114 details should undergo examination to ensure we are operating in the spirit of 'collaboration' and not performing the agency's duties for them. No member should suffer because we utilized resources that are meant to be in the building to carry out the agency's tasks unless tangible benefits can be clearly communicated.
I intend to communicate our progress or lack thereof on pertinent issues. We won't inundate you with emails celebrating every holiday or promoting the latest offerings of the NATCA store. Instead, our communications will focus on what directly affects your quality of life, including both our successes and failures. I won't withhold information for the sake of appearances. Honesty with the membership is paramount and what we all deserve. Additionally, if there are issues within the national executive board, you won't learn about them only during an election year. We will address problems openly and work to resolve them.
Justin Dailey for NATCA President 2024 | Jdatc2024.org