NATCA Northwest Mountain Regional Update

April 28, 2010

As most of you can imagine, a great deal of my time is being spent dealing with the ERAM project. The last use of ERAM on live traffic at ZLC was not a success as controllers continue to indentify numerous issues that affect the safety of the NAS. It is very apparent to NATCA that the only possible way ERAM will be effectively and safely implemented is for the FAA to make decisions in a collaborative manner. While I am more optimistic than I have been for the last couple of months, make no mistake that the FAA will have to be continuously reminded that without the help of the controllers using the equipment, ERAM will continue to have major issues. The FAA has agreed to stop all live runs of ERAM until all PR’s identified by NATCA are addressed.

Paul, Trish and I attended a NATCA membership meeting in SLC that was attended by approximately 40 people. We all gave both National and Regional updates and took numerous questions. I want to again thank Paul and Trish for taking time from their bust schedule to attend this meeting.

There continue to be issues with the FAA’s guidance given to their Managers on the new CRU-X MOU. It is very apparent that the FAA wishes to make our BUE’s in the field “feel the pain” on this issue and I have received numerous reports from the field regarding management not adhering to the MOU. Management should not be requiring controllers to check in prior to the end of their shift and they also should not be requiring our members to drag and drop in CRU-X. We have brought these ongoing problems up at the Regional and National level and will continue to call management on all violations of the MOU.

I had a meeting with Seattle area District manager Ron Fincher to discuss ongoing issues at facilities within his district. I attended a meeting at MWH recently and brought numerous problems to Ron’s attention. There are several managers in the field who continue to work in a non-collaborative manner and it is important that NATCA demand the FAA comply with the 2009 CBA and quit working in the manner they have become accustomed to working during the IWR’s.

Myself, Mark Griffin (BOI), Scott Farrow (incoming Facrep at S56), NATCA Realignment Lead Mitch Herrick and NATCA attorney Peter Gimbrere recently attended the FAA’s ART 7 briefing on the consolidation of BOI TRACON to S56. We have received word that when the IG report on this issue is released next month there are numerous issues identified that help our argument that this consolidation doesn’t make sense. NATCA is optimistic that with the language contained in FAA Reauthorization, the continued pressure from the Legislative front and the information expected to be contained in the IG report that we may be successful in getting this issue resolved to our satisfaction.

We have several facilities that have been somewhat involved in RNAV activities at the local level. On the National level, the FAA has made it clear that their belief is that any NATCA input provided is only in the form of recommendations. This position by the FAA takes away from rights granted to us under ART 48 of the 2009 CBA. Until this issue is resolved Nationally, NATCA should not participate in any RNAV activities. The risk with moving forward is the FAA claiming NATCA had involvement in a process, when in reality they only let us provide input and recommendations. This guidance should be used not only for RNAV activities, but any project that management has requested NATCA participation in while limiting our Rights as laid out in ART 48.

Please remember to contact our Regional LMR Team for any needed assistance on not only Grievance and ULP language, but for any questions or concerns you have in the LMR arena.

Some of the Other Issues Worked Recently:

--Training Failures at numerous facilities

--CRU-X Issues at a majority of terminal facilities; specific issue at ASE

--Sunday pay Issue at ZDV

--Several outstanding Vouchers from within the NW Mountain Region

--LM/IRS Forms

--NATCA Represented Contract Tower at SUN; with no Facrep and no NATCA members

--Controller Suspension at P80

--2 Hour TOP at D01

--New CPC’s bidding at BOI

--Comp Time issue at S46

--Preparations for NATCA in Washington

--Agenda and finalizing of contract for BOI Regional Meeting

I again thank all the great NATCA members within the Northwest Mountain Region for their continued professionalism, and a special thanks to our Regional NATCA Leads and Committee members.

Please don’t hesitate to forward any questions or concerns.

Jim Ullmann NATCA Northwest Mountain RVP