I’m not particularly happy with what the union has done to the payscale, I can say that I work at a tower and the teachers in the school across the streer make more, and will continue to make more money than me even after I’m certified. even though people seem to think tearchers don’t make enough, ha.

you should most likely join the union, at least at first, and then if you decide they aren’t doing enough for you leave as opposed to not joining than joining later, at least thats my opinion

If you enjoy throwing away 1.5% of your salary into a bit bucket, go ahead and join the union. They will do absolutely nothing for you, as proven by the lastest FAA imposed (forced) contract. So, if you like throwing your money away to a union (notice I didn’t capitalize) that accepts dual pay bands for the same job (what kind of real union would sit back for that), then go ahead and join. Just remember, your salary will be a lot less than the person working next to you performing the same function if he is grandfathered under the old contract. Yeah, great union.

I am a lot smarter since I went back to college right after the strike and got into computers and networking. I am now making a lot more than I would have made as a controller with no weekends, holidays or night shifts so getting smart is not the issue here. Do you think getting porked by the FAA on a daily basis is smart? If you are content with that lifestyle than I suggest you look up the definition of “smart”.

RR

Guess what you have said only proves the point about NATCA and its history to the labor movement.

In your words “Proud NATCA Member”. Now even you should be thinking smarter about what you have just said. PATCO strikers are still locked out and discriminated against in hiring by the FAA, after more than fourteen years. Does that make you a proud union member?

Proud of what?

Ron Taylor
President
PATCO

An Independent Labor Union
Certified by the NLRB

http://www.patco81.com

You made your decision years ago and you have had to live with it. I can’t help that you’re pissed at the world for your mistake…… You may have talked the talk and walked the walk, but try to be smarter in the future.

RJ
Proud NATCA Member!

PEOPLE… ya need to stop and deal with the now. My heart was/is PATCO. My current membership is… NATCA. I made my own decisions in 1981 and I feel good about me. I’m back… I still feel good about me and I’M A NATCA MEMBER. I going to rejoin PATCO.

I’m 53 and I’m going to SOCAL in June of this year bcoz, I love this job.

Read between my lines and… work for truth. UNIONS have an obligation to protect it’s members. I see no reason for PATCO and NATCA to fight… because both have made and continue to make mistakes.

THE TRUTH IS… any union without “a right to strike” is a union with limited strength. FIGHT FOR THAT… (smile), and pursue your agendas REMEMBERING… PATCO/NATCA is of the same family.

TN

I’ve already walked the walk and talked the talk. I was a proud PATCO local President and National officer that walked the walk on the picket line in 81′. I don’t know why you smart boys haven’t figured that out yet. I am not, nor will I ever become a non-union (NATCA) member. I cannot fathom how anyone would pay 1.5% of a high salary for the services rendered.

I guess I have validated that I stood up and led, so I don’t have to “shut up”. I’ve paid more dues for your current benefits than you ever will.

BTW, You’re welcome.

Razman…

# cyras21 Says:
February 7th, 2007 at 8:14 pm

Razman,

Are you gonna walk a picket line? You’ve been talking the talk so let’s walk the walk. Stand up and lead or shut-up.

But let’s face it, the Boston Tea Party wasn’t a social event for the well-to-do.

The 1961 Freedom Riders weren’t looking for, and they certainly didn’t get, “a free ride.”

Yes, I know, things didn’t work out too well for the Confederates who fired the first shots on Fort Sumter, nor did things work out well for Admiral Yamamoto when he decided to drop a few bombs and torpedoes on Pearl Harbor. The Pullman strike of 1984 didn’t go exactly as planned either.

History usually favors the winning side in a conflict, so my point isn’t to assign a “Right” and a “Wrong” label to any past conflict, but rather to point out that few really big or important changes occur without conflict.

That’s a bummer.

Controllers, as many others, are clearly victims of our radical right-wing, pro-business, anti-labor government that has been out-of-control since it stole the white house in 2000 & gained a virtual dictatorship by ruling all three branches of our federal government. They are masters at propaganda and collusion- they talk about their war on terror, when they’re most concerned with their covert war on labor- Republican politicians know that their power is derived from corporations who, in exchange for behind the scenes access to developing the political agenda, provide enormous & unmatchable financial resources (called campaign contributions, though in most civilized nations, known as bribes). In return, corporate benefactors expect them to beat back labor (to help keep down costs, increase productivity & continually grow profits to feed wall street’s hunger for earnings growth that might otherwise stagnate). The GOP has been happy to comply, since labor has generally sided with the Democrats and the less they earn, the less stable their jobs, the less they or their unions can lend financial aid to political candidates. The GOP, particularly Dick Cheney, George Bush Sr., the Carlysle Group, the Heritage Foundation, the Bohemian Club- Billionaires all, they are very good at identifying targets, such as ALPA & NATCA, consulting arrogant, spiteful and misguided individuals such as Frank Lorenzo and Joe Miniace, then using devious tactics to get what they want, making sure that one of their corporate welfare recipients profits along the way. They’re mean-spirited, powerful, resourceful, have plenty of time on their hands & are committed, thinking they’re doing the right thing for America by ensuring that business prospers and the unions (& Democrats) stay out of the way. They detested pro-people leaders Bill Clinton & Jane Garvey, who in rewarding controllers with a great contract in 1998, made them a primary GOP target- NATCA (nor ALPA) never had a chance, & probably won’t until the Dems again gain control of both congress and the white house.

The American public unfortunately doesn’t care, or doesn’t have the time, resources to care. Heck, a third of them are illegal immigrants who are actually LOVED by the GOP because they dilute the labor force so much it keeps up supply of raw labor, keeps down wages, benefits & union membership. Most Americans aren’t wise enough to realize the long-term impact of their short-term economic decisions- be it honoring a (legal) picket line, supporting union-busting outfits like Walmart, Marriott, Coors & Jetblue, or not finding the time to raise their voice when politicians & their appointees find truely devious ways to rape the pay or working conditions of their friends & neighbors. Making matters worse, its hard to speak up- the right has labeled the media as “liberal”, though most now know that is a smokescreen- most television, radio & media are carefully ruled by the right (ala, Fox, Clear Channel, Disney/ABC)- they micromanage the content & tone- so its unusual to see labor leaders even make it to press, or if they do, somebody who has listened to too much Rush Limbaugh argues with you. Worse, the Republicans cleverly shift the tax burden from the wealthy to the middle class & we find ourselves with insufficient income to pay the inflated bills that the fed says statistically haven’t inflated, many of us without direct pensions or health care, then we try to self-finance our retirements, gambling what little we have left on 401k “plans” that invest in stocks of the very same companies that finance those who delight in taking so much away from us. We’re in big trouble, fellow Americans.