binovc
Junior Member
Posts: 84
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Post by binovc on Jul 12, 2017 8:32:43 GMT -5
Did anyone else receive an email from Sam regarding a conference call this Friday (7/14)?
I reached out the other day to inquire about contract negotiations, and he forwarded me the following.
Good morning,
PATCO will conduct a conference call Friday, July 14 at 4 PM, EST. (3 pm Central).
I especially urge all PATCO representatives or their designees to be on the call, as they will hear the latest report on Federal Budget effecting Contract Weather Offices Air Traffic Control privatization. It is also very important that leaders and activists continue to participate so that they can add to the reports with by committing to an action plan contacting Congress persons and Senators regarding CWO issues..
Agenda
Roll Call
Welcome and Introductions
AFSCME International /AFL-CIO Report – Karl Stark, Lobbyist ; Director AFSCME Federal Legislation Frye
Additional Agenda Items from the Participants
Adjourn
Please RSVP below:
Name____________________ I will _____will not_____ be on the call.
Reply via email to fpd@comcast.net or fax to 850- 942 6722. Thank you.
Fraternally,
Mark Neimeiser
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Post by chachiman on Jul 12, 2017 12:09:19 GMT -5
Did anyone else receive an email from Sam regarding a conference call this Friday (7/14)? I reached out the other day to inquire about contract negotiations, and he forwarded me the following. Good morning, PATCO will conduct a conference call Friday, July 14 at 4 PM, EST. (3 pm Central). I especially urge all PATCO representatives or their designees to be on the call, as they will hear the latest report on Federal Budget effecting Contract Weather Offices Air Traffic Control privatization. It is also very important that leaders and activists continue to participate so that they can add to the reports with by committing to an action plan contacting Congress persons and Senators regarding CWO issues.. Agenda Roll Call Welcome and Introductions AFSCME International /AFL-CIO Report – Karl Stark, Lobbyist ; Director AFSCME Federal Legislation Frye Additional Agenda Items from the Participants Adjourn Please RSVP below: Name____________________ I will _____will not_____ be on the call. Reply via email to fpd@comcast.net or fax to 850- 942 6722. Thank you. Fraternally, Mark Neimeiser The USCWOA sent this out this past Saturday to all their members and CWO contacts. We have been in touch with PATCO because of their lack of being able to reach out to all their members. We offered our help to reach as many weather observers as possible for this. Many have already RSVP'd for this CC including the USCWOA. This was also added on my email from Mark Conference Call Participation Policy Conference Call Participation: * A roll call will be taken of those who have sent an RSVP. * At the conclusion of roll call, others on the call will be asked to announce their presence. * Please do not announce your name unless requested; it interrupts the call. * Those whose presence is not confirmed initially will be asked to announce their presence at the end of the call. MUTE PHONE! Agenda Begins: * Speaking without prior recognition will not be allowed. * Once you have spoken on an issue, everyone else will have an opportunity to speak before you can speak again. MUTE PHONE! |
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Post by swifterz on Jul 12, 2017 15:15:20 GMT -5
USCWOA has done more (and cheaper) in the last few months than PATCO has every done in the entire time I've been a member, over 6 years now. I'm at the point, and have been researching options to either decertify PATCO at our station or starting a campaign to force a vote through the NLRB. I don't think decertifying is an option to take lightly, and but USCWOA actions in a short time frame with very positive results has shown that PATCO is doing nothing for to help our save out jobs.
Thanks for the information, just sent my RVSP.
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Post by northwx on Jul 12, 2017 16:29:10 GMT -5
Swifterz, call Mark or Sam Neimeiser, they haven't been silent nor inactive. And at this point, we can use all the help available. PATCO does have a communication problem, and has evidently pissed a few folks off - even ones who got pay raises through PATCO.
PATCO office 850-942-6636, Sam cell 850-566-2036 they're on Eastern Time.
For this telcon, I confirmed with Mark it is Standard Time, not daylight savings...
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Post by swifterz on Jul 12, 2017 16:39:47 GMT -5
Swifterz, call Mark or Sam Neimeiser, they haven't been silent nor inactive. And at this point, we can use all the help available. PATCO does have a communication problem, and has evidently pissed a few folks off - even ones who got pay raises through PATCO. PATCO office 850-942-6636, Sam cell 850-566-2036 they're on Eastern Time. For this telcon, I confirmed with Mark it is Standard Time, not daylight savings... In my mind they have been silent and completely inactive!! I haven't received a newsletter in years, or even an email. The near silence for years from them is now overwhelmingly deafening. As a dues paying member I shouldn't have to seek them out on what they are doing (see USCWOA), they should be actively engaging us on on ways to better help (again see USCWOA). I think it says a lot about PATCO that their members had to help fund an association to help save their jobs. I'm tired oh just call them to find out what they are doing for us. Utter bullshit!! Sorry about the anger Northwx, and it's not directed at you (not trying to shoot the messenger). ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS!! |
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Post by northwx on Jul 12, 2017 17:24:01 GMT -5
First off, WE are the union - Mark & Sam are just organizers. They rely on AFSCME for lobbying & Mark and Sam have asked us to do the lobbying - they aren't sure who to talk to, other than AFSCME. It is much better for us to be involved, then our cause doesn't get labelled "union left-wing politics" and ignored by anyone other than the leftists in congress, who are easily persuaded to support our cause. If you have a grievance with your contractor, or need to discipline an employee, or negotiate pay/benefits issues, PATCO functions just fine - that is what unions do. Lobbying to save our jobs is tangential to their mission, though certainly in their interest to do so. Not accusing anyone, but if you think someone - anyone - is going to save your job for you, you are sadly mistaken. To those who want this issue settled for them in their favor by someone doing it for them, I say "get off your butt and DO something." And I'm trying to get PATCO to both communicate more and work more to save the CWOs. I sympathize with your pain... but you should be personally acquainted with your senators and congressman and their staffs, and all your airline & pilot associations and any other user groups.
I'm personal friends with congress and senate staffers, have met with my senators and congressman personally; I'm friends with the heads of the Alaska Airman's Association, the Alaska AOPA, the Alaska Air Carriers Association, the Alaska Aviation Safety Foundation, and have spoken many times with the State DOT Rural Airports Manager. I'm active with the Alaska Republican Party. I have many friends who are pilots that help whenever I ask. Call/write/meet with your congressfolks! The CWOA template letter is a good place to start. Mark & Sam call their Sen. Rubio, who is no friend of unions...
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Post by northwx on Jul 12, 2017 17:43:43 GMT -5
Sorry for the bellyache folks, I'm just seriously tired of the few who can't read anything on this forum about PATCO without launching into a blistering attack on how they think they've been wronged. Get over it, time to move on. I support and work with PATCO AND the USCWOA - both have their roles to play. The attacks on PATCO look really lame - they look like some privileged, spoiled kid who wants someone to hand them a sucker - and life on a silver platter. I hope this impression is in error... I want to think that ALL of the weather observers are quality folks I can be friends with.
I will be on the conference call.
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Post by swifterz on Jul 12, 2017 17:53:54 GMT -5
First off, WE are the union - Mark & Sam are just organizers. They rely on AFSCME for lobbying & Mark and Sam have asked us to do the lobbying - they aren't sure who to talk to, other than AFSCME. It is much better for us to be involved, then our cause doesn't get labelled "union left-wing politics" and ignored by anyone other than the leftists in congress, who are easily persuaded to support our cause. If you have a grievance with your contractor, or need to discipline an employee, or negotiate pay/benefits issues, PATCO functions just fine - that is what unions do. Lobbying to save our jobs is tangential to their mission, though certainly in their interest to do so. Not accusing anyone, but if you think someone - anyone - is going to save your job for you, you are sadly mistaken. To those who want this issue settled for them in their favor by someone doing it for them, I say "get off your butt and DO something." And I'm trying to get PATCO to both communicate more and work more to save the CWOs. I sympathize with your pain... but you should be personally acquainted with your senators and congressman and their staffs, and all your airline & pilot associations and any other user groups. I'm personal friends with congress and senate staffers, have met with my senators and congressman personally; I'm friends with the heads of the Alaska Airman's Association, the Alaska AOPA, the Alaska Air Carriers Association, the Alaska Aviation Safety Foundation, and have spoken many times with the State DOT Rural Airports Manager. I'm active with the Alaska Republican Party. I have many friends who are pilots that help whenever I ask. Call/write/meet with your congressfolks! The CWOA template letter is a good place to start. Mark & Sam call their Sen. Rubio, who is no friend of unions... So now it's about us what what need to do? We all know what we need to do. I've sent letters, spoken & developed good contacts with heads of meteorology from a couple major airlines. I helped to fight back when they whole program by sending letters and contacting our congressman as well. This isn't a thread about what I'm doing/done or what you've are doing/done. Bottom line is PATCO takes thousands and thousands a year and can't be bothered to return calls (why I don't bother trying to get a hold of them anyways, cause trust me I did back in 2013) or let us know what they are doing to help us. I even went out of my way to say none my previous post was was directed towards you because you are just the messenger. Telling me to go and do something to help save our jobs when I have, and lots who are on the board has crosses a line dood. Listing all that you've done doesn't help at all. Its not like you alone have done stuff to help. Most of us are on this forum because we care, HAVE DONE MANY THINGS TO HELP SAVE THE PROGRAM, and want to save out jobs. |
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Post by northwx on Jul 12, 2017 18:18:24 GMT -5
Then a big thank you for being involved! I harbor no animus toward anyone personally, and listed my involvement as an example for the sideline sitters, not to pat myself on the back. My only request here is lay off the negative recruiting. You hate PATCO, then stop trying to make me angry at them - just deal with your own issues. Move on. The bellyache here is not helpful to our cause. You won't even talk to PATCO? They don't return your calls? I would have to wonder why - they return mine. Thanks for trying not to make this thread an attack against me personally, and likewise I don't know you personally and want to think the best of my coworkers. And some help talking to congress is appreciated and encouraged.
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Post by zoomthundersnow on Jul 12, 2017 22:05:29 GMT -5
All I know is there are lot of ass hat rules to participate in the PATCO conference call. MUTE PHONE! LMAO
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Post by rich on Jul 13, 2017 5:46:09 GMT -5
Cut PATCO some slack. It's only been 2.5 years since Sam and Mark took over for Jerry and I heard they are almost half way finished putting together a contact list of all the members!
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Post by alstein on Jul 13, 2017 7:05:22 GMT -5
Is there an alternative union to negotiate wages/benefits? Right now I'd say PATCO is worth the money despite not doing enough on the job front, but we might be able to get better.
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Post by chachiman on Jul 13, 2017 9:16:37 GMT -5
Is there an alternative union to negotiate wages/benefits? Right now I'd say PATCO is worth the money despite not doing enough on the job front, but we might be able to get better. There are many Labor Unions out there. Some are good and some are not. You have to do your homework to find a good one. I have to agree for us at my station, PATCO has done their job getting us pay raises every year and more benefits. However, I do believe it would benefit us more if we were a part of a bigger and more powerful union. But, it is what it is. Power is in member numbers and there are unions out there that have that. |
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Post by northwx on Jul 13, 2017 14:37:53 GMT -5
We were in SEIU for awhile - they were trying to organize a "national weather observer union" - but they were pretty lame and when they did answer the phone, you could hear the party in the background.
Then we went with Laborer's - great union, but very expensive- they wanted 3% of your gross AND all your benefits, but they did offer their own health insurance.
PATCO is reasonable and does what we need from them from the CBA, but does need to communicate more and backing our program better would help.
If you find something we can be happy with, please post your findings!
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Post by northwx on Jul 13, 2017 14:38:38 GMT -5
We were in SEIU for awhile - they were trying to organize a "national weather observer union" - but they were pretty lame and when they did answer the phone, you could hear the party in the background.
Then we went with Laborer's - great union, but very expensive- they wanted 3% of your gross AND all your benefits, but they did offer their own health insurance.
PATCO is reasonable and does what we need from them from the CBA, but does need to communicate more and backing our program better would help.
If you find something we can be happy with, please post your findings!
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