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Post by alstein on Nov 2, 2015 14:32:51 GMT -5
Here's the question- could the union (PATCO) be sued for failure to provide services/fraud in this case? They are not doing their jobs- therefore we are not getting our worth in dues. Unsure that would lead to much money- would hardly cover lost jobs and might be super-expensive.
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Post by fu on Nov 2, 2015 14:39:46 GMT -5
I doubt it. Anyone ever hear how or why Sam is in the position he's in? I know he worked a bit with Tuso before Jerry retired but what qualifies him for his position? Go back to the postings around the time of the May panel and see the post where he lied to chachiman about PATCO lobbyists being present at the panel. Sam should have been replaced for doing that.
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Post by skobie on Nov 2, 2015 15:29:54 GMT -5
The more I think about this situation, the more I realize that this process is cyclical. 10+ years ago, many of the weather sites that were affiliated with Local 100 left because of lack of representation from Ken Schneider of Local 100 at that time. When the sites went to PATCO, Local 100 cried that PATCO was raiding their people away (both Locals fell under AFL-CIO at the time, though Local 100 does not anymore), which was probably true, but who could blame anyone for leaving Local 100 back then. Now, PATCO has almost all of the unionized weather sites and what do ya know.....no representation from Sam Neimeiser. It's a bunch of BS anyway you slice it. I really am starting to think that because people really don't understand what we actually do, that they think we're not important and it's just plain wrong. Anyway, to answer the question about if PATCO can be somehow held responsible for lack of representation, I believe they can be. I think we still need to start with the AFL-CIO Legal Dept. and hope that someone will give us the time of day. At the same time, let us not forget that we are first talking about NATCA raiding PATCO and that the lack of representation by PATCO is why we're needing to go over PATCO's head. From my earlier post, which I've updated, here are some people we can contact that will hopefully give us the time of day an not just blow us off: AFL-CIO Legal Dept. - (202) 637-5392 Federation of Physicians and Dentists/NUHHCE Officers: Jack Seddon, Executive Director Address: 1310 Cross Creek Circle Suite C-2 Tallahassee, FL 32301 Phone: 850-942-6636 Website: www.fpdunion.orgOR Area Office: Florida (AFSCME) Contact: Andy Madtes, AFSD Address: 1700 NW 66th Ave Suite 113 Plantation, FL 33313 Phone: (954) 583-3081 OR American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), AFL-CIO 1625 L Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20036-5687 OR We can also try the AFSCME website (http://www.afscme.org/union/directory), where you can click on your state (PATCO is out of Florida I know), but maybe the state that you live in also has a Field Office for AFSCME where we can make some phone calls to. Phone Numbers: Tel: 202-429-1000 Apparently PATCO falls under NUHHCE, which falls under AFSCME, which falls under AFL-CIO and if someone is not doing their job at one of these levels, they will eventually have to answer to someone at a higher level of Union involvement. We just have to figure out who that is. We are all equals and pay our monthly dues no less and there is at least a couple hundred Union members affected here. I can find out about the legalities of misrepresentation/no representation (I hope from someone who knows what they're talking about), but I still need others to start the ball rolling with this whole raiding going on with NATCA/PATCO. I'll post what I find out, but anyone can feel free to do some legwork here as well. This is just another angle to keep our jobs that might be of use and is worth a try. skobie
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Post by wxspecialist on Nov 2, 2015 15:37:55 GMT -5
According to PATCO's cheesy website, they fall under The Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU). I'm not sure up to date or accurate their website is.
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Post by fu on Nov 2, 2015 15:51:03 GMT -5
According to PATCO's cheesy website, they fall under The Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU). I'm not sure up to date or accurate their website is. That's the other PATCO. This is the site you want fpdunion.org/patco.html
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Post by chachiman on Nov 2, 2015 17:05:39 GMT -5
AFL-CIO is not going to help us!
Charles,
Unfortunately, I don’t believe we can help. I suggest you contact your national union with your concerns. Under its constitution, the AFL-CIO does not have the authority to get involved in jurisdictional issues unless asked to do so by one of our national union affiliates under the AFL-CIO’s national dispute resolution procedures. I am sorry we cannot be of more direct assistance.
Elizabeth
From: Charles Starrett [mailto:cstarrett@outlook.com] Sent: Monday, November 02, 2015 12:32 PM To: Elizabeth Bunn <Ebunn@aflcio.org> Subject: National News Affecting Union Members at 57 of the Nation's medium to large sized airports
Dear Mrs. Bunn, We currently belong to the FPD/AHPE N.U.H.H.C.E. - A.F.S.C.M.E., AFL-CIO. Our union's head office is in Tallahassee, Florida. We are not presently seeing too many positive results happening through our union, so the people all over the country that do my job have taken on a fight to keep our jobs with the Federal Aviation Administration. One of the FAA's big NATCA Representatives and some bean counter folks hired by the FAA have decided that it is just fine if they turn our job over to their Air Traffic Controllers. They have a plan in place right now to take our jobs from us. We are professionally trained and certified NOAA/National Weather Service Weather Observers that have prided ourselves in the job we do for the FAA for over 20 years now. Having the experience we do and how busy we are at times with the weather, we believe along with many other aviation officials that this is a very irresponsible and dangerous plan that the FAA is proposing. Furthermore, I believe that their seems to be Union "Raiding" of jobs going on here. We are pressing this week to get a National Press Release that will reveal the absurdity and how dangerous this plan really is. I eagerly wanted to share this with you and the AFL-CIO to see if you guys can help us out at all.
Sincerely,
Charles Starrett FAA CHA CWO SWO 1001 Airport Road; Suite 14 Chattanooga, TN. 37421 Con. Ph. (423) 710-1928 FAA Ph. (423) 894-0296
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Post by skobie on Nov 2, 2015 20:32:11 GMT -5
So the National Union is AFSCME or NUHHCE. I'm not sure which one is considered the "National" union. PATCO is just a Local under one or both of these guys. We need to get a hold of someone in either or both of those places who will listen, since you guys are mostly telling me that Sam is absentee and may be a liar besides.
skobie
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Post by chachiman on Nov 3, 2015 10:13:55 GMT -5
Our national union is FPD/AHPE.
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Post by skobie on Nov 3, 2015 11:34:41 GMT -5
Unfortunately, that leads back to the same workplace that Sam is located in, but there still are people above him certainly, whether in that office or at one of the other contacts in my previous posts. Right?:
Primary Contacts Suite C2 Tallahassee, FL 32301
Phone: (850) 942-6722 (800) 373-5777
skobie
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Post by chachiman on Nov 3, 2015 12:55:09 GMT -5
Mark Neimeiser, his father is the president of PATCO1499
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Post by Little Miss Sunshine on Nov 3, 2015 13:03:01 GMT -5
Mark Neimeiser, his father is the president of PATCO1499 Is this an updated union from PATCO1199 ?
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Post by chachiman on Nov 3, 2015 13:52:04 GMT -5
Mark Neimeiser, his father is the president of PATCO1499 Is this an updated union from PATCO1199 ? disregard the PATCO1499. It is 1199. My mistake!
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Post by afweath05 on Nov 3, 2015 14:54:48 GMT -5
I want to be honest here. Am I as a currently employed CWO employee wasting time metwatching this message board all day everyday even on my days off? I see so much speculation here and not so much official fact about our fate here. I don't work for one of the 57, but I don't want any one of my fellow observers to lose their jobs. What do I really need to pay attention to? Who is on our side and who is not? Who exactly inside the FAA is the ultimate decider of our fate? Do we have any friends within the FAA who are on our side and are posting here? Sorry for my apparent bluntness that might allege lying here, but I'd love to know what's really happening and where we stand and I want to know what is truth here and what is purely speculation.
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Post by toofarnorth on Nov 3, 2015 15:07:13 GMT -5
Federation of P&D is working on a newsletter for PATCO - I just spoke with them a bit ago... they are a good bet to go the AFL-CIO route, but will need lots of encouragement from us. 800-373-5777
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Post by afweath05 on Nov 3, 2015 15:15:26 GMT -5
Federation of P&D is working on a newsletter for PATCO - I just spoke with them a bit ago... they are a good bet to go the AFL-CIO route, but will need lots of encouragement from us. 800-373-5777 If they would show active care about us and communicate their vision about our future to us that would be great. It would be nice if the union sent even our station supervisors a monthly update for them to post in all stations about what the union is doing to help save and promote our job's future.
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