Why Union?...Why NATCA?
By Bob Butterworth and Tony Yushinsky
Revised by ZMP
The question is simple, but the answer can be far more complex and more often than not, the answer comes from within a person and it isn’t something that can be taught or learned. The academics of the question can be answered with a look back at some historical facts and statistics; however, statistics and facts alone will not create a Union member.
Here are some basic stats from Wikipedia: The first local unions in the United States formed in the late 18th century, but the movement came into its own after the Civil War, when the short-lived National Labor Union (NLU) became the first federation of U.S. Unions. The NLU was followed by the slightly longer-lived Knights of Labor (a broadly based federation that collapsed in the wake of the Haymarket Riot). Next to come was the American Federation of Labor, founded in 1886 by Samuel Gompers, as a national federation of skilled workers’ Union. However, knowing these facts does not give an individual an idea of what it means to be Union proud.
Unions came into existence because management and companies were taking unfair advantage of their employees. Without a collective voice and a unified front, these employees didn’t have any protection. The Union movement provided the unified front needed to combat these issues. Managers and company men loved to take on an individual employee with various threats, but were far less inclined to take on a group of unified subordinates with a common goal. Although Union membership has diminished since the 1950’s, Unions are still as important today as ever, both on the job, and in the political arena. A Union provides its membership the benefits of collective bargaining, national political influence and the security of brotherhood that would not normally exist.
Today working conditions are much improved because of the hard work and dedication of Union leaders. These leaders fought for improved working conditions and safer working environments, not only for their members, but also for all workers who would come after them. There are few workers left today who know what the working conditions were like pre-Union.
Upon entering the Air Traffic Control profession, it may be difficult to understand the need for a union like NATCA. From the conception of NATCA to the early 2000’s things were progressing reasonably well for the average controller. This atmosphere was mostly due to the fact that there was the protection of an organized and certified Union, not because the FAA, DOT or any other government agency enjoyed being nice to the controller work force.
From the early 2000’s until today the atmosphere has deteriorated, further justifying the need for Union activism.
Looking back to the roots of Unionism for controllers, it would show the first organizations to be more of a social club than a true union. In fact, most, if not all, allowed supervisors to be full members and even allowed them to hold office. Things changed in 1968 when Mike Rock, a controller at LaGuardia Tower, contacted F. Lee Bailey and asked for help in establishing an organization that would properly represent the Air Traffic Controllers. Bailey agreed and, at his request, a national meeting of interested controllers was called for and held at The International Hotel at Kennedy Airport. Seven hundred and eleven people attended the meeting, the first ever for what would become known as PATCO (Professional Air Traffic Controllers Association.)
Over the next thirteen years PATCO was able to obtain benefits, improve working conditions and provide representation for Air Traffic Controllers that most thought impossible. During the years following the 1981 strike and NATCA certification, it became obvious that controllers needed representation. During these years the FAA flexed its’ muscle and made every attempt to treat controllers as second class workers, which was typical of times without a Labor Union.
Upon certification of NATCA, the most basic of job conditions improved. Small things like parking and meal breaks, to big things like grievance procedures, overtime pay; pay reclassification and employee rights to fair representation were negotiated with extremely favorable results. These victories are all the more remarkable because of the power of the opposing agency, the U.S. Government. Knowing that the FAA will continue to do whatever it takes to return to the pre-Labor Union days, NATCA must stay unified and strong preparing for the battles to come.
What is the point of all of this? A Union is much more than a collection of eligible people joining a group, carrying a membership card and belonging to a social club. A true Union Member is one that believes in ongoing involvement, active participation, support for its leadership, and trust in fellow members, a deep feeling of unity and a total commitment to the Union and its membership. With these beliefs comes the knowledge that there is nothing more powerful than a Union committed to its membership. There is little doubt that strength comes in numbers, but Union strength comes in the number of members that have the Union in their heart and soul. This is how a social club becomes an irresistible force.
By Bob Butterworth and Tony Yushinsky
Revised by ZMP
The question is simple, but the answer can be far more complex and more often than not, the answer comes from within a person and it isn’t something that can be taught or learned. The academics of the question can be answered with a look back at some historical facts and statistics; however, statistics and facts alone will not create a Union member.
Here are some basic stats from Wikipedia: The first local unions in the United States formed in the late 18th century, but the movement came into its own after the Civil War, when the short-lived National Labor Union (NLU) became the first federation of U.S. Unions. The NLU was followed by the slightly longer-lived Knights of Labor (a broadly based federation that collapsed in the wake of the Haymarket Riot). Next to come was the American Federation of Labor, founded in 1886 by Samuel Gompers, as a national federation of skilled workers’ Union. However, knowing these facts does not give an individual an idea of what it means to be Union proud.
Unions came into existence because management and companies were taking unfair advantage of their employees. Without a collective voice and a unified front, these employees didn’t have any protection. The Union movement provided the unified front needed to combat these issues. Managers and company men loved to take on an individual employee with various threats, but were far less inclined to take on a group of unified subordinates with a common goal. Although Union membership has diminished since the 1950’s, Unions are still as important today as ever, both on the job, and in the political arena. A Union provides its membership the benefits of collective bargaining, national political influence and the security of brotherhood that would not normally exist.
Today working conditions are much improved because of the hard work and dedication of Union leaders. These leaders fought for improved working conditions and safer working environments, not only for their members, but also for all workers who would come after them. There are few workers left today who know what the working conditions were like pre-Union.
Upon entering the Air Traffic Control profession, it may be difficult to understand the need for a union like NATCA. From the conception of NATCA to the early 2000’s things were progressing reasonably well for the average controller. This atmosphere was mostly due to the fact that there was the protection of an organized and certified Union, not because the FAA, DOT or any other government agency enjoyed being nice to the controller work force.
From the early 2000’s until today the atmosphere has deteriorated, further justifying the need for Union activism.
Looking back to the roots of Unionism for controllers, it would show the first organizations to be more of a social club than a true union. In fact, most, if not all, allowed supervisors to be full members and even allowed them to hold office. Things changed in 1968 when Mike Rock, a controller at LaGuardia Tower, contacted F. Lee Bailey and asked for help in establishing an organization that would properly represent the Air Traffic Controllers. Bailey agreed and, at his request, a national meeting of interested controllers was called for and held at The International Hotel at Kennedy Airport. Seven hundred and eleven people attended the meeting, the first ever for what would become known as PATCO (Professional Air Traffic Controllers Association.)
Over the next thirteen years PATCO was able to obtain benefits, improve working conditions and provide representation for Air Traffic Controllers that most thought impossible. During the years following the 1981 strike and NATCA certification, it became obvious that controllers needed representation. During these years the FAA flexed its’ muscle and made every attempt to treat controllers as second class workers, which was typical of times without a Labor Union.
Upon certification of NATCA, the most basic of job conditions improved. Small things like parking and meal breaks, to big things like grievance procedures, overtime pay; pay reclassification and employee rights to fair representation were negotiated with extremely favorable results. These victories are all the more remarkable because of the power of the opposing agency, the U.S. Government. Knowing that the FAA will continue to do whatever it takes to return to the pre-Labor Union days, NATCA must stay unified and strong preparing for the battles to come.
What is the point of all of this? A Union is much more than a collection of eligible people joining a group, carrying a membership card and belonging to a social club. A true Union Member is one that believes in ongoing involvement, active participation, support for its leadership, and trust in fellow members, a deep feeling of unity and a total commitment to the Union and its membership. With these beliefs comes the knowledge that there is nothing more powerful than a Union committed to its membership. There is little doubt that strength comes in numbers, but Union strength comes in the number of members that have the Union in their heart and soul. This is how a social club becomes an irresistible force.