Sisters and Brothers…
This week, President Sweeney and I met with two key leaders in the House and Senate to discuss the struggles our members continue to face in the field. We met with Senator Schumer of New York, who serves on leadership via his role as Chair of the DSCC (Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee) as well as Rep. Chris Van Hollen, who serves in House Leadership via his role as Chair the DCCC (Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee).
Once again, President Sweeney firmly and unequivocally reiterated the importance of our fight for a fair collective bargaining process and the need for the Democratic leadership to engage in deliberations on this issue. He stressed our ever-increasing activism in the political process and urged both Senator Schumer and Representative Van Hollen to provide the leadership necessary to show our members that they truly support our cause.
Senator Schumer acknowledged that the leadership was well versed on our issues and trying to find a way to show the support our membership desperately needs to know who our enemies are. Representative Van Hollen, who I have met with a number of times, also acknowledged his understanding of NATCA’s struggles with the FAA and the need for legislation to correct our dilemma. He spoke about HR 6355 the Air Service Improvement Act of 2008, which was introduced this week by Chairman Oberstar. According to the Representative Van Hollen, HR 6355 was a direct mandate of Speaker Pelosi to reaffirm the House’s commitment to resolving the labor dispute between NATCA and the FAA. HR 6355 takes the language from HR 2881 – providing a fix to Title 49 as well as a return to the green book with back pay – and with the passenger bill of rights portion of FAA Reauthorization.
In both meetings, President Sweeney stated that a vote on our issue was the surest way to get a full accounting of who is with NATCA and who is not. Our membership needs to know that the Democratic Party was committed to correcting the great injustice levied on the hard working aviation safety professionals that are responsible for the lives of millions of people every day.
President Sweeney has clearly stated to Leadership that Labor – and NATCA - played a major role in the 2006 mid-term elections that resulted in the Democrats taking power in both chambers of Congress. The fall elections are going to be critical in determining government policies that would shape our nation over the next several years. He made it clear that NATCA has raised the bar concerning political activism, understanding the need for change in the White House and an increase in the Senate majority. But he stresses that NATCA needed a sign of support with our issues, because without it, they cannot be expected to mobilize for the Party.
Labor’s role in the 2006 election made the difference on who controls the gavel in Congress, and we will have the same impact this fall. Even though the safety of the system and state of the NAS is a compelling reason for action in and of itself, the political side of our message couldn’t be delivered or have a greater impact on the Congressional leadership, than when it’s given by the leader of organized Labor. Our members could not ask for a better advocate than the leader of the American labor movement and stalwart for working people worldwide.
One of my goals for NATCA when I took office involved elevating our stature within the House of Labor. History has shown NATCA is one of the most successful federal Labor Unions in the country. In comparison to most other Unions affiliated with the AFL-CIO, NATCA is extremely small. However, we have a multitude of intellect and activism within our membership and staff to offer our fellow Unions. Likewise, the AFL-CIO provides NATCA and its members with the strength, unity and activism of 12 million working Americans. That goal manifests itself in the support we have been getting from President Sweeney and the entire Federation. But it all starts with our members!
Continued in part 2...
Pat Forrey Update for the Week of June 22, 2008: Part 1
