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NOWIRNOV232016

A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association

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NATCA NATIONAL OFFICE DEPARTMENTAL WEEK IN REVIEW November 12-18, 2016 LABOR RELATIONS DEPARTMENT NATCA RECEIVES BRIEFING REGARDING THE FAA'S PROPOSED PLAN FOR A RANDOM SCREENING PILOT On Nov. 22, 2016, the Agency briefed NATCA on its proposed plan for a pilot at selected NAS Tier 1 facilities, during which random employees and their vehicles would be searched upon entering the facility perimeter. The FAA's stated objective for the proposed random screening program is to elevate the level of screening of FAA personnel in order to locate hazardous items that could be used to damage FAA infrastructure or cause harm to those at the facility. At the briefing, NATCA pointed out many serious problems and concerns with the Agency's proposed plan, and will follow up with specific written comments cataloguing those issues, as well as comments on the Random Screening Program Standard Operating Procedures provided to NATCA at the briefing. Following NATCA's written comments, the parties will meet in-person to work through NATCA's concerns, and the problems with the proposed pilot in general, in more detail. POCs: Eastern RVP Dean Iacopelli, Director of Labor Relations Ryan Smith, Assistant Director of Labor Relations Erina Hammond, and Phil Barbarello. FAA BRIEFING ON ORDER 7033.XXX OCEANIC SEPARATION REDUCTION WORKING GROUP On Nov. 17, 2016, the Agency briefed NATCA on proposed Order 7033.XXX to formally establish the Oceanic Separation Reduction Working Group (OSRWG). During the briefing, the Agency claimed that the Order is merely the formalization of a workgroup that began in 1997. NATCA has never participated in this workgroup, and according to the proposed order, will not be part of the Core or Extended team. The Agency's exclusion of NATCA has resulted in outcomes that are less than optimum because NATCA subject matter experts (SMEs) have not been given the opportunity to provide information from the beginning of the process. As a result, NATCA will be submitting a proposal to include NATCA SMEs on the workgroup. POCs: Director of Safety and Technology Jim Ullmann, Labor Relations Attorney Suzanne DeFelice, Labor Relations Attorney Grant Mulkey, JT Lenhart (ZOA), John Fox (ZNY), Mark Crabtree (ZAN), and Mike Warren (ZAN). GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT CONGRESSIONAL SCHEDULE The House and Senate are in recess for Thanksgiving break and then return to Washington, D.C. with three legislative weeks currently remaining on the schedule for the 114th Congress. Donald Trump and his Vice President-elect, Mike Pence, will be sworn into the White House on Jan. 20, 2017. In the upcoming weeks, GA staff will

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