A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Issue link: http://natca.uberflip.com/i/808779
COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT WELCOMING THE NEWEST MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL OFFICE TEAM! NATCA has appointed Thom Metzger as its Director of Public Affairs. The team he oversees at NATCA is responsible for media relations, social media and other digital/web c ommunications, member and public engagement, advertising, and planning for conferences and events. Metzger brings decades of strategic communications and marketing leadership to the role. He most recently directed public affairs for the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration. Prior to that, Metzger led communications and marketing efforts for trade associations representing the waste, recycling, chemical, and plastics industries and a national HIV/AIDS nonprofit. "It is a pri vilege to join NATCA and support America's air traffic controllers and other aviation safety professionals, who are a vital part of the U.S. transportation system and keep the National Airspace System safe every day," Metzger said. "A communicator doesn't always get to advance issues that they personally support. I enthusiastically support NATCA's mission. The Union's membership, leadership, and my new colleagues are impressive." NATCA President Paul Rinaldi said, "Thom's wealth of experience makes him a k ey addition to the Union's executive team. His appointment demonstrates our commitment to elevating our communications and outreach efforts. I'm confident that Thom will play a key role in NATCA's efforts to advance the status, professionalism, and working conditions of all air traffic controllers and other aviation safety - related employees." STAT OF THE WEEK 95.63 That is the percentage of all eligible bargaining unit employees in the Eastern Region who are members of NATCA. That is the highest in the co untry. LINK S OF THE WEEK Eno Center For Transportation Webinar: Air Traffic Control Reform, From the Perspective of Labor Featuring NATCA President Paul Rinaldi Yet another po ssible government s hutdown looms later this month . It's bad for the National Airspace System (NAS) and the country. But it provides a fitting and timely backdrop for NATCA to again make the strong case for why the status quo is broken, unsustainable, and incapable of handlin g the current and future needs of the NAS. On Thursday, March 30, NATCA President Paul Rinaldi joined former Senator Byron Dorgan for an Eno Center for Transportation policy webinar entitled: Modernizing Air Traffic Control from the Labor Perspective. Bef ore an online audience that included aviation community members and some media, Rinaldi laid out the bottom line for NATCA: we must have a stable, predictable funding stream for the NAS. "It's no secret that our status quo is unacceptable, with unpredicta ble, stop - and - go funding, short - term extensions of FAA reauthorizations, sequester, furloughs, constant