The Main Bang

Ballots Wanted! Top Money Paid!

 

 

First, quick note, check out the Photo Album, right over there

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I have been having fun with my camera lately, and all these pictures are taken by me (unless I'm in them.)  The gator pix were taken yesterday.  With the album you can click on each picture to enlarge.

Now, where was I....oh, yes....

So a day or two has passed and anyone who hasn't already voted probably won't.  The ballot sits on the kitchen counter gathering dust with the postcard offering a free home inspection of your ductwork (something you ladies might consider while the husband is at work if you know what I mean, wink wink.) 

Anyway, as George Washington, the father of our country once said, "A ballot that isn't useth in the NATCA electioneth goeth to waste.  Now have one of my slaves bring me a Budweiser."  Or something to that effect.  I'm hoping I can get your ballot cast by the end of this blog.

I'm not going to get a ballot this election because I am a retired member; however, that technicality should not deny the organization or the electorate from the benefit of my expertise in matters such as these.

Pat Forrey is only the fifth person to occupy the office of President of NATCA.  Only two NATCA Presidents have served multiple terms. Only one NATCA President was unopposed in his run for a second term.  Only one NATCA President is the longest serving President in NATCA. 

That would be me. 

So while us NATCA-1 veterans have some perspective, only two have the six year presidential perspective of office experience when it comes to guiding their decision regarding who is most fit to serve the membership, and one of them is a NATCA employee (Barry) so he can't tell you.  (Taylor, he shoots his mouth off all the time.  Barry has more class than that.)  

So again, darn the luck, that leaves me.

Having said all that---and since your unsent ballot is moving closer and closer to the trash can as we speak...send it to me!

Yes, send me your ballots and let me take care of your light work.  You don't want fill the ballot out and mail it---too much trouble!---and hell, the damn thing is probably rigged anyway.  Your wife will find your ballot unopened in the mail stack in two months and shriek at you to "get this NATCA crap off my People Magazine!"  Or your girlfriend will find it and shriek, "When did you start reading People?"  In either case...you don't need the hassle.

You haven't really been paying attention to union matters (or you would have gouged your eyes out by now,) and all you have is some crappy lanyards, some weird Indian pens and of course some really dorky T-shirts that will make nice Holloween costumes.  "Run for your lives!  It's a Forrey supporter!!!!  Aaaaaaaaaaarrrrrghhhhhhh!!" 

So don't waste your vote.  Send it to me!!!  I will guarantee you that it is properly cast and counted. Put the whole load of crap in an envelope and mail it to:

John Carr

19214 Climbing Aster Dr.

Tampa, FL  33647

If you are electronically voting, send me the 411 and I'll do that, too (and remember...only one way or the other or our ballot---yours and mine--- is invalid.)

I will use my knowledge, skills, abilities, contacts, faith, pirates' vocabulary, spray-on tan, toe jam and common sense to cast your vote for the clear choice presented before you. 

Finally, you have a stunt-double you!  The psuedo you.  The stand in for the talent.  The understudy.  The fluffer.

Me. 

If only I could work your shift for you today.

Send me those ballots. If nothing else you will freak out and pimp and tweak the General Counsel, the outside Counsel and the Star Chamber Counsel currently running NATCA into the ground.  

There are so many people up in this union's kitchen concerning matters they have not even a micron of a clue about that you won't even notice me dicking around with the process.  I'm sure the attorneys will wave and flail about like they did in Miami, declaring this illegal, immoral and damn near lactose intolerant.  Now that's some good clean fun!  (And maybe a sneak-peek boob shot, too...which is nice.) 

If you are in the Eastern or Great Lakes Regions this will come in handy since you are only allowed to vote for the candidate who has been personally chosen for you by the Phat Forbarello twins.  Send your ballot to me, tell Fil and Phorrey that your dog ate it, and leave it at that.  If you want to keep the conversation short do this around 4pm...like St. Bernards with an empty cask they will smell a Happy Hour nearby and be out of your hair faster than you can say, "Give me a sixpack of martinis."

Ditto the Northwest Portion of the Eastern Region, formerly known as the New England Region.  (And has anybody else noticed that these Bostoners seem to be sounding more and more like Noo Yokahs?  Shoot, I think I even saw a couple of Yankees shirts at Boston Center, soon to be Area 69 at ZNY.)

This "Ballot Concierge" service will be particularly useful in the Northwest Mountain Region, where the RVP hasn't been seen in so long that rumor has it that he might have been racking up frequent flier miles with Steve Fossett when he went mountain hopping.

So save your time, your stamp, your bandwidth, your effort and your worry regarding the whole election thing and outsource your ballot casting to me.  I will do it gratis this election as a service to you, the beloved membership.

Think about it:  If you don't mind Phil,Pat, Robey, Farrow and the rest of the Timid Twelve telling you who you should vote for then you should have no problem handing the whole mess over to me to take care of for you.  In fact, if it will dick up the lawyers any further I will send you a buck for your ballot.  Buying votes!  The horror!  Next election, let me auction it off on E-Bay for you. 

Heck, I might even make a business out of this:  "Ballot Concierge:  When you absolutely, positively don't give a shit but still want to say you voted and talk trash."

"Damn straight.  Anybody that didn't vote has no right to complain.  Damn straight I voted.  I got a dollar for it, too."

And this way...no matter who wins....you can proudly say:

"I voted for them!"

"I think!"

 

Independence

Today, our nation celebrates our founding fathers’ Declaration of
Independence. It is this day in 1776 that the Continental Congress
adopted its formal statement (they had voted two days earlier)
informing the colonies that we were now 13 independent states and no
longer under British rule. We had been at war for more than a year,
but it was this moment where it was clear to all that the war was one
for independence, not reconciliation. We would not make minor changes
in our governance and continue the status quo, we would move forward
as a new nation.

It took great courage from talented leaders and a population who
believed that control over their own futures would allow them to build
a better life for themselves, their families and their communities. It
was a tremendously bold and risky move. But it was based on a
fundamental belief that governments only derive power through the
consent of the governed and when the government becomes destructive to
those ends, it is not only the right of the governed to change it, but
rather an obligation.

I have always believed that this is the moment where the American
Spirit was born. This is the spirit that causes us to fight
injustice, to work to change those things with which we do not agree,
to join together with our brothers and sisters to create a better
future – life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. These words are
meaningful; they have endured through wars, disasters, attacks on our
soil, political turmoil and indifference. From those who can trace
their lineage to our founding fathers to new arrivals seeking
citizenship, the American Spirit lives in each of us.

We celebrate that spirit today. That spirit allowed us to build our
union as well. The drive to fight injustice, to create a better future
for our professions, our families and our aviation community created
NATCA. From the controllers that first organized our union to the
Architects and Engineers that fought to change NATCA itself, to
broaden our view to represent more aviation safety employees, the
diverse bargaining units that organized as a result, to the
independent unions like NUDAI and NAATS that sought mergers, our union
has been shaped by passion, drive and the dedication of its members.

This month, our members have a chance to express that independence as
we vote in our national election. Each and every member has the chance
to cast a free and independent vote. Like our nation, the leadership
of our union derives its power from the consent of the governed. Today
you have the opportunity to choose the course for our union. So as we
celebrate the American Spirit that gave birth to our nation, take a
moment to apply those principles and values to your union and VOTE!

In Solidarity,

Ruth Marlin

The Very Best Of The Very Worst

Caution!  Michael Jackson jokes ahead.  They are vulgar, cruel and disgusting.

For those of you who are sensitive about that sort of thing, please....stop reading now.  Otherwise.....

1.  That was not thunder you heard last night.  That was Elvis Presley kicking Michael Jackson's ass for sleeping with his daughter.

2. When Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson died the media said that famous people die in threes. Billy Mays heard this and said, "If you act now, I'll throw one in for free!"

3. Michael died at 3:15pm...when the big hand touched the little hand.

4. When his doctor found Michael Jackson unconcious he tried to administer mouth-to-mouth resuccitation. On the first puff he blew Jackson's nose clean off his face.

5. Michael Jackson's funeral will be Monday in Los Angeles. Apparently Monday is plastic recycling day.

6. A Hollywood music promoter has already begun making plans for a "Jackson 5" reunion. The only thing he needs is four bullets.

7.  Michael Jackson was the first person to be born a poor black kid and die a rich white woman.

8.  Michael Jackson was following that famous Hollywood adage:  Live fast, die young and leave a Vietnamese woman's looking corpse.

9.  Michael Jackson hasn't been this stiff since McCauley Caulkin spent the night at Neverland Ranch.

10.  Madonna sent her condolences to the Jackson family.  Then she asked, "So how much for the kids?"

11.  In other news, Casper the friendly ghost was molested in the early morning hours today.

13.  What did Michael Jackson say to Lorenna Bobbitt?  "Silly Bobbitt, dicks are for kids."

14.  When Jackson got to the gates of Hell Satan took one look and said, "Damn, dude, what did you do to your hair???"

13.  Michael Jackson died of a heart attack.  He was reading the JC Penneys ad that said, "Little boys pants, half off."

15.  Michael Jackson was on a ship with 100 boy scouts when it hit an iceberg and started to sink. The captain announced "We're sinking! Everyone abandon ship!" Michael asked, "What about the children?" The captain replied, "F*ck the children!" Michael looked around eagerly and asked "Do we have time?"

16.  Why did Michael Jackson like twenty-six year olds?  There were twenty of them.

17.  Isn't it funny that someone would complain about being banned from an Internet site, unable to post in their own defense---when they themselves invented that trick to shelter their own agenda?  Now THAT'S funny!  Irony can be pretty damn ironic sometimes!  And that's no joke. 

 

 

Was Pat Forrey Right To Release The Information?

A question was posted to a previous blog that was so good I took down my post and put his up instead.  Here, take a look at the question and my response:

"Question, and I want to preface my question that its purely a speculative question. And also im not defending Pat and his decision but...

"Isnt this what everyone wanted? For weeks everyone has been scratching their eyes out begging for info and asking when well get some. So when we get some, everyone bashes Pat and chastises him. Im just wondering what the deal is? Does that hurt the rest of our negotiating process if he did in fact give up info that was not meant to be given yet? Thanks

-Newbie training a Newb"

Dear NewbTNewb,

First of all...you aren't a newbie.  The guy they hired today is a newbie.  You are a seasoned veteran.

In answer to your question, yes, this is what everyone wanted.  Everybody also wants to smoke dope, hold up banks, go on strike, defecate in drinking fountains and yell fire in a crowded theatre.  And drop purple microdot acid.  And drive a hundred and twenty.  And have sex on the fifty at a Chiefs game.  (Humor break:  What did Michael Jackson like about twenty-eight year olds?  There were twenty of them!)

But...we live in a society of rule and law.  Our union is also governed by rule and law.  And the Executive Board passed a "law," as it were, prohibiting Pat from doing what he did.  Pat knew it, and chose to intentionally and willfully violate it.

When the union's decision-making body finally makes a decision it does not matter if the vote is 7-5 or 8-1.  The prevailing side wins, and that INSTANTLY, AT THAT MOMENT, becomes the policy of the association.  There is no room for dispute. 

Likewise, if the President is on the prevailing or losing side is of no consequence. During NEB votes the President is one vote.  In this particular case Pat was the lone dissenting vote to the NEB's actions.  And if you read my previous stuff I called the NEB out for the political nature of their work.  BUT!  Like it or not...it remains the law of the land.

So:  Did it feel good to go on strike?  YES!  Is it legal?  NO!  Are there consequences?  That will be up to the membership, but there should be.  Because you see, once Patrick Forrey, the CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE UNION decides that he can do whatever he pleases regardless of the rules and laws, well.....shoot, what's to keep him from emptying the treasury into his bank account?  You?  His employees, who he has the power to fire?  The NEB, who he ignores?  What stops him from buying a company car?  What stops him from buying cocaine with NATCA money?  What?  The Constitution?  He ignores that.  The NEB policies?  He wipes his ass with those.  The membership?  Ummmm...no. 

Allowing the President of the Union to ignore the rule of law is a slippery slope.  Pat has run down that slope at full speed, daring the Union membership to do something about it.  Left unchecked, I promise you this will NOT be the last time Pat decides to ignore the NEB. 

In fact....wait a minute!  Didn't Pat Forrey chose to ignore the spirit if not the intent of the resolution passed in Miami establishing a Legal Defense Fund?  Wow...that must have been a harmless test run to see if you would do anything!!  You didn't. 

The chickens are coming home to roost, my friend.  Pat knows he can get away with murder...or theft....or repudiation of the membership's wishes, desires and regulations.  And there isn't a damn thing anyone has done (or apparently will do) to stop him.  Pat's ego and arrogance know no bounds, and the NEB and the membership have no intention of making any.

Pat's release was not some organized civil disobedience (and rioting and water cannons and attack german shepards and looting) of the civil rights movement.  No, this was not that.  Several RVPs are on record saying that Pat was completely aware of the restrictions they had placed on his release of information, and without their knowledge aforetought, Pat INTENTIONALLY released the information anyway. He did not even give them a heads-up so they could answer questions from down the chain of command.  He bitch-slapped their little "law," and then he pulled their pants down and shoved it up their asses.  And so far....they are grinning and bearing it. 

And THIS SPECIFIC CONDUCT is why I called for Forrey's immediate removal from office by any means necessary. 

Forrey has crossed the line from stupid, bumbling shadow of a Brownie Troop Leader to a dangerous and reckless CEO hell-bent on doing whatever he wants.  Like a bank CEO, or a GM, or a Worldcom, or an Enron.  Pat has taken a vote, and by  vote of one-to-zero, the rules don't apply to Pat. 

Unfortunately for you, the company he is the CEO of has your career, your money, your family's well being and your life's work in it's hands.  If I was still an active member I would be DEMANDING Forrey's removal from office and I would be calling the Department of Labor to report his conduct. 

I would also call the IRS to ask for an audit of NATCA's books (let me guess...they have been telling you everything is fine.)  I would start a letter writing campaign to Congress disavowing Forrey's wreckless and illegal conduct concerning contract negotiations (who knows what else he did...nobody's saying and that isn't the transparency this union membership is used to.)  I would call my RVP.  I would call the media and start a red-hot shitstorm until someone somewhere grew a set of balls bigger than pomegranite seeds and put PF in lockdown.  (Same goes for Rinaldi, his second in command.  It looks like he has been fiddling while NATCA got burned,or at the very least remaining silent until he could break out the campaign tchotchkes.  You know the campaign......the  Team4TheFutureThatsEndorsedBySoManyRVPsItWillLookJustLikeThePast.)   

Pat is hoping that the weed is so good you will forget it is illegal to smoke it and he killed eleven guys to get it.

So far all I see from the NEB and the membership is a stupid grin, squinty eyes and a bad case of the munchies.

Very best,

John

 

Your Union Is In GRAVE DANGER. IMMEDIATELY Impeach Patrick Forrey. While You Wait For That: Remove Pat Forrey And Paul Rinaldi From Their Respective Positions Pending Investigation Of Their Conduct In These Matters

What a selfish, politically motivated, egomaniacal narcissist prick!  And for once it's not me!

Patrick Forrey has placed himself above you.  Above the NATCA National Executive Board. 

And perhaps most dissapointingly...above the rule of law. 

Mr. Forrey's actions are so egregious, so contrary to civilized procedure, so bastardizing of Roberts Rules of Order, so selfish, so childish and so overtly mean, hateful and spiteful towards the governing body of the Association---the NEB---that Forrey should be removed from office IMMEDIATELY.  The NEB should pass a resolution stripping Forrey of his powers and assigning them to a member hand-picked by the National Executive Board pending the outcome of a complete physical and mental evaluation of Mr. Forrey.  (I would also strongly suggest drug testing.)  (And speaking of which....I am available to stand in as stunt-President for a limited engagement.  I can guarantee you that the new President will briefly revisit the Miami resolutions...)

Mr. Patrick Forrey is responsible for upholding the Constitution of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association.  Specifically, as quoted in the NATCA Constitution,

"Section 4. The President shall be the chief executive officer of the Association and shall be responsible for implementing all policies established by this Constitution, the National Convention and the National Executive Board."

See those last three words?  Don't let them surprise you.  On some day earlier this month the NATCA National Executive Board passed a duly authorized (albeit misguided and politically motivated) resolution: 

All negotiated term agreements sent to the affected membership for ratification shall include all elements of the agreement including those that may not be subject to ratification.  This wouldinclude but not be limited to all contract articles, provisions, memorandum of understanding, memorandum of agreements, side bar agreements and/or pay provisions whether they are agreed to by the parties, a result of an impasse procedure or the outcome of binding arbitration. 

In that understanding the terms of a new collective bargaining agreement is of great import to the membership the board agrees to release ANYand all information related to the new collective bargaining agreement as soon as permission is granted the Executive Board from the mediators/arbitrators as follows:

• A list of all agreed to articles along with a briefing document developed by NATCA’s contract team identifying changes in language from our last ratified agreement and intent of the new provisions. 
• A list of all articles which were the subject of binding arbitration along with a summary of the arbitrators final language.     
• Pay rules, pay bands and associated agreements related to pay with an explanation of the changes developed by the National Executive Board.  This will be done whether the pay provisions are subject to ratification or not. 
• A list of any and all associated memorandum of understanding, memorandum of agreements or side bar agreements along with a briefing document developed by NATCA’s contract team explaining intent.

This information will be delivered via USPS to all members houses and briefed verbally on scheduled phone conferences. 

 

Not content to wait for the complete package---mostly because his political career doesn't anount to a teaspoonful of vomit---Patrick decided to IGNORE the NEB and IGNORE the LAWS of NATCA and IGNORE the membership's elected Executive Board and IGNORE the plain language of a resolution he and he alone voted against. 

Mr. Forrey today released paraphrased tidbits of partial articles that give the impression that the contract in the offing will be better than the White Book (although I quickly saw several articles that will be weaker than the Green Book.)   YES, I said, "paraphrased tidbits of partial articles."  DOES THAT SOUND LIKE THE NEB RESOLUTION ABOVE?????  NO IT DOES NOT!!!

In releasing this information Mr. Patrick Forrey has failed to uphold the responsibilities of his office.  Mr. Forrey FAILED in his duty to the membership that pays him almost a quarter million dollars a year.

(And for Keyran, Mrs. Jimmy, Bill Pierogi and the other back bench forrey supporters---your man broke the law.  If you support and endorse that, then you are no better than he is and you should resign your NATCA position immediately (except those of you in the "reverse cowboy" NATCA position.) (WWWWHHhat?  K-Dog is backing a different horse this race?  What a strong supporter he turned out to be, huh?)

One of the RVPs sent this out to his members a few moments ago:

Members, 

There are issues that I need to address surrounding Pat’s update that involve the information contained within his update and the statement he wrote, “The NEB passed a resolution two weeks ago that limits the amount of information that can be relayed to the membership.”  While I was not present during that telcon, I did read the considerable amount of email traffic between the NEB that lead up to this resolution,  I have discussed what transpired during the telcon with some of the NEB, and I am aware of most of the NEB’s reaction to Pat’s update.  What Pat released was in direct contradiction to the intent of the NEB, and Pat mischaracterized the NEB’s intent in his update. 

It was and is the NEB’s intent to electronically post the TAUs along with an explanation document as soon as possible.  The NEB did not just want highlights of the negotiations communicated to the membership.  Releasing only the highlights or the good parts, which Pat has now done, would be slanted and misleading to the membership and would lead to more questions.  As a body, the NEB wanted you to have the complete picture, to expand the amount of information relayed to you, and, furthermore did not want to politically tease you.

We expect to post the TAU’s in their entirety on Monday when the arbitration presentations begin on the remaining issues.

So there you have it.  A direct affiliate AFL-CIO President acting any ol' way he pleases.  He does what he wants and pisses in the eyes of your elected leadership.  And there isn't a DAMN thing you can do about it.

Except...

Article XII

Impeachment

Section 1. A National Officer may be impeached for serious misconduct in office only in accordance with this Article.

 

Section 2. Any active member may prefer charges of serious misconduct against a National Officer. Such charges shall be in writing, signed by the accusing member and accompanied by a statement containing the specific facts supporting the charges. The statement shall include the date, place and time of the alleged misconduct, the names of all persons involved, and reference to specific article(s) and of this Constitution which allegedly have been violated.

 

The charges and supporting statements shall be submitted to the National Executive Board. The National Executive Board shall, withinthirty (30) days after receipt of the charges, determine whether the are valid. If the National Executive Board determines that the charges warrant further investigation, it shall prepare a written complaint andserve it upon the National Officer against whom the charges were filed.

 

The accused may respond to the National Executive Board in writing within thirty (30) days of receipt of the complaint.

 

The complaint and response thereafter shall be mailed to the delegates from the last National Convention who represented the Region of an accused Regional Vice President or to all delegates in a case concerning the President or the Executive Vice President. Within (30) days after receiving the complaint and response, each delegate shall advise the National Executive Board, in writing, whether he or she recommends continuing the impeachment process.

 

Meanwhile, YOUR UNION IS IN GRAVE DANGER and you can't really wait for an administrative procedure to fix it. 

 

Do you remember when Barry cut us free from MEBA almost twenty years ago?  And how MEBA threatened to get the little union?  And how Barry posted armed guards at the door to protect our assets?  WELL, SOMEBODY FUCK-WELL BETTER STEP UP TO PROTECT THEM NOW.

 

NATCA is currently being "lead" by a rogue President who thinks he is above the Board, the membership and the law.  He can do whatever he wants and you cannot stop him.  You pass something in Miami?  He laughs in your face and ignores it.  The NEB passes something about contract negotiations?  He not only ignores it, he OVERTLY breaks ranks with his leadership team without so much as a text of warning out of his cell phone.  He basically told them to fuck off, he was going to do whatever he wanted.  That, my friends, is a dangerous, dangerous situation.

 

Pat's second in command is a traitorous, treasonous ladder-climber who has some very important best interests in mind:  HIS OWN.  Paul ran with Pat, stayed mute for three years, and then decided that he wanted the bigger title.  So he cut and run.  He manufactured distance between himself and Dead Man Walking where none exists.  Truth be known, Paul is Pat in a nicer suit.  And rolling around the Krasner Building below these two jokers is a dysfunctional collection of has-beens and will-never-bes...your National Executive Board.  They have all the power of your average box of Kleenex and twice as many tears.  

 

And you are counting on them to save you.  (Thank God you have Ham Ghaffari, Darrell Meachum, Victor Santore and Ricky Thompson on your side or the odds against you would be almost insurmountable.)

If ever a local needed to be put into trusteeship, stripped of it's decisionmaking and stripped of it's reckless stewardship of the member's money it's the NATCA National Office.  

 

The NEB should take immediate steps to take control of the union from Pat Forrey before he drives it over a cliff.  His powers should be stripped from him pending an investigation into his conduct.  DO NOT ask Rita Graf for an opinion or be prepared to wait two days for a "maybe."  "No."  "Uhhh...let's check with Osborne."  "Yes.No.Yes."

 

The NEB should take immediate control of the union's treasury and finances from Paul Rinaldi.  The events of the last several days have shown that the bad blood between these two is two degrees shy of boiling hatred.  The NEB must secure the union's treasury and insure that member resources aren't used in an expensive game of "can you top this" (like the twin travel trips these two took in the last two months to "visit facilities.")  

 

The NEB must immediately freeze spending and close the books for a complete accounting of every penny ever placed under the stewardship of these two.  Forrey has proven that the rule of law and policy of NATCA means nothing to him.  That alone causes me to tremble for the member's money.  Somebody, quick:  Check his Vegas vouchers.  (And grab Taylor's while you're at it.)

 

Pat ignored the NEB for three years.  On this matter he not only ignored their expressed verbal and written instructions, but he did not even have the GUTS to face them like men and tell them what he was doing.  He just snuck around and did it.  Check the yellow highlights, above.  It is the NEB that gets clearance to release....not Pat.

 

THE NATCA NATIONAL EXECUTIVE BOARD SHOULD FINALLY, AFTER THREE YEARS, MAN THE FUCK UP AND STOP THESE CRAZY BASTARDS BEFORE THEY SCREW UP EVERYTHING.  SHOW SOME LEADERSHIP FOR A CHANGE!!!!  RESCUE YOUR UNION.  Frankly it is too late to rescue your legacy...it will be forever linked to Pat...but maybe you can save the little union that could from becoming the little union that couldn't. 

 

Forrey is a loose cannon on the deck of the RMS NATCA, and if you don't grab him and tie him down he is going to sink your ship.  He isn't going to win the election anyway so look at it as a two month early shove.  Go home, Pat.  You've done quite enough.

 

Ditto for the Traitors4TheFuture.  Paul isn't running for EVP so let's give him a two month early shove, too.  He can spend it figuring out a way to tell his best friend Kieron that the free ride is over.  The Time Off King is back and the K'ster best get his headset and his ass on the next elevator going skyward for a snazzy position relief briefing on Flight Data.

 

Thank You!

Today, NATCA members across the county begin to cast their votes and chart the future for our union. I would like to take this chance to
thank the members across the country who have welcomed me into their facilities and their homes.

Hundreds of NATCA members have volunteered on my campaign, setting up visits, helping with mailings, driving me around, putting me up in their homes, making phone calls, fundraising, bringing in new ideas, proofreading, and yes, even making sure I take my vitamins. The outpouring of support from across the country has been overwhelming and I am grateful to each and every one
for their efforts to make this campaign successful. It is now up to
the voters.

Over the next few weeks I will continue to post ideas here. Our work
does not stop because ballots have gone out. I will still be available to answer any questions you may have, and feel free to email
me at ruth.marlin@gmail.com.

 

 

The Two Faces Of Paul Rinaldi

Since deciding to run for office NATCA EVP Paul Rinaldi has given many speeches and answered many questions.  One of the questions he has NOT answered, though, is why he continues to try to bullshit the membership of NATCA.

 

Neither Paul nor Pat could talk their way latrine duty when they came to DC but they have each developed their own, shall we say, "style."  Not great (remember Forrey's flavor-saver goatee???) but at least they are trying.

 

So learning to speak in public is one thing.  Learning not to talk out your ass and lie is another, and it's that last lesson that is so simple it plum eludes them. 

 

Here are some interesting quotes from someone who wants you to TRUST HIM AND BELIEVE HIM AND ENTRUST HIM WITH YOUR MONEY AND YOUR FAMILIES' FUTURE AND HIS TEAM FOR THE FUTURE AND THE FUTURE IS NOW BUT NOT REALLY NOW IS NOW.  But anyway...it seems he is so desperate to get the job he has resorted to lying to try and win the thing.  Here...you decide:

 

Paul Rinaldi, 2007: 

 

"Being a schoolyard bully has not and will never get positive results for the membership of this union.  Yelling, screaming, harsh and strident language and sarcasm is not the intelligent way to fight for our members and their rights.  As anyone who has built something...can tell you, it takes time, effort and planning. Destroying it takes nothing but brute force."

 

Paul Rinaldi, 2009: 

 

"I will swing the bat, you have to swing the bat, so they know you have it.  So they are fearful for it.  If they are not fearful of you, you are not going to accomplish your goals.  Its just as simple as that."

 

 

Paul Rinaldi, 2009 Candidate Forum, when asked why he was running against the sitting President:

 

"Because for 30 months I've been in the National Office with someone who is a very nice man, but quite frankly I am completely on the other side of issues on him 90% of the time."

 

Paul.  Dude.  You do know that when Adell sits there giggling and typing in those meetings she is making a record of those events, right?  SO LET'S CHECK THE RECORD:

 

National Executive Board Voting Records

 

October 2006-June 2009 (The terms of the Timid Twelve now in office)

 

Total number of votes taken: 210

 

NEB voted unanimously: 167 (or 79.5%)

 

Pat and Paul voted the same: 197 (or 95.6%!!!!!!)

 

Items Pat/Paul voted differently on: 7 (or 3.3%!!!!!!!!)

 

 

Others:

Pat/Paul abstained from voting: 2 (1 each)

Pat absent for vote: 1

Paul absent for vote: 2

 

Holy crap.  Either Paul is dyslexic or he will say ANYTHING to ANYBODY to get elected. (Like the big, "I developed the Ed Schultz contact" myth.) 

 

Professional speakers, even controllers have a way of tailoring their message delivery to the audience.  Think airline pilots.  "Aww, shucks, that's just a little bitty ol' engine done blowed up out there!  Don't you folks worry...we still got one or two more, depending on how this next toggle switch works, so just fasten your seat belts a little tighter, let Myrtle bring you a free cocktail on me, and we will be spiralling out of the sky in just a few moments.  You can pick your luggage up in either the northern bean field or the sweet yellow corn to the west.  And don't forget to check the seat pocket in front of you for a sick sac to write your will on."

 

Did Mr. Pilot downplay the situation?  Yes.  Did he lie?  NO.

 

So you have to ask yourself:  If someone is so desperate for NATCA office that they are willing and desperate to lie to you now, on matters of substance, matters they should know, matters that you can easily check, matters that don't really matter...well, then what the hell are they willing to do when they DON'T need you, and nobody's looking?  (Answer:  "Yikes.") (Second answer:  Gary Hart.)  (Third answer:  The caballero governor of South Carolina.)

 

More select Rinaldi quotes, and these are by no means extensive.  They just give you enough bile in the back of your throat to confirm your suspicions:  Used car salesman?  You betcha.  President of NATCA?  Naaaaaaah.

 

From Rinaldi:

 
Pat’s testimony was the highlight of the week. We sent copies to every reporter on our media list and highlighted the fact that we were returning to Congress to deliver a similar message as we did six years ago: Delays are driven mostly by overscheduling at key busy, hub airports, such as Newark, LaGuardia, JFK, Philadelphia and O’Hare. "

.......................................................................................................................................

"Pat was live on the air discussing the safety crisis underway due to a lack of veteran controllers and the lack of a labor agreement that is the only hope left of keeping the system from total collapse. That interview began a long and very intense day of media activity in each of the aforementioned cities. Included was an interview for Pat with Lisa Stark of ABC World News Tonight with Charles Gibson. The story that aired Thursday was one of the very best stories we have ever landed about our important safety concerns."

 

                      

.............................................................................................................

Over the week, the NLC worked closely with Pat Forrey, Jose Ceballos, Frank McCarthy, Doug Church, Dan O’Brien, Laura Roose, myself and many others from the National Office. I want to thank them all! We have a great team in D.C. and nobody can surpass their passion and commitment to our cause.   

 

....................................................................................................................................

 

Pat Forrey was joined by Government Affairs Director Jose Ceballos in an AFL meeting with House Leadership to discuss Labor priorities. Pat did a great job of citing the importance of NATCA’s issue and how it needs to be a priority for Congress

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"This week, NATCA President Pat Forrey met with Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Jim Oberstar (D-MN) and Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Jerry Costello (D-IL) to discuss air traffic control issues that need to be addressed, including the importance of getting back to the negotiating table and restoring fairness to the collective bargaining process." .....
 
......"In addition, Pat met with Congressman John Olver (D-MA), Chairman of the House Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, to discuss NATCA’s appropriations priorities."
 
   .......................................................................
 
"Pat and NLC Chair Trish Gilbert testified at the Aviation Subcommittee’s hearing which focused on the FAA’s need to improve the conditions of its facilities.  We were able to point out that the FAA has not made the maintenance of its facilities a priority and because of that many employees are forced to work in conditions that are sometimes unsafe or that impede the employees’ ability to perform their jobs safely. 

((Editor's Note:  And why was it not Forrey/Rinaldi testifying on the Hill?  Because ol' Sparkplug had already iced Rinaldi out of the cool boys club and didn't want to see his pretty mug in public. The comparison is no comparison, if you know what I mean.  And frankly...Rinaldi doesn't have a chance of winning this election because he is a good looking man.  NATCA only elects ugly men to the Presidency.  Or curious-looking fellows with bad teeth.))            
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
"Pat attacked the Agency hard on several issues and it seemed as though many of the congressional members attending agreed that the Agency needed to address the issue that was affecting the retiring veterans and the resigning trainees—the imposed work rules."
                 

Whoa, whoa whoa, Paul!!! Was that "attacked" like the strident language that you dismiss, or was that  "attacked" like the baseball bat you recommend that NATCA members follow you in swinging?  The membership would like to know.  You be John Belushi in Animal House.  I'll sit here on the couch and laugh my ass off when nobody follows you over the cliff.

And frankly, if you are going to advocate baseball bats you might as well go all in and run for office with ME on my new "attack with a Glock shoved between their mangled, rotting teeth, raining incisors and bicuspids and bits of bone down on the bloody sidewalk like Chicklets" ticket.  (It's hell getting all that on a pen, by the way.  Can you give me the number of your Slumdog Penmaker in India?)

"Bat."  Don't be a wuss.  One of you two clowns went to the FAA with a baseball bat all right.  They took it away from you and made you cry and now it's the bat you have impaled in your seventh planet.  (Uranus.)

Anyway...dear readers...if you see Pat or Paul ask them a question I've been dying to know the answer to: How hard is it to shave in the morning with two faces looking back at you from the mirror and all?

SAVE YOUR UNION:  VOTE FOR RUTH MARLIN FOR NATCA PRESIDENT

 

 

What Were YOU Thinking?!?!?!?!?!?

The NATCA Elections are racing furiously towards balloting and of course the rhetoric is starting to heat up. While many candidates have been careful to tip-toe around the topic of my presidency, each has had something to say on the issue.  (Several of them have had more mouth in the bar after work once they get their beer muscles on.  Imagine my surprise.  That's why Pat and Paul and Phil and Bob could never be attorneys. They can't pass a bar.) (Ba-DOOM-BOOM!  Thank you...thank you very much.)  

Anyway...here's a tippie-toe if ever I saw one:

Download Carrcomm.

I admire Trish to pieces but I'm afraid she is looking for love in all the wrong places.  I've just about had it with all the innuendos concerning my conduct in office.  Funny...I don't remember hearing any of this shit from these people when I was serving.

If you like the current NATCA issues and strategy....you're welcome.  They were developed by Ruth Marlin and I approximately four years ago.  I know, I know...you're in the right hospital but you have the wrong surgeon.  Sorry, Charlie. 

From the cheap seats it looks like you are on life support, losing blood, delerious and only a miracle can save you.  You've got about as much chance of that as the United States has of electing a black President.

As usual I have PROOF to back up my claim of ownership to the current crowd's agenda.  I much prefer actual documentation to the chickenshit drive-bys like, "he was too busy on the bbs and blog to do his job," or "he pissed off Congress," or "he was unprepared for what happened," or "he can't belch the ABC's."

Not so fast!  Check your facts.  Let's start by letting NATCA tell you how well we did.   Did you see that?  I guess that pretty much debunks the Garrett Lie that I alienated Congress.  Inoye.  Murray.  Lautenberg.  Wytkind.  Nance.  Quinn.  Lockhart.  DeFazio.  To say nothing of the members I was on a first name basis with (although truth be known many of them called me "Mr. President.")  Kennedy.  Kerry.  Edwards.  Rogers.  Lott.  Mica.  Young.  LaTourette. Kelly.  Oberstar.

And of course---Ruth and I started the ball rolling with a freshman Senator from Illinois.  You might be familiar with him.  Obama.  Friend of controllers.  Good man.  Ruth and I used to have his Blackberry cell phone number.  Mine of course is gone, ever since I helicoptered MY Blackberry into the Gulf of Mexico. 

Proof?

When we were rolling we had two or three bills in play on Capitol Hill at one time.  In a Republican Congress.  With a Republican President.  With Hatchet Face running the agency.  That, folks, is what is called LEADERSHIP. 

The Timid Twelve you have helping you now has had ZERO, I say again, ZERO bills introduced in a DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS in three years, ZERO Executive Orders from a Democratic President in six months, and ZERO effect on Capitol Hill.  Maybe it's because Forrey is always cussing, peppering his speech with "prick" and "fuck." 

(Speaking of Executive Orders...it took Ruth and I four months in office to get air traffic control declared "inherently governmental" via Executive Order.  It took Pat Forrey four months to find an apartment in DC.)

I worked HARD, baby.  For you new kids on the block, 18-20 hour days for six years.  LEGENDARY hours.  I left a new wife, a new child, then new triplets in Ohio so I could serve morning noon and night for you.  Hell,I BlackBerried your asses from the witness chair in the United States Congress for Christ's sake.  And some of you saw it on TV!

You see...I could do my job very, very well, delegate those things I wasn't great at, run the union, teach the classes, travel to meet you and STILL find time to communicate with the membership on a very regular basis.  That, ladies, is again whats called LEADERSHIP, and it's what you've been missing for three years.  And there was no secret squirrel shit, either.  We were transparent, and you were always the first to know.  Now, not so much.

Here are selected pages from the NATCA In Washington Lobby Week brochure from January, 2006.  See if you recognize any themes.  You should!!!  Plagarizing Pat stole every single one of them and is using them to this day like they were his.  Somehow I don't think wearing someone else's underwear makes it YOUR underwear...and as always, sorry if it's a little loose in the crotch. (Bada-BOOM!)  

From page 1, in January 2006:  "As the agency moves to implement a contract that will improve its bottom line, as it moves further away from a cooperative relationship with NATCA that would benefit everyone, and as it spreads untruths about our "real" motives, we will continue to prove that safety is and will continue to be our number one priority."  See that bolded text?  Ruth Marlin and I called their walkout four months before April, 2006, when it happened.  Why weren't you listening???

You won't want to miss the text after the pictures....

 

So let's comb the guide to find familiar concepts:

"...the agency's increasing determination to ignore the staffing crisis, halt modernization, unlaterally impose work rules and intimidate the work force..."

"It is clearer than ever that the FAA is intent on claiming a breakdown in negotiations in order to force an agreement on NATCA."

The Obama Bill...followed by the LaTourette Bill.  These are called, "bills," not "wait and pray for salvation for three fucking years."  Bills...something Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy have been unable to get introduced.

"The FAA is artificially inflating staffing numbers."

"The FAA is already seeing the highest rates of retirement that it has seen in the last 24 years."

"NATCA believes the FAA/ATOs focus on expensive and cumbersome restructuring is misguided and untimely.  NATCA believes that at this time of supposed scarce resources the agency should be directing those resources at properly staffing and modernizing the system."

"Need for proper oversight of FAA Designee Programs.  Reliance on designees has not been sufficient to prevent significant safety incidents."

"NATCA believes the FAA must place more emphasis on modernizing the NAS."

"When the FAA works in partnership with NATCA great things are accomplished."  And you believed Forrey when he told you I was against working with the agency.  Tsk, tsk.

"Lack of stakeholder involvement."

"FAA outsourcing."

"Financial mismanagement."

"Modernization."

"FAA Imposed Work Rules."  (Named for you four months before they were imposed on the controller bargaining unit.)

"NATCA believes that a collaborative relationship between air traffic controllers and the FAA is imperative in the development and implementation of safety and technology programs."

"On June 28, 2005 the FAA unexpectedly nd summarily abolished a vital program designed to ensure better safety in the skies.  "The agency sent home the remaining controllers from an original group of 30 (tech reps and liasons) who had been working on important safety and technical projects."  WHAAAAT?!?!?!?!? Are you telling me that mean rat-bastard John Carr didn't terminate our liasons and terminate cooperation with the agency????  Well I'll be damned.

I could go on but why bother.  Contract negotiations.  Staffing crisis.  ATO restructuring.  GAO and IG oversight.  Modernization.  Cost savings.  Contracting out.  Cooperative relationships.  About the only thing we didn't do at NATCA in Washington 2006 that Patrick and Paulrick and NEBrick have done since then is shut down the BBS and ban dissenting members for life.  Other than that....I think pretty much every single thought the current office holders in NATCA have had originated in my head or Ruths.

In fact...those who were there will remember who was waltzing Jane Garvey down the aisle at the Boston Convention and it wasn't Mermaid Man, Barnacle Boy or any Beantown lackey, either.  It was me, and when I got to the stage I handed her over to Ruth.  And yes, we met often and in private then.  Thought you knew. 

I hope Keeshon or Skinny Gay Rabbit or maybe the cowardly Zamboni driver or good ol MinnesotaBillwhatshiznamethatIbitchslappedsohardIalmostkilledhiswholefamily or any of the other Forrey pompom wavers will jump into this topic and try to mount some kind of defense.  I've got LOTS more documentation to present to the real bosses of this organization:  the dues paying members.  It might embarass you to know how much we knew, how much we shared with you and how much you ignored, and now how much the current crowd steals, but hey...that's life.  (And as for me....I've kind of gotten used to the stealing part.)

As I stroll through the memory lane that is my documentation I am reassurred to realize that I didn't really suck that bad.  Naturally much of the information I can present to you is exculpatory of my efforts and completely derisive of the Timid Twelve you currently have holding the nose of your airplane down. 

Do yourself a favor come election day:  grab a chute and jump out or make your way to the cockpit, subdue these clowns and pull up, pull up, pull up.

((PS...Comments are back on.  Have a ball.))

What Are They Afraid Of?

I'm sure by now you have noticed that the NATCA Contract Negotiating Team's identity is widely known.  Patrick "The Short Timer" Forrey has named them publicly on several occasions including his recently published WEAKLY Update.  He has already thanked them although the true measure of their work won't be known until the end of the summer at the earliest.  Heck, tie their names to this invasive FAA website and you can do a drive-by.

So who are the members of the Failed Aviation Administration's Contract Negotiating Team?

Nobody knows.

The FAA won't tell you because they are gutless pigs.  They like to try to control things like workplace environments, free thought and information dissemination, which means they suffer from delusions of grandieur complicated by intense paraphillias, i.e., disorders of deviant sexuality.  Now that a new Administration is calling the shots from down the street the FAA spooks have been caught with their hands shoved down their pants, yanking their wankers with taxpayer money and they ain't talking.

Further, the doomed agency knows that when I and other bloggers find out who the FAA sent to the table we are going to mock, villify, condemn, ostracize, criticize, homogenize and generally smack these buck-toothed, snot-nosed, slack-jawed, Marion-loving, subordinate-shoving, weakstick sacks of smegma around like the pompous asshole pinatas that they are.  (Caution:  possible FAA Team member photo on last link.)

The agency is afraid we may hire private detectives like we did for Elvira and Inspector General Mead, or do cell phone and landline background checks like we did for that gambling addict pissant in Vegas (three phones?  He really needed three phones?  Man, that was costly.)

Anyway...so we like to jack around.  We may comb their trash.  We may put them on a deserted island with a mayonaise jar full of piss.  We may tie them to a chair and make them read the Constitution.  We may send them home to change their skid-marked panties.  Or, for a real belly laugh fest we may put a headset on them and watch them try to separate two flies with a screen door.  Childish?  Yeah.  Sophmoric?  Probably.  Irritating?  Maybe.  But fear of bloggers is really no reason to tuck the head and extremities into the FAA shell and quake like your survival is at stake.

So the FAA doesn't want you to know.  But why hasn't your unon told you who they are up against?  Really.  Why?

I can come up with any number of reasons why NATCA is once again rolling over on their collective backs and pissing themselves to please the FAA at your expense.  Here are a few:

1.  The ground rules you cannot see concerning the negotiations you know nothing about at the undisclosed location include a provision that the union cannot tell you who is on the other team, even though you told everyone on earth who is on yours.  And anybody who would agree to that useless provision needs a Xanax.  It really isn't that big a deal.  (Correction:  make that TWO Xanax.)

2.  There is someone on the FAA team named, "John Carr," and every time Pat hears the name he begins shaking uncontrollably and big, puss-filled boils break out on his neck.

3.  The FAA gave NATCA a direct order.  Which they can't, really.  But who knew?

4.  There are no negotiations.  This whole thing has been an elaborate hoax more carefully planned than Operation Bodyguard.

5.  The FAA team is made up of Obama staffers.

6.  NATCA is afraid that if the membership discovers the FAA team's identity they may accidentally begin "communicating" with each other using "computers" and "bbs" and possibly anger the Congress, the FAA, John Mica, sissified little staffers or even Joe Knollenberg.  Except dickhead Joe lost his last bid for election and his political career is deader than Kurt Cobain.

7.  Joe Miniace is on the team and he told the NATCA crew that if his identity became known he would suffer more embarassment and emotional distress like he did when the PMA shitcanned him. 

8.  The FAA doesn't want to put these mugs up as "The Team That Gave Back All The Shit We Gave Them The First Time And Stole From Them Last Time."

9.  Hatchetface is on the FAA team, which of course means no team picture.  Lens crack at the thought.

10.  The FAA wants to preserve the scoop for Jerry Lavey so he can oh shucks and by golly and gee whiz and me and Myrtle saw a movie and bring them into Barbie's Fun TV studio to make an interview that we can mock into perpetuity.  (Quick joke:  70 year old FAA employees...boxers or briefs?  Well, Depends....)

11.  The information has been released to the membership in a timely manner.  The membership, that is, that hasn't been banned for life from the NATCA BBS, a union communications vehicle that all members, even the banned ones, pay for with their dues money.

and last but certainly not least.....

11.  I have no idea.  I cannot IMAGINE why NATCA has not informed you who their adversaries at the table are. 

Pat, Paul and the entire NEB have been accomplices in keeping this information from you.  Pat and Paul I can understand---they have been busy telling you that they will do things all different for the next three years, and please forget the last three.

When it comes right down to it the entire lot of them are hiding something from you.  Are they afraid?  Are they ashamed?  Are they fearful of the backlash?  Are they outmatched?  Did they lose their very first negotiation?  Did those mean ol' mediators muzzle them?  Did Garvey ground them?  Did Obama shut-uppa them?  Did they figure you had no right to know since you are nothing but a member, not a high-holy insider on teampatandpaulrick?

Have they realized for quite some time (like I have) that most of you are too scared, too new or too glued to the breakroom couch to give a shit about what they do?  Have they finally comprehended (after Miami there can be no doubt) that you will allow them to ignore your direct orders, shun you, and generally pretend that you don't exist (except for the last five months of every term you are suckered into giving them?)  "Rah, rah, vote for me!  Here's a pen!  Here's a lanyard!  Here's a goofy shirt you will never wear again!  Thanks for the vote!  Now open that door for me and get the f**k out of my face.")

Or did they just simply cave and agree not to tell you even this insignificant piece of information?

Here's an idea:  Ask your RVP. 

But don't expect an answer.

The FAA, NATCA can talk to.

You?  Not so much. 

 

 

I Got A Million Of 'Em

So Farrah Fawcett gets to the Pearly Gates yesterday afternoon (heavy traffic coming out of LA) and the Lord welcomes her with open arms.  He asks her to autograph his poster (hubba hubba) and then asks his newly minted angel what her first request was. 

"You know," said Farrah, "I just want all the children of the world to live safe, in peace, without fear."

So he kills Michael Jackson...

 

(For those who don't believe that laughter is the best medicine..."Beat It.")