Brothers
and
Sisters
I would
like to
take a
moment
to
introduce
to you
the LR
Lead and
LR
Counsel
for the
NWP
Labor
Relations
Team.
We will
be doing
our best
to
assist
the
Membership
with LR
issues,
both as
they
arise
and
stopping
issues
before
they can
affect
you.
Mr. Bob
Butterworth
retired
from
SoCal
TRACON
in
2004.
Bob has
graciously
accepted
a
position
as the
LR
Counsel
for the
NWP LR
Team.
Some of
you may
ask “Why
is a
retired
member
taking
the time
out of
their
personal
life for
NATCA?”
The
answer
is very
simple
my
Brothers
and
Sisters,
it is
called
Unionism.
Bob
Butterworth
has
forgotten
more
about
Unionism
than
many of
us will
ever
know.
In
difficult
times,
you call
upon
someone
that has
“been
there,
done
that.”
For this
team,
there is
no one
better
qualified
to fill
that
role
than Bob
Butterworth.
Bob has
seen and
experienced
the past
and his
goal is
not to
repeat
it. One
of my
first
calls
when
setting
up this
team was
to Bob
to ask
for his
experience
and
assistance.
He
answered
the call
just
like any
true
Union
activist
would,
“Mike,
what can
I do?”
Bob’s
input in
LR
matters
will be
invaluable
and will
help
keep the
LR Team,
as a
whole,
on the
right
track
and
working
for the
Membership.
On
September
1st
I
introduced
myself
to you
as Ham’s
designee
to the
Regional
Labor
Relations
Team
Lead
position.
Now, I
would
like to
share
some of
my goals
to you
in that
capacity.
ONE STOP
SHOPPING/STREAMLINED
PROCESS:
When
you have
an
issue,
go to
your
FacRep.
If they
cannot
address
your
issue,
they
will
contact
the LR
Advocate
responsible
for your
facility.
If the
LR
Advocate
cannot
address
your
issue,
they
will
contact
myself
or Ham.
Every
effort
will be
made to
get an
answer
to you
within
10 hours
of your
initial
inquiry.
REGIONAL
INTERVENTION:
At any
facility
that is
encountering
issues/problems
which
need
immediate
relief,
we will
intervene
at the
Regional
level to
try to
expedite
a
resolution
for the
issue.
LR
STRUCTURE:
Every
member
must
know
that
this
structure
is in
place to
expedite
matters
and
ensure
no issue
is
forgotten
or
mishandled
in any
way.
Even
with
this
structure,
it must
be
emphasized
that no
member
will
ever be
precluded
from
contacting
their
Regional
Leadership
directly
at any
time.
GRIEVANCE
HANDLING:
It is
our goal
to get
grievances
through
the
system
as
quickly
as
possible.
If the
Agency
answers
a
grievance
with a
denial
within
the
established
timelines
of the
2003
contract,
we will
get the
grievance
elevated
to the
next
level
immediately.
If we do
not
receive
an
answer
from the
Agency
within
established
timelines,
then we
will
elevate
the
grievance
within
20 days
after
the
Agency’s
answer
was
due. If
we
withdraw
a
grievance
for any
reason,
every
effort
will be
made to
ensure
the
originator
of the
grievance
is made
aware of
why the
grievance
was
withdrawn.
They
will
also be
advised
of all
avenues
we may
explore
to
eliminate
the
issue
that
caused
the
grievance
to be
submitted.
This
team and
its
structure
is a new
effort
to deal
with
labor-relations
matters
in an
expeditious
and
attentive
manner.
Please
realize
that
this
will be
a
dynamic
process,
in that
when
changes
are
needed,
they
will be
made by
the
Regional
Leadership.
As
changes
occur, I
will
ensure
that the
affected
members
are made
aware of
those
changes.
As
always,
please
feel
free to
contact
me with
any
questions/issues/concerns
regarding
this
Team
and/or
its
structure.
In
Solidarity,
Mike
Hull
Regional
Labor
Relations
Lead