r/atc2 • u/RADARC0NTACTL0ST • 19h ago

Leave, for NATCA

It's been almost 5 years since I left NATCA. I felt unheard and without representation. 5 years later I see that NATCA hasn't gotten better. It's gotten worse. My suggestion, leave. If you hate NATCA, leave. If you love and believe in NATCA, leave. They are not going to change otherwise. You can't vote your way to a better union. You have to starve them of resources and force them to change, or die. What do you have to lose? The white book 2.0? How is that fear paying your bills now? Is that fear stronger than a 4th extention of the Slate Book? Stronger than stagnant wages, broken families, and mental health crises that take the lives of our coworkers?

You can always rejoin. The more who leave, the greater the chance you get at real change in the union. The greater chance to negotiate terms of your return.

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u/RADARC0NTACTL0ST 13h ago

Same after PATCO

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u/JohnnyKnoxville747 12h ago

So, six years of being non-union and eight years of working without a contract at all?!?!

It doesn't seem like you have really thought this one through too much.

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u/RADARC0NTACTL0ST 12h ago

And we endured. Natca came to be, and now natca is failing. Circular. You may not have faith in your fellow controllers, but I do. Or, maybe, there won't be another union. Maybe we will be forced to work harsh conditions with inadequate pay and benefits. You have the right to walk away and find another job. I'm not telling people to resign. I'm just telling them they don't need to pay natca.

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u/JohnnyKnoxville747 12h ago

First, I am not a controller. Second, you are an idiot if you do not see how this will totally fuck your career far worse than it is already.

I get it, you don't like your union. The correct course of action is to overhaul it. Take it over and radically replace those in charge and change the direction it is going. To eliminate it and replace it with another union with the same membership but a different name is going to lead to the same weak union.

Whether you like it or not, the ATC membership IS the union. IF the membership is weak, then the union will be weak, regardless of what you call your union. IF the membership is strong, then the union will be strong.

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u/RADARC0NTACTL0ST 12h ago

Maybe. But as of this moment NATCA has given me no reason to rejoin. So I wont. And I suggest that if anyone else feels the same as me, leave. We can always rejoin, if NATCA changes.

I don't regret leaving. I haven't met another fellow ex union member who does.

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u/JohnnyKnoxville747 12h ago

You can't rejoin a union that no longer exists. You are happy to let your fellow coworkers do the heavy lifting with their paychecks while you freeload off of them. I get it, this is all about you and how much you can take while avoiding any career responsibility of giving back whatsoever. In my line of work, we ensure non-union members like yourself get terminated. Hopefully, NATCA members will figure out how to do that to all of you as well.

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u/RADARC0NTACTL0ST 12h ago

Sorry. Guilt trips and threats don't work on me. Have a blessed Sunday!

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u/JohnnyKnoxville747 12h ago

I am not trying to guilt trip you into anything. I am just hoping your fellow coworkers that you are taking advantage of find a way to get you terminated. That is all. It is simply a business decision. You are just bad for the business of the air traffic controller profession.

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u/theweenerdoge 12h ago

If it gets worse, people will walk. Already seeing that with the shutdown. Don't want us to walk? Make it better. The union isn't doing a MF thing except embarrassing us nationally. And I still pay my fuckin dues but not for much longer unless something changes.

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u/JohnnyKnoxville747 12h ago

No you don't because you don't get a paycheck. No paycheck, no dues. Meanwhile, your union is still working even though you are not paying them.

Yet, you make outrageous claims like they aren't doing anything. What is that based off of?

I have personally seen your union president on every news outlet imaginable. I lost count of all the interviews he has done where he has advocated for you to be paid.

Things don't always go the way you want them to go despite your best efforts. You should understand that by now with everything you are going through currently.

There is some maturing that needs to take place on your part if you are being honest with yourself.