Air Traffic Controllers request PATCO
Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization PATCO Air Traffic Controllers who work for the Midwest ATC Services, Inc., have signed up for PATCO Union representation. The controllers who work at the Trenton, New Jersey, Gary Indiana, Waukesha and Appelton Wisconsin Air Traffic Control Towers, have sent PATCO the necessary authorization representation cards required to petition the National Labor Relations Board for an election. PATCO has filed the required Certification of Representation Petitions with the National Labor Relations Board, requesting that a free and secret election be conducted at each facility. Original story: http://www.patco81.com Bookmark/Search this post with: |
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Fantastic
This is fantastic news. Thank you for sharing this stuff with us -- and please keep the updates coming.
In Solidarity,
-Richard
Air Traffic Controllers request PATCO
Union member
You are incorrect on the raiding and the AFL-CIO charges. In addition PATCO has been around more than a few years so you need to do your home work on the subject before you start trashing them.
In addition the trade mark is with them based on Federal records.
Union Man
Few Years
Thought I would help put on the homework. Heres PATCOs Trademark info from WOW A FEW YEARS AGO as in 2004 filing date. As in 2006 LAST YEAR registration date
PATCO PROFESSIONAL AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS ORGANIZATION Goods and Services IC 035. US 100 101 102. G & S: ASSOCIATION SERVICES, NAMELY, PROMOTING THE INTERESTS OF FORMER AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS AND OTHER PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL INDUSTRY. FIRST USE: 19960101. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19960101 Mark Drawing Code (3) DESIGN PLUS WORDS, LETTERS, AND/OR NUMBERS Design Search Code 18.09.01 - Airplanes; Gliders, airplane26.17.07 - Heat, lines depicting; Lines depicting speed, propulsion, heat or wind; Propulsion, lines depicting ; Speed, lines depicting ; Wind, lines depicting Serial Number 76584259 Filing Date March 29, 2004 Current Filing Basis 1A Original Filing Basis 1A Published for Opposition October 18, 2005 Registration Number 3039129 Registration Date January 10, 2006 Owner (REGISTRANT) Taylor, Ronald Lee INDIVIDUAL UNITED STATES 161 SW Willow Lake Trail Stuart FLORIDA 34997 Attorney of Record Michael A. Slavin Prior Registrations 2335414 Disclaimer NO CLAIM IS MADE TO THE EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO USE "Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization" APART FROM THE MARK AS SHOWN Description of Mark The mark consists of a special character drawing, which consists of the letters PATCO, with a jet stream through the center of the letters, "patc" and a jet aircraft in the center of the letter "O", with the words, "Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization" underneath the design. Type of Mark SERVICE MARK Register PRINCIPAL Live/Dead Indicator LIVE
PATCO ... for the record, as I understand it to be
The Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization or PATCO was the union that once represented air traffic controllers. It was initially founded in 1968 and was recognized as a collective bargaining agent in 1969.
The union members, as far as I know, stood in solidarity against the government, they struck. In 1981 they were all fired. The replacement workers were then (and are still part) of a union called NATCO; of which I know very little about.
There are many members of the original PATCO that were banned from their livlihoods as air traffic controllers -- and from what I understand, most went on to other careers, some were re-hired during the Clinton administration; but I am learning that history and can't speak directly to it just yet.
PATCO is now coming back, according to its President Ron Taylor. PATCO is organized as an independent union that takes up the concerns of those workers that were once part of the union -- who are still active in the union movement -- and is handling new organizing at PRIVATE towers -- meaning towers that are not governed by the FAA.
From what I am reading and learning; the new PATCO, with the same solidarity mindset from the 80s, is a small but growing union ... it is not affiliated with the AFL-CIO or CTW.
I have spoken with President Taylor a few times and plan to meet with him shortly so that we can share his story and speak of the new PATCO on Union Review. So ... more will be revealed over the coming days and weeks about PATCO and what it is up to these days.
No Confusion
Just so I am not misunderstood. From what little I know it seems quite clear that PATCO was acting in the best interest of its members. Of course I was not there so I can only say that based on the different sources I have read. I am slanted and now tend to have a close look at Union Officers and their motives. I am sorry to say that but it is fact. There have been things said about the ATC and Regan fiasco such as :
The air traffic control strike of 1981 has become a symbol of the decline of organized labor in the U.S. (2000)" Simonetta, J. (2000). Reagan Fires Air-Traffic Controllers. Hoovers Online: The Business Network
According to the Workmen's Circle Arbeter Ring, "The Air Traffic Controllers' (ATC) strike of 1981 marked a symbolic turning point in labor management relations (1997).
"One of the most important thing Ronald Reagan did during his presidency was break the 1981 air traffic controllers' strike, which helped break the hold of organized labor over the U.S. economy (1999).Mclaughlin, M. (August 1999). Wall Street's dirty Secret: 1990's boom based on smashing of labor in the 1980's.
It was not PATCO but Ronald Regan who broke the back of the ATC and PATCO. I have to ask why you would have endorsed Reagan?? Did PATCO know something about his Labor policy to merit such an endosrement. Do you regret the endorsement. If PATCO is making a move for a comeback as it appears it is have you learned the lessons of 1981 and what would you have done different to avoid that fiasco.What will you do different to not repeat that fiasco
I would also like to comment that this action by Reagan is another of the MAJOR causes of our membership decline that is always ignored. We have never recovered from this blow and it has had a major impact on Union Labor. Ignoring this and the real reasons of Union decline only does injustice to the atttempts at restoring our Union position in the Labor Market. Foolishly throwing money at organizing in programs that are not working as the UBC is now famous for. Misleading the memberships into believing that Big Business now has a magic weapon that has caused our steady decline only fools ourselves. Until we understand that events such as the 1981 ATC Strike and other mitigating circumstances have combined to facilitate our decline we can never start to take the corrective actions needed to restore our place in organized labor. As long as we knowingly ignore the truth then the truth will continue to bring about the demise of Union Labor.
Two PATCO Trademarks
There are two(2) PATCO trademarks that are owned by Ron Taylor, and this is the first one that goes back even further in time (1999 Filing)
Thank you for your request. Here are the latest results from the TARR web server.
This page was generated by the TARR system on 2007-07-26 16:39:56 ET
Serial Number: 75653538 Assignment Information
Registration Number: 2335414
Mark
(words only): PATCO
Standard Character claim: No
Current Status: Section 8 and 15 affidavits have been accepted and acknowledged.
Date of Status: 2005-05-14
Filing Date: 1999-03-04
Transformed into a National Application: No
Registration Date: 2000-03-28
Register: Principal
Law Office Assigned: LAW OFFICE 108
If you are the applicant or applicant's attorney and have questions about this file, please contact the Trademark Assistance Center at TrademarkAssistanceCenter@uspto.gov
LAST APPLICANT(S)/OWNER(S) OF RECORDCurrent Location: 830 -Post Registration
Date In Location: 2005-05-14
1. TAYLOR, RONALD LEE
GOODS AND/OR SERVICESAddress:
TAYLOR, RONALD LEE
5950 SE TAYLOR DRIVE
STUART, FL 34997
United States
Legal Entity Type: Individual
Country of Citizenship: United States
International Class: 042
ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONClass Status: Active
Association services, namely, promoting the interests of former air traffic controllers and other persons interested in the air traffic control industry
Basis: 1(a)
First Use Date: 1996-01-01
First Use in Commerce Date: 1996-01-01
Lining and Stippling: The lining in the drawing represents the color blue.
MADRID PROTOCOL INFORMATIONDesign Search Code(s):
18.09.01 - Airplanes; Gliders, airplane
(NOT AVAILABLE)
PROSECUTION HISTORY2006-09-29 - Review Of Correspondence Complete
ATTORNEY/CORRESPONDENT INFORMATION2005-06-03 - PAPER RECEIVED
2005-05-14 - Section 8 (6-year) accepted & Section 15 acknowledged
2005-04-19 - Section 8 (6-year) and Section 15 Filed
2005-04-19 - PAPER RECEIVED
2000-03-28 - Registered - Principal Register
2000-01-04 - Published for opposition
1999-12-03 - Notice of publication
1999-10-27 - Approved for Pub - Principal Register (Initial exam)
1999-09-07 - Communication received from applicant
1999-08-13 - Non-final action mailed
1999-08-10 - Assigned To Examiner
Correspondent
MICHAEL A. SLAVIN
MCHALE & SLAVIN, P.A.
2855 PGA BLVD.
PALM BEACH GARDENS
First One
The one you have is a little different. The one on the Trademark site is listed to John Maher as registrant with Mr Taylor as an add on. I wondered why if Clinton cut you lose in 1993 you never moved to restore your trademark (dead since 1981) until 2006. Makes a big difference since the 2006 move came during the time when NATCA took a beating from the FAA.
Strikers Union
Your right they are the strikers Union. Although formed in 1968 they are the ones responsible for the "Greatest Setback to Labor in 60 Years" Funny what a slap that was after they backed Ronnie in the 1980 Election. Then Ronnie went on to crush Union Labor and start the slide we are suffering today. How many times have you heard it said that Ronnie Regan(supported by PATCO) broke the back of Union Labor. Would PATCO gives us some insight as to that choice to back a Republican anti labor party headed by Reagan and how they feel about the results. It was a rather traumatic result for Union Labor. How do you feel about it now?
More Homework:
On August 5, following their refusal, Reagan fired the 11,359 striking air traffic controllers who had ignored the order, and permanently banned them from federal service. They were replaced initially with nonparticipating controllers, supervisors, staff personnel, some nonrated personnel, and in some cases by controllers transferred temporarily from other facilities. Some military controllers were also used until replacements could be trained. It proved the most stunning defeat for unions in 60 years. While some former controllers were subsequently rehired, they and their replacements are now represented by the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, which was organized in 1987 and has no direct connection with PATCO.
PATCO is now back as a labor union, the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization, Inc., and is an Independent Labor Union Certified by the NLRB Union. It represents the interests of the PATCO strikers, and has continued to fight the FAA on the lockout and age discrimination of the strikers since the ban was lifted by President Clinton on August 12, 1993. Clinton also offered many of the fired workers their jobs back, not many took them back because of different life styles and new employment. PATCO currently represents Air Traffic Controllers in the private sector, and is organizing private-sector Air Traffic Controllers everywhere in the USA to enhance their profession with better wages and working conditions.
Strikers Union
Mr. Ron Taylor replies in a telephone interview on 7.27.07
LOCAL 370 ASKED: "Could PATCO gives us some insight as to that choice to back a Republican anti labor party headed by Reagan and how they feel about the results. It was a rather traumatic result for Union Labor. How do you feel about it now?"
Mr. Ron Taylor replies with the following:
"If you go back and look at the history, Carter drew up the strike plan to get rid of PATCO. In 1980 Reagan was endorsed by the Carpenters, Teamsters, and PATCO – endorsements doesn’t mean that all of the rank-and-file voted that way … a lot of them did it because Reagan was a democrat as a governor in California. Reagan promised – if elected president he would work with PATCO; and he did ... he fired the solution and kept the problems. The President lied."
"Looking at in hind sight - obviously the endorsement was the wrong move, however, if we made a mistake ... so did a lot of other unions. Either way, if we went for Carter it probably would not have made a difference."
Thank you Mr Taylor
For taking the time to respond.It s my understanding as well that Reagan made promises and appeared the better choice. The results however did not come out as one might have hoped. It my research is correct, and understand that I was not there and can only speculate based on the information from others, PATCO reasons for Reagan were no the same as the Teamsters or Carpenters. PATCO thought Reagan would go easy on them if a strilke took place. I think the Carpenters and Teamsters did so only to implement their new policy of greasing both sides of the wheel. Is this a fair assumption.
I ask about NATCA and the FAA 2005/2006 as it seems that they are now in the same boat PATCO was back in 1981 to a degree. The FAA declared an impass and forced terms on the NATCA and their ATC. As the AFL-CIO puts it
"After demanding pay cuts of up to 30 percent and inflexible work schedules, the FAA declared an impasse in contract negotiations with the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) on April 5. Unless Congress acts by June 5, FAA Administrator Marion Blakey will impose the agency’s last offer, which could result in as many as 4,000 controllers, about 25 percent of the workforce, choosing to retire.
In June the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee appears headed to bring the FAA back to the bargaining table. Will your PATCO offer any kind of support to NATCA to show solidarity. The type that PATCO was lacking in 1981? Or is PATCO in a competition with NATCA for new members??The lack of solidarity allows the FAA to assert more power. Are you in competition at ALL for NATCA,FPD or any other ATC Union for members or is your goal only to solicit the non union unrepresented ATC ??
Thank you for your time and answers to my questions. What happened to PATCO and the ATC in 1981 affected us all. I wish Union Labor had offered you the protection that solidarity brings back in 1981. I hope the Trades all learn the lesson that we must support each other.
Per a telephone interview with Ron Taylor on 7.27.07
"When PATCO affiliated with OPEIU we had a legal contract with them to organize ATC in the private sector. When we were organizing, the FPD union filed a complaint and they did not want us to organize. The controllers were requesting our representation but the freedom of choice was denied to them."
--This is a direct quote from Ron Taylor given to Richard Negri over the telpehone in response to the above comment.
HUH?
I am a controller at Appleton and I am surprised to hear that we are voting to accept PATCO inc as our union. We are covered by a collective bargaining agreement with PATCO/AFCME. I have NOT requested this representation and hope to stay with my union and not join with the group of miscontents.
For Appleton Controller
Dear Appleton Controller:
The following is a thread of emails that took place between myself and someone who has alledged your comments to this story are not true. I was asked to divulge your information as the webmaster and owner of this site; and I declined. I will not, under any circumstance, divulge anyone's personal information on this site as my privacy policy is such that anyone can come to this site and remain anonymous without fear of retribution from any party. My site is focused on open and honest communication regarding the union movement in the United States.
To this end, I told the individual that they are free to post a response to your message if they believed it to be inaccurate; I also offered to simply post our email discussion for them if they too wanted to remain entirely anonymous. You will see the individual who is making these claims chose to stay anonymous and in the same protection of privacy that I am providing you - I am providing them the same.
Below is the email thread: the only part that was removed was the person's name and email address, as requested and discussed above.
-Richard Negri/ Union Review
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
----- That sounds great. I want to stay anonymous at this time. Thanks-
Here are my thoughts: Let’s publish this correspondence as a reply to this “Appleton” person. If you want to stay anonymous, I can post it from my screen name and do it for you. If you wanted to go this route, and stay anonymous, I would remove your name and any other identifier as to who you are. I can do this for you within a few minutes of receiving your reply and I would preface the posting with why I am posting the correspondence; this way it is public knowledge.
-Richard
Sent: Saturday, July 28, 2007 9:31 PM
To: Richard@unionreview.com
Subject: Re: Bogus commentators
Mr. Negri:
Thank you for responding so quickly.
I fully understand the privacy issue and I wouldn't want to know the identity of the person, but that being said -
If this "appleton controller" is not who he/she says they are, as the webmaster of the site, do you think that they should be allowed to make statements that are patently false?
From the "appleton controllers" statement, it appears that they prefer the PATCO/FPD affiliation and I know, for a fact, that NO ONE at that facility is enamored with the policies of PATCO/FPD. That was proven by the fact that they have all signed cards to withdraw their affiliation with PATCO/FPD and want to have a choice in their representation options.
Your site is great, but to allow people to falsely represent others only detracts from the discussion.
Fraternally,
AppletonController
Curious
PATCO/NATCA
Many of these towers you ask about have been trying to simply get rid of PATCO, a lot of these towes if not all of them are "FAIR SHARE" towers and not full card carrying members and are unhappy with the lack of progress PATCO has made in gaining any concessions and/or further benefits in the past several years. Things have remained status quo for too long and they are tired of no results.
This is not a question of representation between one union and another and most of this was started long before the Ron came along with his PATCO
I have not had a chance to
I have not had a chance to read all of these comments so if I repeat someone I apoligize.
There seems to be two PATCOs, and I think both have roots in the PATCO of the 81 strike. I am guessing that a group of leaders split and some went into one PATCO and some into the other.
One PATCO is neither AFL-CIO not CTW. There website is patco81.com
The other PATCO is affliated with ASFCME. A rather strange connection, not with AFSCME, but with a particular division of AFSCME. From what I can tell the PATCO.AFSCME is part of AFSCME's Federation of Physicians and Dentists/Alliance of Healthcare of Professional Employees. (I guess the Professional Employees is the fit here, more so that the health care side of the name.) FPD/AHPE is a part of National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees, which in turn is part of AFSCME as local 1199 - I think. I guess the initials would be PATCO, FPD/AHPE, NUHHC, AFSCME, AFL-CIO (Heck of a set of initials I am certainly not spelling them all out.)
The website for this PATCO is
http://www.fpdunion.org/PATCO/patco_purpose3.htm
Best I can tell the CTW unions do not have any PATCO.
I think both PATCOs go after the privitized ATC centers with the AFSCME PATCO signing up wether service stations connected with air line flights.
NATCA has the federal emplooyee ATC, which are in the larger cities.
NATCA has an interesting history in that they were started by a mariner's union. MEBA I think. And though they had some, or even quite a bit of independence from the parent union (from what I have read), it was not that long ago that NATCA got an AFL-CIO charter and total seperation from the parent union.
I thought I read somewhere back when NATCA got their charter that PATCO was also started by MEBA back years ago, and that is why NATCA was started by MEBA also in the late 80's or so. (I may be mistaken on this very last statement.)
Dear PATCO Could you answer??
Ron Taylor President
Ron Taylor
President
PATCO
Question 1. NO
Question 2 PATCO affiliated with OPEIU with the legal right organize Air Traffic Controllers. Other unions within the federation did not want the competition, so we left.
Question 3. NO
Question 4. I believe David Hodge works at Charlottesville Tower , and the NLRB has ruled that an election be held to decertify FPD/AHPE, NUHHCE, AFSCME, affiliated with AFC-CIO.
Question 5. FAA/ NATCA Contract… I have no details on what took place.Air Traffic Controllers request PATCO
Number 1..Not quite true..While not forcing anyone, organizing materials were sent out to towers..
Number 2..Organizing with OPEIU did not give the right to violate AFL/CIO constitution prohibiting raiding.
Number 3..Yes.
Number 4..True.
Number 5..True
in fighting vs. solidarity
It is interesting to watch this unfold at Union Review and I am glad that it is ... One side remembers things one way, another side remembers it differently - -sounds like my own family :)
I wrote an article earlier in the day about PATCO based on the various things I have learned from speaking with Executive Director Seddon at PATCO/AFSCME and President Ron Taylor of PATCO, Inc. I sent the article to both gentlemen so that they can review what I wrote and perhaps correct me on any factual errors on dates mentioned. So far I heard from President Taylor but not the other PATCO. I am going to publish at about 6 EST before I head out for my own meeting.
Based on what I could find, PATCO - as part of the OPEIU had the authority to organize. I don't know that they were "raiding" per se if they were in fact given the right to organize. If a Professional Air Traffic Controllers Association is given the right to organize -- who then should it be organizing?
PATCO / AFSCME also has the right to organize. The group was one union until some in-fighting went down some years ago. PATCO Inc. moved on or were told to move on -- and did so. The other PATCO kept the name and kept organizing.
So ... we have two groups with the same name organizing the same workers. One group, the one with AFSCME has to contend with Article 20/21 issues, of course ... and the other, as a totally independent ... does not. So ... they are both going after the same workers for representation ... though nowhere in my notes do I see anything about "force" or "coercion." It just seems to me that the workers get to choose which union they want to be with -- if they want to be with a union at all.
The article and this comment, I hope, helps the subject move along.
NATCA/FAA/MANAGEMENT partnership team
Richard;
I am one of the fired controllers barred from being rehired even after President Clinton's excutive order allowing us to reapply. The reason I was still barred didn't become clear to me until just a couple of years ago. Apparently NATCA had made an aggreement with FAA management to bar the fired controllers from higher paying jobs which are general at the air traffic control centers across the country. Unfortunately I was a center controller and although I did speak with the FAA, I was never hired, and I didn't understand why. Why NATCA entered into that memorandum of understanding with management is anybody's guess. I wouldn't hold my breath on expecting PATCO inc to work with NATCA in the near future. It appears that NATCA has some trouble with real union personnel that will stand up and be counted. There is more to this story that I am sure someone knows and isn't telling. Just thought I would give a little insight to the problems between these atc unions.
I did move on after the strike and went back to school and learned a different occupation and have since retired from Federal service.
Thanks for commenting and being here
Thank you for sharing your specific experience with us on this thread. There is clearly a lot going on with NATCA that I have been reading about - but chose to not include in the article I posted this evening. The reason I omitted NATCA - which IS a big part of the puzzle here, is that the two PATCO unions were causing the confusion, or so it seemed -- ane neither can organize FAA-governed workers per Reagan's move. They can only organize in the private sector, as far as I understand.
I am glad to hear that you were able to move on, learn another trade and find your well-deserved retirement!
-Richard