NATCA Academy
As the New Year begins, NATCA members have a new benefit to look forward to: improved training courses with a fresh perspective and a renewed attention to detail.
With the recent arrival of Training Manager Allen Figueroa, NATCA’s Training Department received an overhaul and a new name: “NATCA Academy.” Figueroa urges all members to take advantage of improvements to old courses, as well as new ones designed to help members navigate today’s labor relations environment.
“Training is important for members because they must learn to understand and utilize union tools, such as the constitution and collective bargaining agreement, while also comprehending numerous policies and regulations that apply to collective bargaining,” Figueroa explained. “Our courses provide facility representatives with the skills they need to communicate with management, conduct investigations, file grievances and resolve issues in an effective manner.”
Figueroa promises members who attend training at NATCA’s national office a more interactive experience that will provide “less reading and more doing.”
“I plan to bring in our labor relations staff so they can share their wealth of experience in arbitrating cases and dealing with the agency,” Figueroa said. “They will give members the knowledge to utilize key tools and resources to effectively represent members at their facilities. Individuals should come to class ready to be interactive, get involved and share experiences with other facility representatives.”
The courses will feature mock arbitrations, case studies and practice grievances, as well as other exercises. Figueroa also plans to include NATCA headquarters staff as guest speakers, giving facility representatives a wider view of the union’s efforts and more specific information about NATCA’s various departments.
At the first training session of 2006, NATCA Director of Strategic Planning and Policy Jose Ceballos enlightened attendants with his perspective of the current happenings on Capitol Hill. “I’m really happy Allen has given me the opportunity to speak to our members who attend training,” Ceballos commented. “Having strong grassroots activists is absolutely essential to NATCA’s success on the legislative front, and we need their support here in Washington, D.C.”
One new addition to NATCA’s training offerings in 2006 is “Occupational Safety and Health Training,” a course designed to help members develop a cooperative problem-solving approach to safety and health issues by teaching them where to look for information and explaining the issues of joint labor/management cooperation.
“This course focuses on employer and employee rights under OSHA, OSHA inspections and enforcement procedures, the role of safety committees and other important topics,” Figueroa remarked. “It puts members in line with the National Safety Committee, and teaches them how to voice their safety concerns and document any related grievances appropriately.”
Want to learn more about training?
To view NATCA Academy course descriptions, schedules, and an Academy travel guide, log on to the members-only portion of www.natca.org, then click “NATCA Academy” for all the details. If you are an NATCA member interested in attending a class, contact your regional vice president for information.
Registration for all NATCA courses originates with the regional vice president. Once the RVP confirms registration with NATCA Training Department Administrative Assistant Carolyn Kamara, she will forward a letter of confirmation to the attendee along with other training information.
