NATCA Celebrates NCF During National Volunteer Month |
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Support APA Member Jenny Benjamin as She Competes in Ironman Florida |
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Biennial Convention at a Glance: Join Us in Houston in August |
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16th Annual Archie League Medal of Safety Award Winners' Spotlight |
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Submit Your Photos for Mother's Day |
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SYR Member Sandra Gregoire Joins ICAO Drones Conversations |
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National Office Staff Employee Spotlight: Bill Bamford |
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NATCA Virtual Academy Courses Available |
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NATCA Academy Virtual Learning Series: Union Recognition and Representation |
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Join the NATCA Families Page on Facebook |
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Children of Air Traffic Control Specialists: Apply for an ATCA Scholarship |
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Member Benefit: Open a SkyOne Account for Your Child |
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IT Tech Tip: Reopening a Specific or Recently Closed Browser Tab |
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Union Members Feature:
National Nurses United
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Operation Traffic Counts Across the U.S. |
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NATCA Celebrates NCF During
National Volunteer Month
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What is the NATCA Charitable Foundation? |
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The NATCA Charitable Foundation (NCF) is a non-profit organization that touches the lives of many people across the United States. The foundation is a 100% volunteer organization consisting of NATCA members, family, friends, NATCA staff, and aviation partners. Often, these volunteers have full-time jobs outside of NCF, making their dedication to the success of the charity even more inspiring.
NCF is NATCA’s charity of choice. We are a charity of charities, giving back to multiple causes across the nation.
NCF seeks out organizations that serve a similar purpose and focus on helping the underserved. While NCF gives to large, well known charities, we also like to focus on and seek out charities that are underfunded and are often missed through typical charity drives, allowing us to make a big impact on these smaller underfunded charities.
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Members of Newark ATCT (EWR) raised $2,545 -- including a $1,000 donation from NCF -- for the Community FoodBank of New Jersey. |
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Members of Anchorage TRACON (A11) raised $3,073.22 -- including a $1,000 donation from NCF -- for the Food Bank of Alaska. |
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During the holidays, NCF supports our members in adopting a family, supporting foster children, toy drives for children in need, coat drives, holiday food drives, etc. In 2020, the NCF Holiday Program held 22 programs in 16 states and Washington D.C. $29,055.02 was donated in gifts, clothes, food, and housing. |
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In recent years, hundreds of NATCA members nation wide raised money to support The Trevor Project and aid their crisis intervention services for LGBTQ+ youth. NCF contributed to this effort in 2018, 2019, and 2020, helping Trevor provide vital, life-saving services to hundreds of thousands of LGBTQ+ youth nationwide. |
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What Happens When You Donate to NCF? |
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Money that is donated to NCF is distributed amongst multiple charities across the country. Because NCF combines money from different sources, we are often able to help our members donate more than they would on their own. NCF is also a 100% volunteer organization. Our operational costs are extremely low which allows us to maximize donations. In 2020, NCF donated to over 100 different charities across 34 states, as well as Puerto Rico and Washington D.C. |
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How Does NCF Choose its Charities? |
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NCF empowers NATCA members to give back through multiple avenues, while shining a light on the generosity and caring that exists in our profession.
NATCA members choose the charities that NCF supports. Our Union's members have a voice in how our funds are dispersed, by requesting support for charities that are special to them or are charities where they volunteer their time. NCF empowers NATCA members to give back through multiple avenues, while shining a light on the generosity and caring that exists in our profession.
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Support APA Member Jenny Benjamin
as She Competes in Ironman Florida
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Denver Centennial ATCT (APA) member Jenny Benjamin is raising money for the NATCA Charitable Foundation (NCF) and Dare2Tri and could use your support. Benjamin is competing in Ironman Florida in November, a full distance triathlon which includes, in order, a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride, and 26.2-mile run. Each phase of the race is completed consecutively with a fast transition to change gear and grab nutrition.
Benjamin is not a professional athlete, but has put in hundreds of miles of swimming, biking, and running, all while balancing work and family. “A NATCA brother encouraged me to sign up and help raise money for NCF,” said Benjamin, who also serves on the National Legislative Committee as the Northwest Mountain Region Rep. “NCF helps numerous charities around the country and seeks out charities that are underserved and matter to the communities where NATCA members live and work. During this fundraiser, we are going to make a donation to Dare2Tri.”
Dare2Tri is a non-profit organization with the mission to enhance the lives of individuals with physical disabilities and visual impairments by building confidence, community, health and wellness through swimming, biking, and running. “These amazing athletes are inspiring to me and prove that with determination you can achieve anything,” said Benjamin.
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To donate, you can visit Benjamin’s fundraising page, Jenny.givesmart.com and follow her journey on Facebook or Instagram. “I am just an everyday person that is making it work, one day at a time,” she said. “I would love your support and camaraderie over the next few months as I build my fitness to finish Ironman Florida.”
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NCF's Virtual Wine-Tasting Recap |
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The NATCA Charitable Foundation’s (NCF) first virtual wine-tasting event on March 31, held in conjunction with Red Thread Wines of Napa Valley, Calif., drew 38 participants and raised $1,200 to support NCF and World Central Kitchen, Chefs For America.
NATCA President Paul Rinaldi and NCF President Corrie Conrad hosted the event with Brian and Gretchen Brakesman of Red Thread Wines. The Brakesmans and their winery narrowly escaped the destruction from wildfires in 2020, so the event was also a celebration of their family-owned business as a way to bring people together for a great charitable cause.
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Biennial Convention at a Glance:
Join Us in Houston in August
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We are now less than four months away from the start of NATCA’s 18th Biennial Convention in Houston. Here’s an update:
DATES: Tuesday, Aug. 10, through Thursday, Aug. 12, with an opening event on the evening of Monday, Aug. 9.
REGISTRATION: If you are already registered, there is no need to register again. All current registrations are still valid and have been carried over. If you need to cancel your registration because you cannot make the new dates, please log in to your existing convention registration to make the cancellation. If you previously canceled your registration or are now interested in going to the Convention, you can register now. Register or modify existing registrations here.
SITE: NATCA’s 18th Biennial Convention will be held at the Marriott Marquis, in Houston. Make your reservation here. All previous hotel reservations for the earlier dates have been cancelled.
AMENDMENTS AND RESOLUTIONS: The time period to submit proposed amendments to the NATCA Constitution and/or resolutions for consideration at the Convention has closed. The Constitution Committee is creating a booklet that will be mailed out to all members in advance of the Convention.
SAVE THE DATE: NATCA’s 19th Biennial Convention is now scheduled for June 20-22, 2023, It is planned to be held at The Diplomat, in Hollywood, Fla.
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16th Annual Archie League Medal
of Safety Award Winners' Spotlight
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Federal Contract Tower: Brad Burtner, Pompano Beach FCT (PMP)
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NATCA charter member Brad Burtner retired from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Jan. 3, 2008 after three decades of working traffic at four different facilities. Like many other retirees, Burtner headed to Florida, but he didn’t hang up his headset or put away his Union membership card. |
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Instead, two days later, Burtner started a new chapter as a Federal Contract Tower (FCT) controller at Pompano Beach ATCT (PMP). Four years later, he worked to organize the controllers to choose NATCA to represent them, adding to a growing list of the Union’s FCTs, which currently totals 116. That same year, Burtner started his six years of service on NATCA’s National Organizing Committee.
In late 2019, it was something Burtner did on the job that has earned him a new round of respect and admiration. NATCA this year is excited to announce the addition of a new category for FCT saves to join the nine geographic regions in the 16th annual Archie League Medal of Safety Award program. The first FCT winner is Burtner and NATCA will be honoring him and his fellow 2020 award winners on Aug. 11 at the 18th Biennial Convention in Houston.
Burtner worked at Cincinnati ATCT (CVG) from 1986 to his FAA retirement date after spending his first decade in the FAA at New Orleans-Lakefront ATCT (NEW), New Orleans Moisant ATCT (MSY), and Lake Charles ATCT (LCH). He said it was an easy decision to continue working at an FCT.
“I still enjoy my job and I like the camaraderie at work,” said Burtner who also serves as both PMP FacRep and Southern Region Alternate Vice President representing FCTs. “Everybody gets along great. It’s fun to work there.”
Late on a typically clear weekday morning at PMP in December 2019, Burtner was working local control and had four aircraft in the pattern. One was N955Q, a Beechcraft N35 Bonanza, which Burtner says flies in 1-2 times daily.
“You sit in the tower for a year or two and there’s no events,” Burtner said. “You’re busy with traffic, but it gets to be routine.”
But on this day, with this aircraft cleared to land on runway 10, something was off. “It didn’t look right, so I put binoculars on,” Burtner said. The aircraft was over the approach lights and in the flare, the transition phase between the final approach and the touchdown on the landing less than 10 feet above the ground, ready to touch down. That’s when Burtner noticed the landing gear was up and immediately issued a go-around.
The pilot was able to throttle in, pull up, reestablish the aircraft in the pattern, and manually lower the landing gear. He returned and landed safely. Afterwards he called the tower and advised that he had an armature problem that caused the gear malfunction. He said the go-around instruction saved the aircraft.
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Donnie Snyder, the Chief Executive Officer of Buy, Fly, Sell, LLC, the company that owns the aircraft, was very thankful for Burtner’s quick actions. He visited the tower to personally thank Burtner and the staff and present Burtner with a special framed certificate. It reads, in part, “It is my honor to present this Recognition of Excellence letter to Bradley Burtner for his exemplary actions on this day. Furthermore, I commend the entire ATC staff at KPMP. They are one of the best in Florida.” Snyder also wrote that “Brad’s actions prevented damage to our aircraft, runway closure and all the other unpleasant events that follow an aviation incident.”
Robinson Aviation, Inc. (RVA) operates PMP. Its Area II Manager, Bruce Bivins, wrote a letter of appreciation to Burtner. “It is this special attention to duty and quick action that allows the system to have the safety record it enjoys,” Bivins wrote. “It is always a pleasure to learn employees’ vigilance and attention to detail has helped keep the flying public safe, and it gives us the opportunity to say ‘thank you’ from RVA and the users of the system. On behalf of Robinson Aviation (RVA), I would like to commend you on your performance.”
Burtner said he feels very honored to receive the first Archie League Medal of Safety Award for FCTs.
“It’s always nice to be recognized,” Burtner said. “I’ve been working for NATCA since three or four years after its founding (in 1987). It’s always nice being recognized for things by your Union and know people appreciate your work and know you’re still doing a good job.”
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Listen as Pompano Beach controller Brad Burtner uses quick thinking to guide the Beechcraft N35 Bonanza pilot to safety, in this episode of The NATCA Podcast. Click here to listen.
Other ways to listen to The NATCA Podcast:
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Nominate a Fellow Member for an Archie
League Award
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There is still time for a member at any air traffic control facility to nominate a fellow member for a 2021 Archie League Award. Saves that have occurred at your facilities from June 1, 2020 through April 16, 2021 are eligible. Nominations must be submitted by Friday, April 23. The winners will be honored at Communicating For Safety 2021 in Las Vegas in September.
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Submit Your Photos for Mother's Day |
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As we approach Mother's Day
(Sunday, May 9), NATCA is proud to give the spotlight to the incredible women who dedicate their lives to ensuring the safety of the National Airspace System and the families lucky enough to call them “Mom.”
Share your photos with us to be featured in our Mother’s Day photo album. Send photos to publicaffairs@natcadc.org with the name and facility of the mom you're celebrating!
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SYR Member Sandra Gregoire Joins
ICAO Conversations Around Drones
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The discussion on unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS), drones, and more is largely influenced by the technical and regulatory debate. How to safely grant UAS flight in segregated, hybrid, and non-segregated airspace is one of the major challenges. Concepts such as detect and avoid (DAA), remain well clear (RWC), Lost C2 Link (LC2L), unmanned traffic management (UTM) are fairly new. One element which might not be at the forefront is the human dimension both on the ground and in the air. The personnel required to operate RPAS or UAS can range from a single remote pilot to a crew with dozens of people and as such, the human interactions with the RPAS are paramount.
Syracuse ATCT (SYR) Staff Specialist Sandra Gregoire participated on a panel, Human Dimension in Unmanned Traffic, hosted by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) last month, examining many of these human dimensions. The panel discussed the new challenges the humans in the loop have to face, how remote pilots and airspace managers are coping with new operations, the question of individual liability, and what types of joint cognitive systems are being implemented to assist with coping with the new technological environment.
Gregoire talked about the timeline in which the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) granted authorization for the 174th Attack Wing (ATW) to fly in and out of the Syracuse Class C airspace. She discussed some of the benefits and challenges of working with the General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper, and also made reference to SYR handling large and small UAS operations out of Rome, N.Y., at the Griffiss International Airport, which is an FAA-designated UAS Test Site.
“Faced with integrating large RPAS into the National Airspace System (NAS), the controllers at SYR and Boston Center (ZBW) openly and willingly accepted the challenge,'' said Gregoire. “They have been instrumental in ensuring the safe operation of the MQ-9’s as they not only operate in the SYR Class C traffic pattern, but also as they transition to Boston Center’s Class A airspace. These controllers are truly at the forefront of the next chapter of aviation history.
“I’m hoping what we are doing at Syracuse International Airport, which was also just named one of the five FAA airports authorized to begin anti-drone testing, is helping to pave the way to a smooth transition for integrating more UAS operations in our NAS.”
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National Office Staff Employee
Spotlight: Bill Bamford
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We have an amazing National Office staff that our membership can be very proud of. They work hard every day and are committed to providing our members with the very best service and representation in organized labor. Today, we feature Bill Bamford, our Deputy Comptroller. Thank you for all you do, Bill! |
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Where are you from, or what places have you lived?
Bamford: I grew up mostly in Pittsburgh, but have also lived in Connecticut, Kentucky, and currently live in Virginia.
Where did you go to school, or what other education do you have?
Bamford: I did my undergrad (BA in Accounting) at Asbury University, and went to grad school (MS in Accounting) at the University of Kentucky. (Go Wildcats!)
How did you come to work at NATCA?
Bamford: I worked at a previous job with Cheryl Lewis (NATCA’s former Executive Administrative Assistant), who notified me of an opening in the Accounting Department. I decided to apply, and the rest is history!
What's the most rewarding part of being a member of NATCA's staff? What's the most challenging?
Bamford: The most rewarding part is working in a place where I can be challenged professionally. I also enjoy working with and getting to know my co-workers and our wonderful members! The most challenging part would be learning the ins and outs of union-reporting requirements, regulations, etc.
Do you have any hobbies or any other activities you enjoy outside of your work for NATCA?
Bamford: I enjoy running, playing the trumpet, attempting to play the piano, and hanging out with my kids.
Has there been a favorite moment for you while at NATCA?
Bamford: Probably my favorite moment was being part of the completion of my first Labor-Management report (LM) filing. There was a lot I learned as part of that process.
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NATCA Virtual Academy Courses Available |
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NATCA Academy classes for virtual learning are currently scheduled through May. We hope that you will take this opportunity to learn more about your Union, your rights, and how you can become more active in the areas that interest you.
Visit the NATCA Membership Portal to sign up for any of the NATCA Academy Virtual Learning courses. Once you have logged in, select “List of Events” from the Events menu tab, then select “NATCA Academy Virtual Learning.” If you have any questions, please contact Chrissy Padgett.
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NATCA Academy Virtual Learning Series:
Union Recognition and Representation
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The NATCA Academy continues this spring with a lineup of courses. This week, we will focus on the new Union Recognition and Representation webinar.
What is this course about?
Daniels: This is a brand new course covering how NATCA is the exclusive bargaining representative. That is a foundational element to understanding our rights. All Representative Training (RT-1) instructors will be involved in teaching the modules over the course of the dates offered.
Who would benefit from taking this course?
Daniels: All members would benefit from taking the course since it lays the foundation for representation.
Why is this course important?
Daniels: This course is important because it covers an article of our Collective Bargaining Agreement (Article 2) that recognizes NATCA as the exclusive representative, and the right to a representative at each facility. The instructors will spend a majority of their time covering the article from the perspective of a Principal Facility Representative.
Don’t miss this virtual course, happening April 28 at 2 p.m. EDT. Click here to register.
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Join the NATCA Families Page on Facebook |
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The Federal Aviation Administration has established April as the Month of the Aviation Child. It’s a celebration of family-friendly initiatives ranging from parental leave to child care, nursing mothers program, and much more. The Agency hopes that by nurturing families in the workplace, we might also be able to spread a love of aviation to our youth.
The NATCA Families group, on Facebook, is where you can learn more, from NATCA Article 114 National Child Care Rep Jennifer Malloy (Cleveland Center, ZOB). We encourage you to “like” and follow the NATCA Families page here.
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Children of Air Traffic Control Specialists: Apply for an ATCA Scholarship |
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The Air Traffic Control Association (ATCA) offers one of its scholarships, the Buckingham Memorial Scholarship, to U.S. citizen children of air traffic control specialists. Applicants must be accepted or enrolled in an accredited college or university program leading to a bachelor’s degree or higher, and planning to continue enrollment the following year. Applications are due May 15.
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Member Benefit:
Open a SkyOne Account for Your Child
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SkyOne Federal Credit Union is offering a unique opportunity for all NATCA members: open a new minor account and SkyOne will deposit $50 into that account when you use promo code "YOUTH". Please contact Dina Earl directly at dearl@skyone.org or 310-487-1680 for any .
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IT Tech Tip: Reopening a Specific or
Recently Closed Browser Tab
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Have you ever been browsing the web, and decided to close a tab, only to realize that you wanted to keep that tab, or go back to that exact page? With a few keystrokes, you can have it re-opened in the blink of an eye!
On Chrome or Firefox browser:
- Using Windows: ctrl+shift+t will reopen any recently closed tabs
- Using a Mac: cmd+shift+t
On Safari browser:
If you want to reopen a specific recent browser tab, but it was closed several tabs ago and you do not want to re-open ALL the previous tabs, you can do so through the various menus of the web browsers.
For Chrome:
Click on the three dots in the top right of the application (Same location on both Windows and Mac). With the menu open, select the “History” menu, and then select which recent tab from the list you would like to reopen.
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For Firefox:
Click on the three horizontal lines in the top right of the application (Same location on both Windows and Mac). With the menu open, select the “Library” menu, then select the “History” menu, and there you will see your recently closed tabs to select from and open.
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For Safari:
In the top menu for Safari, select the “History” menu. From there you will see a section for “Recently Closed” and you can select which tab you would like to reopen.
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If you have questions about these issues or any other IT matter, contact the ITC members at itc@list.natca.net.
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Union Members Feature:
National Nurses United
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NATCA continues to highlight our union sisters and brothers who are also essential workers during the COVID-19 national emergency. Today we highlight and thank our union siblings of National Nurses United (NNU), AFL-CIO.
NNU, with more than 170,000 members nationwide, is the largest union and professional association of registered nurses in U.S. history. Amid a still raging COVID-19 pandemic, the efforts of our union brothers and sisters in NNO-represented occupations are highlighted like never before.
"When the World Health Organization declared 2020 the Year of the Nurse and Midwife, what they might not have realized is that it would be the year nurses take our solidarity and our union power to the next level — a year when our lives are threatened like never before, and we respond by organizing, and rising up like never before," NNU wrote on its blog recently.
Learn more about what NNU is doing to fight for not just the nurses and health care professionals it represents, but for the health and safety of the patients in their care.
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Operation Traffic Counts Across the U.S. |
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