A Labor Day message from a fellow Chapter Officer
Greetings PASS Brothers and Sisters,
“Unions are, by definition, the coming together of many individuals with some common interests.” – Paul F Clark, Building More Effective Unions
As you are enjoying time with your families and/or friends this Labor Day, try to take a moment to remember the American Union workers who went before you, and me, who sacrificed their lives, lifestyles and even jobs, in hopes to make treatment of the average American worker (from working hours, to working conditions, to pay) better. In our case (FAA technical employees) this vision started with one man, Mr Howard Johannssen, PASS’ founder, and first National President.
I had the pleasure of meeting Mr Johannssen, this year, at the PASS National Convention, in Miami. After hearing a two hour seminar on the history on PASS, presented by Howard Johannssen and Luke Drake, I was even more resolved in my determination to the success of growing PASS to the levels that once made us a labor force with which to be reckoned!
Mr Johannssen talked about phrases that early members used such as “pressing the flesh” – which means PASS members would continually, daily, ask non-members, not, “Will you join?”, but, “Why haven’t you joined yet?” That phrase really gripped me because I felt like we (me included) as active members, don’t “press the flesh” like we should. Don’t get me wrong, there are many of you who give more than is expected and I, as your Chapter President appreciate you more than you know! Yet, all too often we ask once, maybe twice, and then let it go – only to make a comment here and there in passing about, “see, look what PASS has done this time…”, or “…thanks to PASS”. Not that these statements aren’t true, necessary, and probably appropriate at the time, but really, we SHOULD be asking continually, daily, “why haven’t you joined yet?” “What is it you need to join?”. We should be “pressing the flesh”. If one member can’t get through, get another member to speak with that person about joining. Could you imagine the growth and activity we would experience if joining PASS was promoted by every PASS member? As if joining PASS was as, if not more important than seeing a new hire a your facility get his/her systems certfications.
(I, personally, would ask, for any active members, who are thinking terminating their membership this year, please, contact me – give me the opportunity to see if I can’t address your concerns or needs, before you submit your paperwork. If I can’t address your concerns or needs as they are “above my pay grade”, I will put you in touch with someone who can. This also applies to folks whom you know are teetering).
For the benefit of the members who couldn’t be in attendance at the PASS Convention this year, I have attached for you, a piece of work, thanks to, and written by Mr Luke Drake, concerning the early history of PASS – this was the framework used to guide the seminar. Luke wrote his fine piece of work in 2010, while earning his degree at the National Labor College. It is well worth the read. I would also encourage you to read it so that you, as members, can see that being a PASS member is not about what PASS can do for you today, but it is about being a PASS member to honor, pay tribute, and continue what those who went before us, already did (while a many of us were either still in grammar school, learning how to walk, and yes, even a twinkle in our parent’s eyes).
Click Here for link to Early Pass History
Enjoy!
…and THANK YOU, ALL, for your committment to PASS! PASS needs you, I need you, we need each other!
In the words of PASS member, Chris Slabinksi –
“Solidarity ’til our knuckles bleed!”
Dave Bowerman
President, PASS Chapter VA3