Hello all, hope you’re all safe and healthy. A lot is changing in the facility so we’ll get right into it.
Masks
Last Tuesday, the face coverings MOU was updated to be in compliance with Executive Order 13991. Basically what this means for us is that unless you are in a single person office with floor to ceiling walls, outside while maintaining social distances, or actively eating/drinking while maintaining social distances, you are required to wear a mask. The control room is considered a shared office and therefore masks are required regardless of the time of day or distance to the next controller. Across the nation, we are hearing about increased disciplinary action and usage of the Professional Standards program to enforce this MOU. Please just wear your mask. Here’s the link to the MOU if you’d like to read it in its entirety.
RL3 Cleanings
We have wrapped up our trial period for the RL3 cleanings. We can expect some things to change as they continue to iron out the details but all in all, it’s not too bad. If you’re working the swing shift, please do whatever you can to “de-clutter” the area. This includes things like:
putting all empty strip holders in the dirty strip bin to be sanitized
removing all extra stuff from the tables like knick-knacks, old headsets, food, garbage, etc.
removing all extra chairs
It all has to be done and it’s too much for the mid shifter to do before the janitors get there while working traffic.
This will continue for the foreseeable future and since we’re all making our way back to BWS now, some of you might be working your first mid shift in a while. Here’s how that’s been working:
At some point in the night, the active sector will move to an alternate scope so that the janitors can clean that one. If your area can get it moved over and fully settled before the mid shift arrives, that’s fine but don’t force it if you don’t have to. The supe will execute the commands necessary to move the frequencies to the alternate sector. Then you can move back as soon as they’re done.
The janitors have been pretty good about getting the whole control room sanitized in about an hour and a half but that does not include the normal cleaning.
The Pure Hard Surface cleaner needs to sit for 1-5 minutes before wiping with a cloth with only water. If you happen to see something different than that please let someone know, too short of time and it isn’t effective, too long will cause a sticky build up.
Please let us know if any problems arise.
Vaccines
Your area reps might be sending you a quick, one question survey asking whether you plan to get the vaccine. It will not collect names or email addresses, it is only to help as a planning tool for us to try and get a plan together. Just a reminder, you do not have to get permission from the supes to get the vaccine, you only need to work with them to get EA to do it. Otherwise it will just be sick leave. Then, after it is done, just report that to the flight surgeon, not the supes. We sent another email to King County Public Health department to see about creating a vaccine schedule or something of that nature but still no reply. We’ll let you know if/when we do hear from them.
Have a good night,
Derek Adams and Amy Sizemore