Timothy Faumuina

“During my Career Technical Institute (CTI) program, mentors and trainers would talk to me about the union during lunch breaks, and I got interested.” It might not sound like a lot on the surface, but in Timothy Faumuina’s case, a simple conversation had a major impact.

Joining PASS as soon as he was hired by the FAA in 2004, Chapter HP3 member Timothy Faumuina now works as an airway transportation systems specialist (ATSS) at the Samoa System Support Center (SSC) and also serves as a PASS representative. Along with others in his facility, he works in maintaining Environmental, Nav-Comm and Weather systems.

PASS, along with the support of his team, plays an important role in improving Faumuina’s day-to-day work environment at the SSC by providing him with an avenue to collaborate effectively with management and solve workplace issues, knowing that respect and trust will be maintained between one another. “I transferred to Samoa in 2007, and the importance of the union is much greater here than Honolulu,” he stated. “The far distance from the U.S. mainland makes it very easy for management to drift away from what needs to be done, fairly and equally.”

While participating in Region III contract representative training, Faumuina noticed that there are numerous problems throughout the agency that differ from each other, but knows that PASS is there to support him and other members 24/7 in every capacity. “PASS bargains for the rights of all FAA employees with no grudges. To me, that is awesome and I want to be a part of this group of unique individuals who are collectively standing up for everyone’s future,” he added.  

At his SSC, when the 2012 collective bargaining agreement (CBA) became effective, the former Samoa SSC PASS rep had discussions and meetings with the manager to inform him about the additions and changes to the contract, which Faumuina could not appreciate more. “Nathan Sagapolutele was the last PASS rep before I took over, and I want just to say that he did a phenomenal job.” Faumuina says it took quite some time and a lot of effort, but changes and attitudes improved the operations in the SSC.

Faumuina compares his time spent at the Samoa SSC and the management style to the new Disney movie Moana, where he considers management to be the ongoing “chief” of his unit. However, when Faumuina experiences some difficulties at the workplace from time-to-time, his environment always keeps him in a positive mindset. “Apart from the beautiful weather, sandy beaches and tropical everything, the Samoa SSC is not perfect, but it is improving.”