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THE ASSOCIATION OF CIVILIAN TECHNICIANS

MISSION STATEMENT



Mr. Vincent J. Paterno founded the Association of Civilian Technicians (ACT) in 1960.

The Association's intent was to set forth a mission of representing National Guard Civilian Technicians regarding their conditions of employment. Since the founding of ACT, all Federal Employees now have an opportunity to join and be represented by the Association. These Federal Employees, through membership, have elected to unite and to associate with one another to intelligently and democratically consider and process their common labor problems, and to select representatives from their membership to achieve their goals.

ACT provides National Field Representatives to assist the chapters in all facets of representation not only to provide training to officers and stewards but to include training and understanding of unfair labor practice charges, grievance and arbitrations, contract negotiations, third party proceedings and other types of representation procedures necessary to work labor relations issues and to maintain and improve the conditions of employment of its membership.

ACT is also dedicated to promoting legislation designed to meet the needs of its membership.

These Federal Employees when standing together as the Association of Civilian Technicians cannot be rightfully denied those reasonable demands necessary for maintaining their conditions of employment. 


Mr Technician

 

HE STOOD ON HIS OWN TWO FEET, SPOKE WITH HIS OWN TONGUE, SAID WHAT HE MEANT, MEANT WHAT HE SAID...VINCENT J. PATERNO

 

Remembering "Mr. Technician"

Vincent J. Paterno  

October 18, 1923 - February 23, 1982

"Mr. Technician" - that was the name Vincent Paterno earned,  deserved and was known by. No single technician ever came close to equaling what Mr. Paterno accomplished. He operated thoroughly, advancing ACT from a humble beginning to a union of national importance, respected by all. 

Through his leadership, technicians now look forward to earned retirement benefits. Mr. Paterno was active in every aspect of labor relations from organizing to hearing on representation, unfair labor practices and federal impasse procedures. His representation led to the successful conclusion of the Peoria contract that places technicians in civilian attire, and the order that required management to continue negotiations on uniforms and reduction-in-force in Pennsylvania, after conclusion on the rest of the contract. The latter, bitterly fought by management, was only the third decision and order by the Federal Services Impasses Panel in six years. 

Mr. Paterno was well known as a persuasive speaker and proponent of civilian employee rights before any and all audiences. A man of conviction, well-established positions, a strategist and tactician of repute, he could be categorized as a spokesman who carried on the continuing crusade for National Guard employees without peer. 

Vince and his wife, Phyllis, moved to the Washington, D.C. area in 1970 to better represent the membership. He retired from the New York National Guard in 1974 after service dating from 1942. He was a 1949 graduate of Long Island University and pursued graduate courses at New York University and Syracuse University. 

His frequent appearances before congressional committees was well known. Vince was recognized for his efforts on behalf of technicians when President Johnson presented him with the pen he used to sign into law the National Guard Technician Act of 1968.

Mr. Paterno was a past member of the Board of Directors of the Society of Federal Labor Relations Professionals and addressed groups such as the Society of Government Accountants, MilitaryComptrollers, Federal Labor Relations Professionals and Federal Pay and Classification Society. In addition, he was a panelist on seminars conducted by the Civil Service Commission and other groups. 

At the time of his death, Mr. Paterno was, appropriately enough, working hard for his union and for all technicians, gearing up to fight a planned conversion to Active Guard Reserve positions.

To best honor his memory, let us continue the fight.

Keep The Faith




Page Last Updated: Dec 19, 2023 (10:51:50)
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Association of Civilian Technicians
12620 Lake Ridge Dr
Lake Ridge, VA 22192
  (703) 494-4845

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