Always Remember

[aamechntx]

I believe it is a great video. Kudos to the guys at 565 for creating it.

 

[Tex-Mech]

I figured standing outside screaming, yelling, and buring mock checks would not exactly be the type of professionalism you seem to promote and stand for.

I was nearly as embarrassed about this stunt as I was when the TWU brought the Coffin on a trailer to the Brady Theater.

Getting elected to office within the TWU has changed many folks' judgement and integrity.

Sorry just my opinion.

I guess you just prefer to sit by and ridicule those who are actually doing something. What are you doing other than whining? The drive died 5 years ago, what have you done since?

Bravo 565, makes me want to take the next bid over from the rock so I can be part of a proactive local. First time I've ever seen a TWU local do something that rivals what the pilots and flight attendants are doing.

Keep up the good work...

 

[Boomer]

The current state of affairs is clear: Under Sect. 1113 of the BK code, RLA labor agreements can be abrogated by the Bankruptcy Courts without the possibility of recourse to self-help under the RLA.

Effectivelly: the BK Court trumps the RLA for covered entities seeking relief.

Unless the Labor Investment in a DNC controlled White House, Senate and House of Representatives manifests itself in language that legally allows Labor the opportunity for the same rules allowed management: game over.

We must push for the recognition of self-help under the RLA when and if a covered entity is granted Sect. 1113 abrogation of contracts covered by the RLA: until we get parity for self-destruction, management is the only party left at the negotiations table with a weapon.

 

[Bob Owens]

We must push for the recognition of self-help under the RLA when and if a covered entity is granted Sect. 1113 abrogation of contracts covered by the RLA: until we get parity for self-destruction, management is the only party left at the negotiations table with a weapon.

With a "legal" one.

When the laws become as corrupted as they have, where the courts can confiscate the labor of workers while allowing corporations free reign at setting prices, then workers may have to resort to simply breaking the law with civil disobedience by withdrawing their labor despite what corrupt judges dictate from the bench as they tend to their portfolios.

Unions were illegal until the courts realized that their illegal status only fostered economic instability, now unions continue to promise stability as the courts undo all that unions achieved. Most unions, whose leaders are largely unaware of of how and why Unions were able to make advances mistakenly believe that the political process alone will help reverse labors long decline. They are wrong, unless labor shows the powers at be that they are willing to fight the old fashioned way-by withdrawing their labor, workers will continue to lose.

Like the mediator said 'Labor entered into a deal with the devil" when they agreed to the RLA. All of the provisions that were benificial to workers have since been stripped away by subsequent bench rulings and the only thing that is left is that we cant "legally" do a thing as the courts strip away all that we sacrificed for.

The whole premise of the RLA was "Status Quo", the courts have made the law irrelevant and arbitrary. What they did was immoral and should be illegal, while the oil companies raised their prices, and were showing record profits, sending the airlines into a tailspin, the courts, without consent, confiscated the labor and earnings of the workers so the airlines could pay it to the oil companies.

When did our democracy determine that the "good of society" is the burden of airline workers but not corporations?

 

[TWU informer]

I guess you just prefer to sit by and ridicule those who are actually doing something. What are you doing other than whining? The drive died 5 years ago, what have you done since?

Bravo 565, makes me want to take the next bid over from the rock so I can be part of a proactive local. First time I've ever seen a TWU local do something that rivals what the pilots and flight attendants are doing.

Keep up the good work...

No actually I tried to run for Union Office in TWU myself, but the Communist Bastards denied me the right to get on a ballot.

So take your whine statement and pound some sand.

It is interesting how those that used to "whine" also about the TWU, stopped as soon as they were elected. The TWU hasn't changed only those that got elected have changed. Some just changed their alias' here and still post but my, my how the tone has changed.

 

[MTheory]

With a "legal" one.

When the laws become as corrupted as they have, where the courts can confiscate the labor of workers while allowing corporations free reign at setting prices, then workers may have to resort to simply breaking the law with civil disobedience by withdrawing their labor despite what corrupt judges dictate from the bench as they tend to their portfolios.

Unions were illegal until the courts realized that their illegal status only fostered economic instability, now unions continue to promise stability as the courts undo all that unions achieved. Most unions, whose leaders are largely unaware of of how and why Unions were able to make advances mistakenly believe that the political process alone will help reverse labors long decline. They are wrong, unless labor shows the powers at be that they are willing to fight the old fashioned way-by withdrawing their labor, workers will continue to lose.

Like the mediator said 'Labor entered into a deal with the devil" when they agreed to the RLA. All of the provisions that were benificial to workers have since been stripped away by subsequent bench rulings and the only thing that is left is that we cant "legally" do a thing as the courts strip away all that we sacrificed for.

The whole premise of the RLA was "Status Quo", the courts have made the law irrelevant and arbitrary. What they did was immoral and should be illegal, while the oil companies raised their prices, and were showing record profits, sending the airlines into a tailspin, the courts, without consent, confiscated the labor and earnings of the workers so the airlines could pay it to the oil companies.

When did our democracy determine that the "good of society" is the burden of airline workers but not corporations?

Go ahead Mr. Owens;

Lead the way, if you dare.

 

[Ken MacTiernan]

No actually I tried to run for Union Office in TWU myself, but the Communist Bastards denied me the right to get on a ballot.

So take your whine statement and pound some sand.

It is interesting how those that used to "whine" also about the TWU, stopped as soon as they were elected. The TWU hasn't changed only those that got elected have changed. Some just changed their alias' here and still post but my, my how the tone has changed.

Are you aware of how to make change for the better?

I did not know that stating facts about the twu was whinning.I thought it was showing the truth. Just like the video. Corporate greed is a cancer, throughout our nation, let alone our industry; with a few exceptions.

I was elected as an E-Board member but it has not changed my beliefs in promoting and protecting our craft. I have more responsibilities now than before so excuse me if I do not spend as much time as in the past on this board. I will post with positive information that affects our craft.

You tried running twice for office in Tulsa and that is positive. But a war is not won in one or two battles.

 

[Bob Owens]

It is interesting how those that used to "whine" also about the TWU, stopped as soon as they were elected. The TWU hasn't changed only those that got elected have changed. Some just changed their alias' here and still post but my, my how the tone has changed.

Well I suppose thats one way of looking at it. But the facts are that 90% of the guys that I work with pushed for a change in representation but the people you work with said no. We still want change and we are pushing for it within because thats the only option your coworkers left us.

Sure you can sit in Tulsa while earning the NY equivelent of $116,870 (base) while we struggle on the Tulsa Equivelent of $32,891 and judge us for not being faithful to the cause but your children arent the ones who will have to give up on the hopes of going to college and a better life as a result of your dedication, ours are.

http://swz.salary.com/costoflivingwizard/l...mp;x=45&y=9


Great job 565, keep up the good work.

 

[High Speed Steel]

Well I suppose thats one way of looking at it. But the facts are that 90% of the guys that I work with pushed for a change in representation but the people you work with said no. We still want change and we are pushing for it within because thats the only option your coworkers left us.

Sure you can sit in Tulsa while earning the NY equivelent of $116,870 (base) while we struggle on the Tulsa Equivelent of $32,891 and judge us for not being faithful to the cause but your children arent the ones who will have to give up on the hopes of going to college and a better life as a result of your dedication, ours are.

http://swz.salary.com/costoflivingwizard/l...mp;x=45&y=9


Great job 565, keep up the good work.

Bob, You and ken need to "get to work" and quit whining here.......geeesh :unsure:

 

[BigMac]

Cool vid.
So can you guys fill us in on any changes since entering office please ?
Not a sarcastic question.. I know change will take time.

 

[Boomer]

With a "legal" one.

When the laws become as corrupted as they have, where the courts can confiscate the labor of workers while allowing corporations free reign at setting prices, then workers may have to resort to simply breaking the law with civil disobedience by withdrawing their labor despite what corrupt judges dictate from the bench as they tend to their portfolios.

Unions were illegal until the courts realized that their illegal status only fostered economic instability, now unions continue to promise stability as the courts undo all that unions achieved. Most unions, whose leaders are largely unaware of of how and why Unions were able to make advances mistakenly believe that the political process alone will help reverse labors long decline. They are wrong, unless labor shows the powers at be that they are willing to fight the old fashioned way-by withdrawing their labor, workers will continue to lose.

Like the mediator said 'Labor entered into a deal with the devil" when they agreed to the RLA. All of the provisions that were benificial to workers have since been stripped away by subsequent bench rulings and the only thing that is left is that we cant "legally" do a thing as the courts strip away all that we sacrificed for.

The whole premise of the RLA was "Status Quo", the courts have made the law irrelevant and arbitrary. What they did was immoral and should be illegal, while the oil companies raised their prices, and were showing record profits, sending the airlines into a tailspin, the courts, without consent, confiscated the labor and earnings of the workers so the airlines could pay it to the oil companies.

When did our democracy determine that the "good of society" is the burden of airline workers but not corporations?

Bob,

IMHO, this type of ruling falls under the ruberic of "Dredd Scott" on at least three levels.

1) The Unions covered by the RLA are comfortable with this ruling because they now have no incentive to fight for "reasonable accomodation" with companies filing for Sect. 1113 relief under the BK code: they can just present the company demands to labor as a "fait-accompli." Thus their duty of fair representation is moot and their reason for existence eliminated.

2) A fundamental violation of my civil rights is the demand that a term and condition of my employment with any RLA covered entity is conditioned on Union Membership given the courts ruling or payment under the agency-fee rulings under the closed shop provisions of the RLA. Prior to the Federal Courts ruling on the NWA Flight Attendants, the status quo was the primary enforcement of a balance of powers between labor and management in entities covered by the RLA: absent that balance, the requirement of Union Membership and/or the payment to a Union of any amount of my wages is taxation without representation.

3) The rulings with respect to the NWA Flight Attendants must be overturned or the closed shop provisions of the RLA be nullified.

4) The entire question of whether the rational for the RLA can be brought into question as needing to continue given that the entire RLA was based on a now invalid basis of status-quo.

The Unions covered by the RLA can either be eliminated by cutting off dues supporters or forced to become the democratic ideals sought when Unions were brought into existence. At the same time, entities covered by the legally questionable blanket of both the RLA and the BK provisions will feel the same cold irrationality they have visited on their employees. As the beginning to the HBO special on John Adams begins: "Join or Die."

Going extra-legal prior to forcing the question as to the relevancy of forcing employees to pay for non-existant representation is the cart before the horse.

 

[Bob Owens]

Bob,

IMHO, this type of ruling falls under the ruberic of "Dredd Scott" on at least three levels.

1) The Unions covered by the RLA are comfortable with this ruling because they now have no incentive to fight for "reasonable accomodation" with companies filing for Sect. 1113 relief under the BK code: they can just present the company demands to labor as a "fait-accompli." Thus their duty of fair representation is moot and their reason for existence eliminated.

No arguement there. The six figure earning appointed officials of the unions had no incentive to take on the combined forces of Capital and Government, and we all got screwed. They still live comfortably though.

2) A fundamental violation of my civil rights is the demand that a term and condition of my employment with any RLA covered entity is conditioned on Union Membership given the courts ruling or payment under the agency-fee rulings under the closed shop provisions of the RLA. Prior to the Federal Courts ruling on the NWA Flight Attendants, the status quo was the primary enforcement of a balance of powers between labor and management in entities covered by the RLA: absent that balance, the requirement of Union Membership and/or the payment to a Union of any amount of my wages is taxation without representation.

Well not really. The company enterred into a contract with the union and agreed that certain work would only be accomplished by members of that union. I dont know of any civil right that entitles you to employment with a private employer or that bars an company from enterring into a contract with a single supplier of labor. I agree that democratization, accountability and transparancy are needed and that the labor movement needs a major overhaul but I dispute the notion that labor unions dont have the right to negotiate contracts that state that all workers doing work covered under a contract must be done by members. Its no different than when Busweiser negotiates a deal with Madisin Square Garden that they will only sell their products and not a competitors.

3) The rulings with respect to the NWA Flight Attendants must be overturned or the closed shop provisions of the RLA be nullified.

Fine, but restore our rights to self help as well. In other words get rid of the whole law and all restrictions against workers.

 

[FWAAA]

Well if you are going to quibble over the numbers then we have to bring up the fact that the company said "concessions for jobs", they took the concessions then they took even more of that dollar value in jobs. We lost 25% of our compensation then watched as our headcount was reduced by 35%. So the $1.8 billion is'nt a lie, its an understatement.

The facts don't support your unsupported allegations. From the 10-K filed 4/15/03:

In February 2003, American asked its labor leaders and employees for approximately $1.8 billion in permanent, annual savings through a combination of changes in wages, benefits and work rules. On March 31, 2003, the Company reached agreements with the leaders of the three major unions representing American employees and announced changes in pay plans and benefits for non-unionized employees (including officers and other management) which will meet the targeted contributions. Of the approximately $1.8 billion in savings, approximately $1.0 billion are to be accomplished through wage and benefit reductions while the remaining approximately $.8 billion would be accomplished through changes in work rules which would result in additional job reductions. Wage reductions became effective on April 1, 2003 for officers and will become effective on May 1, 2003 for all other employees. Reductions related to benefits and work rule changes will be phased in over time.

In February 2003, American asked its labor leaders and other employees for approximately $1.8 billion in permanent, annual savings through a combination of changes in wages, benefits and work rules. The requested $1.8 billion in savings is divided by work group as follows: $660 million—pilots, $620 million—Transportation Workers Union (TWU) represented employees, $340 million—flight attendants, $100 million—management and support staff, and $80 million—agents and representatives. On March 31, 2003, the Company reached agreements with the leaders of the three major unions representing American employees (the Labor Agreements) and announced changes in pay plans and benefits for non-unionized employees (including officers and other management) which will meet the targeted contributions. Of the approximately $1.8 billion in savings, approximately $1.0 billion are to be accomplished through wage and benefit reductions while the remaining approximately $.8 billion would be accomplished through changes in work rules which would result in additional job reductions.

Wage and benefit reductions totaled about $1.0 billion and job reductions totaled about $0.8 billion. The financial statements reflect these savings, as the 2004 salaries, wages and benefits were almost exactly $1.8 billion less than in 2002 (2003 reductions were about half the total, since the concessions were imposed on May 1, 2003).

In the years after 2004, the salaries, wages and benefits spending increased by about 1.5% a year, the same as the nominal wage increase everyone received.

 

[Bob Owens]

Wage and benefit reductions totaled about $1.0 billion and job reductions totaled about $0.8 billion. The financial statements reflect these savings, as the 2004 salaries, wages and benefits were almost exactly $1.8 billion less than in 2002 (2003 reductions were about half the total, since the concessions were imposed on May 1, 2003).

24100 employees gone, at a conservative figure of $60000/worker that comes out to $1446000000, $1.4 billion just in lost jobs. Like I said $1.8 billion was an understatement.

 

[Ken MacTiernan]

Cool vid.
So can you guys fill us in on any changes since entering office please ?
Not a sarcastic question.. I know change will take time.

BigMac,

I transferred to DFW in Feb. 2008 so I do not have a lot of time under the previous administration. But since the elections where the membership elected a new President, Vice-President and Title 1 and At Large Executive Board Members we have been busy. The Secretary/Treasurer and Stores Executive Board Member were both re-elected and they are great guys and do a perfect job in their elected positions. I feel that we have a solid Local at 565, and of course Local 565 includes AUS and DEN which may be smaller in size than DFW but are just as important.

Our E-Board Members still work on the floor at their bid positions. The Stores E-Board and At-Large both work days and I work nights so we can have as much coverage for having an Officer on duty if needed.

Our Meeting attendance has increased as has our ability to get information out to the members as quickly as possible. We have a Communications Officer who e-mails the members with important info. that can not wait till the next union meeting; he also did the video that was posted.

Our Vice-President and President remain accessible to the members and through their leadership Local 565 is doing all that we can to protect and promote our membership's needs. Our Stores E-Board Member is doing an excellent job. Even though percentage wise there are more AMTs than Stock Clerks we remain united and stand together when representing the members. Our Secretary/Treasurer does a great job running the day to day operations of a local our size and is always open to questions on any aspect of the local's actions.

We have Shop Stewards who are held accountable and many were re-elected. The Local is getting training for the Stewards so they are better prepared to fight for the membership. The Stewards are professional and when they speak they represent the Local.

We have an ASAP coordinator that does an excellent job of protecting the membership and is an asset to DFW/AUS/DEN. Our President keeps lines of communication open with other Local Presidents which benefits members from all the Locals.

All in all, I believe we are making a positive impact on our member's needs and I am proud to work for the Local 565 Membership. They elected me and I work for them.