AMFA at UAL

[LavMan]

Did Dave get the CRJ-705? No he did not, he has to honor ALPAs contract as he will have to honor ours.

They cannot sell the tooling or facilities to get out of doing the work, the one thing about the PSA case is that US Air nor PI at the time overhauled their own CFMs and PSA never flew that type of engine. The shop was sold and the tooling was gone. We have all ready done heavy work on the narrowbody, and have proof of all the tooling that exists.

I would not put it past Dave and Jerry to try and farm it out, but they will face a battle if and when they try.

A union is only as strong as its weakest link, look in the mirror cause you are a link.

As for the second vote, I agree it was wrong, but Dave and Jerry said they were going to conduct their own vote or seek abrogation. This judge ruled in favor of the company on EVERY motion, so what do you think the judge was going to do? Look what happened at UA, the company went to the judge and asked in their motion for a 13% paycut, the judge was so kind he gave UA mechanic and related a 14% paycut.

We need to put the emotions of everything that happened aside and take on the enemy which is the company, not the union.

 

[LavMan]

It was expanded in your contract to 38% under AMFA, now it has reached 44% why has amfa not filed a grievance on it? Oh wait according to your contract when NWA goes above the 38% mark on farmout amfa gets paid, not the membership who should be performing the work.

At Alaksa they just negotiated their 2nd agreement which went to binding arbitration because amfa had that language in their first agreement, so the members could vote on it nor strike and some arbitor gave them their latest contract.

During ACAs first contract amfa lost a landmark case where a first time organized group that the "status qou" does not apply to them and the company could do whatever they wanted to them until a first agreement was reached. ANother fine job by Seham and Seham-Anti-worker attorneys who represent amfa.

And if you don't believe about the layoffs go to your own local 33 web page and read the latest TCC where your local lodge president even says NWA is laying off more mechanics.

[url="http://www.amfa33.org/TCC/TCC%20-%20July%202003.pdf"]http://www.amfa33.org/TCC/TCC%20-%20July%202003.pdf[/URL]

"Northwest Airlines invoked another force majuere, its third in less then two years. This lead to them announcing another 150 Technicians positions will be eliminated" From amfa's local lodge 33 president.

More links to layoffs at NWA:

[url="http://biz.yahoo.com/rc/030618/airlines_northwest_1.html"]http://biz.yahoo.com/rc/030618/airlines_northwest_1.html[/URL]

[url="http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/stories/2003/06/16/daily25.html"]http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/stor...16/daily25.html[/URL]

Northwest cutting more mechanics
Benno Groeneveld
Web reporter


Northwest Airlines Corp. plans to eliminate 700 aircraft mechanic positions at its Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport hub. The company blames SARS and the resulting drop in passengers on its Asian flights.
At the same time, the carrier said it set up three new maintenance lines at the airport for which it will need 500 mechanics, resulting in a net loss of 150 positions. Northwest will create two new lines for A320 Airbus aircraft and one for Boeing 757s.



Northwest to lay off 150 mechanics
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Northwest Airlines plans to furlough about 150 mechanics due to the decline in Asian-Pacific travel caused by the SARS epidemic, a spokesman said Wednesday.
Spokesman Kurt Ebenhoch said the airline notified the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association on Tuesday that it needed about 700 fewer technicians because of its previously announced decision to temporarily park 16 Boeing 747s.
However, Northwest at the same time is opening three new maintenance lines at its Minneapolis-St. Paul base for Boeing 757s and Airbus A320s, which will require around 550 employees, so the net number of furloughs will be about 150, Ebenhoch said.
Nearly all of the affected positions are in the Twin Cities, he said.
[url="http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2003/06/18-mechanics-layoff.htm"]http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2003/0...nics-layoff.htm[/URL]

 

[TDR1502C]

Alaska''s arbitration language is left over from their previous IAM contract and representation, and is also present in the ramp contract, which is still represented by the IAM.

Is the source of your NWA farmout numbers also giving favorable numbers on US Airway''s amount of farmouts?

At NWA the bumping has settled out, and we are recalling. At my station, there are fifteen positions for recall. While the numbers are not impressive, it is a start.

In closing, I don''t really care who represents me, as long as they do a good job. The union is just a tool, just like a wrench. There are different brands, such as Craftsman, Snap-On, and Chrome Vanadium, but if they work, then keep them. If they don''t, try another. At NWA, we gave the IAM a chance, and we had to try something else. I''m getting the impression that you are also promoting "something else". You wouldn''t actually be an AMFA supporter pretending to be an IAM official, now would you? It would be a good mind game, and you are playing the part well.

 

[KCFlyer]

----------------
On 7/17/2003 8:06:06 AM TDR1502C wrote:

LavMan, how successful was the IAM in badmouthing AMFA during the Alaska, Northwest and UAL representational elections? If AMFA was as miserable at bargaining and representing their members as you say they are, why did AMFA win those elections? Why hasn''t AMFA been replaced by another union if the situations at AMFA represented airlines are so terrible?

----------------​

From what I have been reading on these boards, it''s not so much of a "We want the AMFA" sentiment as it is a "anybody but (Insert union name here)" sentiment.

 

[LavMan]

The IAM never had binding arbitration in any contract, you need reread the old Alaska contract.

amfa strikes out at baseball arbitration
Well folks it looks like there are no happy people in mudville today because the mighty slugger, or is that slug, Delle-Femine struck out. AGAIN.
The first strike came when the slug agreed to such weak language to be allowed into an amfa negotiated contract. Now all the AMT’s at Alaska Airlines will have their base pay decided by an arbitrator and it will be IMPOSED ON THE MEMBERSHIP WITHOUT SO MUCH AS A VOICE OR VOTE.
The second strike came when the great slug Delle signed a SECRET LETTERS OF AGREEMENTS with Alaska management. This signing was done WITHOUT A VOTE OF THE MEMBERSHIP. To view the SECRET LETTER OF AGREEMENT go to [url="http://www.amfa14.org/Negotiations%20Updates%202002/MemorandomAgreementScan.pdf"]http://www.amfa14.org/Negotiations%20Updat...reementScan.pdf[/URL]


The third strike came in the bottom of the ninth inning when the great slug Delle was unable to get the company to agree to change much more than on the job training, leave of absence and hours of service. To see the complete list go to [url="http://www.amfa14.org/Negotiations%20Updates%202002/Tenative%20Agreement%20Index%20rev1.pdf"]http://www.amfa14.org/Negotiations%20Updat...ndex%20rev1.pdf[/URL]

Things will never be the same in mudville now that the great slug has struck out.


amfa decides Alaska Mechanics fate with a
"FLIP OF THE COIN"
On Thursday October 3, 2002 the decision on who would be the fair and impartial arbitrator was decided by the parties tossing a coin in the air. amfa and the Alaska management had a dispute over the procedural requirements of selection the arbitrator who will make the FINAL and BINDING decision on the following 9 issues.
amfa issues to be decided
1) License/skill pay
2) retirement plan
3) group insurance plan
4) severance allowance
Alaska management issues to be decided
5) Whether a letter of agreement requiring interest arbitration shall be renewed, and, if so what shall be the term of the agreement.
6) What restrictions/commitment shall be imposed upon bid awards to non specialized and specialized bid locations.
7) Whether management may require individuals to become qualified and remain current in additional job requirements and certifications ( beyond a minimal qualification) to meet the unique operational needs at certain bid locations.
8) What shall be the employees share of contributions towards the payment of group insurance.
9) Rates of pay.
This blow by blow coin toss can be viewed on the amfa local 14 web site at [url="http://www.amfa14.org/Negotiations"]http://www.amfa14.org/Negotiations Updates 2002/Negotiations Update 13OCT02.pdf[/URL]
In all the amfa negotiators were only able to get a TA on 12 items that were presented to the membership for a vote. This link shows just how poorly amfa negotiating prowess was at ASA. [url="http://www.amfa14.org/Negotiations%20Updates%202002/Contract%20Open%20Issues%20As%20Of%2004NOV02.pdf"]http://www.amfa14.org/Negotiations%20Updat...f%2004NOV02.pdf[/URL]
amfa was not able to stop the company from utilizing PART-TIME Technicians,30% of all the technicians employed at ASA can be part time and work SPLIT SHIFTS. This issue was not even presented as one of the options for the arbitrators decision.
This is just another fine example of how amfa promises don't live up to real life. NOT ONCE DID amfa HAVE LEGAL COUNCIL SIT AT THEIR BARGAINING TABLE, NOT ONCE! If amfa had used lawyers rather than flipping a coin the Alaska AMT's would have been better served

 

[Dea Certe]

It seems to me that all US Airways employees have been pushed to the breaking point. We have given and given to this company to "save it".

Much of our frustration now comes from an inability to deliver a standard of customer service we think our customers deserve.

Strange as it may seem, many customers are very sympathetic to us. They understand we want to do the good jobs we are used to doing. They are directing their anger and frustration at management.

Jerry Glass has got to go. He will not talk to the unions. Until he is gone, I expect we will see little improvement in our working conditions or our level of customer service.

The traveling public is much more savvy than management gives them credit for. I don''t think they want to fly in planes that have maintenance done at third party vendors. Didn''t I just read an article where the FAA expressed concern over their ability to properly oversee these vendors?

Dea

 

[av60]

All those cushy union jobs are in jeopardy.
It was said on the Tuesday conference call, that the union was working on dealing with the current amfa drive.
Is this how they are dealing with it, slamming another union.
Why not show us what’s good with what we have now? Lately we haven''t seen much good. Just the union trying to protect the union and not the membership. IE: MDA language, IAM pension scam, board seat.
Seems to me all they do is slam amfa and copy them. For instance dist. 149 (amfa lite) and 141m. They aren''t even smart enough to shut up about farm out language. Do you think we don''t know that ual can farm out all heavy maintenance? And pay rates are better at carriers NOT represented by the iam. I am looking forward to the scare tactics. Like "you can''t take the money in the strike fund if we go amfa its ours it belongs to the iam". Don''t worry thanks to the company union we have six years to build a strike fund if we succeed in tossing you out.
Or should we just expect the company to come talk to us for you, like they did on vote 2?

 

[N603P]

GO AMFA

 

[UAL_TECH]

FYI,

All IAM represented employees with grievances (Past or Present) and/or infractions should rush down to the local IAM committee room and make a copy of their records.

We didn''t.................

Take Care,
UAL_TECH

 

[ClueByFour]

LavMan,
Are you an AMT? Or, I guess my real question is this: would the AMFA represent your particular job classification, or are you simply hoping that the mechs don''t toss the IAM and leave 141 hanging on by themselves at US (eg, no more coattails to ride)?

It seems to me that you probably don''t have a horse in this race, absent trashing AMFA on behalf of the IAM as a whole. Please correct that assumption if I''m wrong.

 

[PITbull]

Clue,

I'm not sure of your point, or if you made one....but NO GROUP OF EMPLOYEES should be without UNION representation in this corporate-contract- raiding environment.

If you think folks fair better with no union in this environment, please explain the benefits for not having a union and a bargaining contract agreement?

I know if I were even a group of 50 that wanted union representation with a union that had fairly decent contracts and protections, I would definitely want to "ride their coatails" then be out their alone on our own.

What's our logic? Unless i'm reading you wrong, your tone is sacastic at best.

 

[diogenes]

----------------
On 7/20/2003 12:57:44 AM UAL_TECH wrote:


FYI,

All IAM represented employees with grievances (Past or Present) and/or  infractions should rush down to the local IAM committee room and make a copy of their records.

We didn''t.................

Take Care,
UAL_TECH

----------------​

------------------------------------------------------------

I agree with this advise.

Should AMFA, or one of their subsidiaries (AGW, PFFA, etc.) ever take over the administration of my current contract, I intend to take all of the grievances I didn''t get satisfaction from, and refile them.

In this apples to apples comparison, we''ll see if AMFA/AGW/PFFA is truly superior to the IAM.

And I''ll go out on a limb - there won''t be a dime''s worth of difference.

 

[delldude]

[url="http://www.amfanatl.org/Pages/05_Organizing/USAirUpdate73103.pdf"]http://www.amfanatl.org/Pages/05_Organizin...Update73103.pdf[/URL]
tmttq-read it and weep!

 

[jetmechline]

Delldude wrote:
good point tug....no union is a union without strong members who are willing to get involved!(btw,whens that amfa informational?)
______________________________________________________________________
______________
Delldude, you will be happy to hear that the informational meetings will be held around 8/20/2003 .To be announced soon! The letter of July 31 from AMFA only served as a catalyst!

 

[LavMan]

A Catalyst? I call it failure!


SAFETY IN THE AIR BEGINS WITH QUALITY MAINTENANCE ON THE GROUND

U.S. Airways Representational Campaign Update
An in-depth analysis of the U.S. Airways representational campaign was completed this week at the AMFA Administration Office in Laconia, New Hampshire. The following are the results of that analysis.
Eligible Voters Active Working Furloughed
Mech 5728 3225 44%
Utility 1900 1110 42%
Planners 147 120 19%
MOC 70 40 43%
7845 4505
We were able to determine that approximately 367 had retired, quit, resigned, or were terminated. This reduced the total eligible voters to 7478 U.S. Air employees in the Mechanic & Related Craft or Class.
AMFA's policy requires that 60% or 4487 of the eligible US Air employees sign an authorization card requesting AMFA representation. As you can see, nearly 100% of all active employees would have to sign before we could petition the National Mediation Board to hold an election.
NMB rules state that furloughed employees are eligible and retain the right to vote in representational disputes. Because of the deep cuts suffered by the Mechanic & Related work force, the U.S. Air campaign will be an extremely hard task to complete.
Currently U.S. Air has 47% signed authorizations on file at AMFA National. However, a very large percentage of these authorizations will expire in August and September of this year.
Sincerely,
Terry Harvey
Assistant National Director