I will be dissapointed if the guys at UAL accept this. However, who are we to say anything?
In 2001 the mechanics at UAL voted NO on the TA. The President imposed a PEB on the mechanics.
In 2001 the Mechanics at AA voted yes on their contract.
In 2002 when UAL said give us 8% back or we will go BK, the mechanics at UAL took a stand. We have a contract. They saw that over at USAIR pre-BK concessions meant nothing but lowering the starting point for more concessions in BK. Six months later when AA said give us 25% or we will fike BK we voted yes. We gave the company more concessions outside of BK than any company was able to get in BK.
Within less than a year after going BK the UAL mechanics and related ousted the IAM for their lack of leadership.
Two years later and the TWU is still colecting dues from us. In fact the year that we took the paycuts top TWU officials gave themselves an average 10% increase in pay! Most of our coworkers still allow the company to take our money, put their name on it and give it to the TWU. Not only does the TWU not have to do anything for us but they dont even have to come to us for our money. Why do they still pay through Check off? "Because its too much of a hassle to write out another check every month". Yea, too much of a hassle but then the same people will criticize others for not jumping onto picket lines in haste. If writing a check every month or two is too much to ask then what would it be to get them to walk off the job and walk a picket line?
Over the last six months the AMFA has resisted the companys attempts to get more concessions. The TWU has never resisted concessions from AA.
The AMFA has blasted UALs management.
The TWU praises AA management, and why wouldnt they, after all Jim Little is from managememt and the company gives the union $3.1 million a year on top of the dues they collect from the employees and still pays International officers.
The fact is that at every turn we have let our brothers from UAL down. We have done so for twenty years. From R&D, OSMs, Medical Benifits, Vacation accrual, straight time pay for training, all things that the TWU gave up to AA years ago that UAL could only get in BK, to all the things we gave back outside of BK in 2003, we have been undercutting our brothers at UAL. They take a stand, and we fold.
To come out now, before the vote is even taken and say that "I wont support AMFA" ("because the guys at UAL, who have been carrying us for years, didnt vote down UALs proposal and take a stand that I didnt take") is childish and selfish. The goal to get for AMFA is to unite all the aircraft mechanics in one union so we can be in a position of strength. Who are we to expect the guys from UAL to take a stand when we all know that if they do, and are successful, that in 2006 when the openers start that we will simply lower the bar once again with the TWU. The UAL guys would have every right to say that they will step back this time and at least see if we have enough fight to oust the TWU and for once tell AA to pound salt as far as concessions go. Then when they do take a stand they will know that their brothers at AA will not be working overtime while they are picketing.
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