Amfa's History Hidden

[Stop the Bus..I Want Off!!]

So if I understand all that...it's due to the lack of AMFA replacement in the industry that you like? Again you turn this thread to fit your need, we want to know what you see as AMFA hitory you can be proud of, not what the TWU lacks.

8 airlines and on the eve of representing the largest..................
Democracy since being certified.....................
Not a Company union..................
Not afraid to fight for it's members............

I could start a thread on twu's history. I'm sure it wouldn't be pretty, but what's the use. This board is something to do until the AMFA is certified at AA and then it's off to work to try to regain the 50+ years the twu just gave back for free!!

Soon the twu wannabes will be back to work. I wonder if they know about the elimination of double time, 1/2 pay sick days or the 5 lost vacation days??

 

[Hopeful]

yep

 

[Johnny Lunchbox]

8 airlines and on the eve of representing the largest..................
Democracy since being certified.....................
Not a Company union..................
Not afraid to fight for it's members............

You base your decision on numbers and not history of what AMFA has accomplished? Not a Company union...how the H can you state that? AMFA has allowed UAL, NWA, Alaskan to outsource at will, not a company union? Please. Not afraid to fight for it's members? Shallow man, what fight have they won, the fight to get 45% of their members back?

Does a light come on here? Even though the TWU may not be perfect, does not mean you throw yourself into certain dismissal.

 

[Hopeful]

March 31, 2003







James C. Little

Administrative Vice President, Air Transport Division

Transport Workers Union of America, AFL-CIO

1791 Hurstview Dr.

Hurst, Texas 76054





Re: Summary of the 2003 Contract changes



This will confirm our understanding reached during the negotiations leading up to the agreement signed on (DOS), 2003. During these negotiations, we discussed many changes intended to achieve sustained long-term financial relief from the current provisions of the TWU labor agreements. This letter is intended to recap the majority of the agreed upon changes. Changes are listed by Title groups: I (Mechanics and Related), II (Facilities, Automotive, Cabin Cleaners, Utility and Building Cleaners), III (Fleet Service), IV (Fuelers), V (Stock Clerks), T/S (Technical Specials), Disp (Dispatch), Metro (Meteorologists), Sim Techs (Simulator Technicians) and Instrs (Ground School and Pilot Instructors).



Pay Related

Effective May 1, 2003:

§ Base wage pay reduction, varying percentages (all groups)

§ Elimination of all longevity pay(I & II)

§ Modified longevity pay, start after 17 years, current rates (III, IV, V,T/S)

§ Reduced Sim Tech Coordinator premium by $.75/hour

§ Reduced Sim Tech Skill pay to $.10/hour

§ Reduced Pilot Simulator Instructors premium to $10.00/month

§ Reduced Ground School/Pilot Simulator Instructors standardization coordinator pay to $150.00/month

§ Reduced Pilot/Simulator Instructors work unit experience premium

§ Modified shift differential to $.01, $.02, $.03 (I, II, III, V, T/S, Sim Techs)

§ Elimination of weekend differential (I, II, V, at AFW, TUL, MCI)

§ Elimination of midnight skill retention premium (Sim Techs)

§ Training pay at straight time for off shift and day off (I, II)

§ Elimination of penalty lunch payment (I, II, III, IV, V)

§ Elimination of OT meal allowance (I, II, III, IV, V, T/S)

§ Penalty hours pay for actual time worked @ 1.5x (I, II, III, IV, V, T/S)

§ Reduce OT rate from 2x to 1.5x (I, II, III, IV, V)

§ Work 40 hrs to reach OT rate for day off overtime (III, V)

§ Elimination of debrief pay (T/S)

§ Elimination of Stock Clerk driver premium

§ Elimination of AMT premiums when displacing OSM employee

§ Elimination of Early Call-In guarantees (I, II, III, IV)

§ Elimination of short turn penalty due to shift bids (Art 21 d) (III, IV)

§ Elimination of CC premium when not working as CC (III,V)







Work Rules/ Other changes and effective dates:

Effective April 15, 2003:

§ Combine Systems/Structures into Generals (Title I)

§ Added 7 day labor loan provision (Bases only)

§ Increased AMT productivity through multiple work assignments/training

§ Holidays reduced from 10 to 5. The five (5) observed holidays will be: New Year’s Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day (all groups)

o Holidays- 5 days with roll @ 1.5x (I, II, III, IV, V, T/S, Sim Techs)

o Holidays- 5 days (no roll) @ 1.5x (Disp, Metro, Instrs)



Effective May 1, 2003


§ Reduce annual SK accrual to 5 days @ 100% (all except I & II)

§ Reduce annual SK accrual to 5 days, 1st two at 50% (I & II)



Effective May 3, 2003

§ 4/10s at Overhaul docks/TUL, duration of agreement

Effective within sixty (60) days of ratification:

§ Outsource RON/Ultraclean (II/III)

§ One time System protection credit for headcount reductions realized from work rule changes (all groups except Metro)



Effective thirty (30) days from ratification:



§ Reduce uniform provisioning and eliminate laundering (I, II, III, IV, V)

§ Outsource stores function at HDQ (6 Stock Clerks)

§ Relocate 4 Stock Clerks at ORD/GEM to ORD/M & E hanger



Effective as soon as practicable after DOS:

§ Change work schedule to 5 on, 2 off (T/S)

§ Reduced VC accrual one week (all groups)

§ Modify Crew Chief ratios:

AMT- 1:11.5

FSC- 1:9

Fuelers- eliminated ratio

Stores- 1:12

Benefits:

§ Medical & Dental plan modifications (all groups) Effective 1/1/04



§ SLOA Benefit Coverage reduced from 24 to12 months (all groups)

Effective 5/01/03



§ Eliminate STD Plan (all groups) Effective 1/1/04



§ Discontinue subsidized medical benefits RIF’d employees (all groups)

Effective 4/15/03





§ Modify IOD to 10 days (all groups) Effective 5/01/03 with the following transition:



o If the injury was incurred prior to 4/15/03, remaining applicable salary continuation through the end of the month up to the current 80 days

o If the injury is incurred on 4/15/03 or before 4/30/03, salary continuation for 10 days up to the current 80 days

o If the injury is incurred after 5/01/03, salary continuation for 10 days



Sincerely,





James B. Weel

Managing Director

Employee Relations



Agreed to this date:



________________________________

James C Little

Transport Workers Union, AFL-CIO

 

[Bob Owens]

8 airlines and on the eve of representing the largest..................
Democracy since being certified.....................
Not a Company union..................
Not afraid to fight for it's members............

You base your decision on numbers and not history of what AMFA has accomplished? Not a Company union...how the H can you state that? AMFA has allowed UAL, NWA, Alaskan to outsource at will, not a company union? Please. Not afraid to fight for it's members? Shallow man, what fight have they won, the fight to get 45% of their members back?

Does a light come on here? Even though the TWU may not be perfect, does not mean you throw yourself into certain dismissal.

And how does the TWU fight? When I asked Jim Little what was going on with the Force MNajeure Grievance, back in Oct of 2001 he said "we might win the grievance but we will bankrupt the company"

The TWU calls it fighting when they roll over and give the company $660 million in conbcessions, the exact figure the company asked for.

The only fighting that the TWU does is with its own members. The TWU is in more lawsuits against their own members than it is against any employer where it represents members.

Not perfect? Imperfect gives it too much credit, it is a burden to its members. $15/hr is the average rate of pay. That means that their real rate is $14.25/hrafter paying dues. Considering that the majority work in transportation, where the work goes on 24x7x365 this is a miserable rate of pay. The Mexicans who shape up for work with the landscapers make more than that, and they dont work nights, weekends, holidays or belong to a union.

If we stay with the TWU we know for sure where our wage are headed-down to the average TWU member. The TWU wants more members with lower wages. With AMFA the average member makes over $30/hr. Which way do you want to go, up or down?

 

[Hopeful]

yes

 

[twuer]

Still no solid evidence or argument that amfa is better. The TWU has taken the difficult road and amfa the easy one. We sacrifice and amfa outsources and lays off (with jobs NEVER to return!!!) Our sacrifices are temporary (with chance of return in 2006) as amfa's actions are permanent.

They talk of $30 an hour but for whom? The only elite group that amfa cares anything about, and those numbers are about to go south as well!!!!

Amfa is nothing but smoke and mirrors. Thanks but no thanks!!

 

[Johnny Lunchbox]

So Bob, it would have better that Jim Little lied to you? He's honest and man enough to state the unpopular roads to choose at times, unlike Delle who always states what you want to hear, regardless of the obvious. I'll stick with Mr. Little and the TWU over Delle and AMFA's history of losses. BTW, I believe the TWU currently has a grievance in for the FM, to get those already returned back pay if I read it correctly.

 

[Ken MacTiernan]

8 airlines and on the eve of representing the largest..................
Democracy since being certified.....................
Not a Company union..................
Not afraid to fight for it's members............

You base your decision on numbers and not history of what AMFA has accomplished? Not a Company union...how the H can you state that? AMFA has allowed UAL, NWA, Alaskan to outsource at will, not a company union? Please. Not afraid to fight for it's members? Shallow man, what fight have they won, the fight to get 45% of their members back?

Does a light come on here? Even though the TWU may not be perfect, does not mean you throw yourself into certain dismissal.

JL, the last sentence is a step in the right direction for you.

Does a light come on here? Even though the TWU may not be perfect, does not mean you throw yourself into certain dismissal.

The twu is not perfect. Neither is AMFA. However, the AMFA is democratic and structured in such a way that imperfections can be addressed and repaired. Unlike the twu, which is socialistic and does not practice what they preach... "Change from within."!

 

[Johnny Lunchbox]

So with autonomy, what was it exactly that the International failed at. Understand what I'm asking? I'm not. I mean your local is as strong as it's membership, undisputable, so what was it you were attempting to change that you got shut down on? And I'm not speaking of having the ability of promoting AMFA as a TWU officer , I mean Ken, what was it that your local wanted and the International said no to.

 

[Buck]

20 years of concessions from the representation provided by the TWU. What evidence do you have that that is going to change in 2006 or even 2009?

 

[TWU informer]

The Concept of “Craft or Classâ€￾

This is Federal Legal concept “Craft or Classâ€￾

In accordance with the Railway Labor Act, the Federal Government has decided that certain work groups have a mutuality of interest at the bargaining table and in advancing worker related issues, and that groups outside of that particular craft or class should have no participation in how the union is run or at least in the initial decision as to who represents that work group. And so Pilots vote with Pilots, and Flight Attendants as matter of law are prohibited from voting with the Pilots. And in turn, the Pilots are prohibited by law from voting with the Flight Attendants because they are considered to be in different Craft or Classes by the National Mediation Board. And Mechanic and Related Workers within the Airline Industry are entitled by law to vote just amongst themselves.

Supporters of the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) believe that it comprises our mission to remain associated within a union structure with other crafts or classes that according to Federal Government do NOT share our mutuality of interest. The mission is further compromised when we remain associated with other crafts or classes within the union structure of “majority ruleâ€￾ and our particular craft or class is the minority in size. The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) is the only union in this current debate at American Airlines that says “We will forbid ourselvesâ€￾, it will be unconstitutional for us to go and represent baggage handlers, flight attendants, or passenger service clerks, and we will not let ourselves do that because this would compromise our mission. We wish the baggage handlers and other crafts or classes on the property the very best, but they cannot pick our pockets, we wish them to get the very best on their own, but they should no longer be allowed to ride on our backs. In other words, it is time for the airline industry to decouple the mechanic vs. baggage handler pay and benefit structure. It is suffice to say that since deregulation of the airline industry which since enactment has created enormous competition and pressure on airline ticket pricing, and that has resulted in the craft or class of mechanic and related workers suffering in economic buying power, and especially when compared to the Pilots and Flight Attendants who at American belong to craft specific unions. In the mid 1970’s, the Flight Attendants of American Airlines were also represented by the Transport Workers Union of American (TWU), and just as the mechanics today seek a change to a craft specific union, they also left the TWU in favor of the independent Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) The craft or class of Mechanic and Related at American Airlines can no longer afford to remain in an organization that advocates a linking of different work groups that according to law do not share a mutuality of interest.

Regardless of good or bad economic times, and regardless of whether the union is negotiating concessions to prevent a bankruptcy filing or negotiating from economic growth with corporate profits, the formula by which the economic pie is divided amongst the union membership is a union decision. The recent concessions are a clear case in point, because American Airlines was demanding $620 Million in concessions from the TWU, but how those give backs were divided up was a union decision, not a company decision. And the facts are clear, that the craft or class of Mechanic and Related at American took more than our fair share of that amount, and it is also clear this was a union decision.


AMFA IS THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR SKILLED TECHNICIANS

 

[Johnny Lunchbox]

Typical post from you Dave, nothing to do with the subject and heavy on the BS.

Promises in 2006 or 2008? Don't you think that will depend on the health of the company and the trend of our industry? AMFA is setting the trend currently, and it's overseas.

 

[Buck]

The company will remain healthy as long as the union concedes to everything they ask for.

 

[Bob Owens]

Still no solid evidence or argument that amfa is better.

What exactly are you looking for? The fact that AMFA turned the tide and brought the wage from $25 to $35, forcing others to follow is not enough?

We sacrifice and amfa outsources and lays off (with jobs NEVER to return!!!) Our sacrifices are temporary (with chance of return in 2006) as amfa's actions are permanent.

For twenty years? We have been giving concessions for twenty years! This latest round was just the icing on the cake. It put us below non-union wages and benifits. When are we going to get back the "temporary" concessions that we gave twenty years ago? You know the ones that USAIR and UAL had to go into bankruptcy to get. What proof do you have that the AMFA layoffs are any more permanant than our layoffs?

2006? You mean when the extension for pension deferrals runs out?

The TWU has taken the difficult road and amfa the easy one.

The took the easy road for themselves and pout us on the difficult one. How come they kept the company paid UB?

They talk of $30 an hour but for whom? The only elite group that amfa cares anything about, and those numbers are about to go south as well!!!!

Are you admitting that the TWU is trying to drive us all down to their average member at $15/hr while they continue to collect six figures?

Amfa is nothing but smoke and mirrors. Thanks but no thanks!!

And what it the TWU except concessions plus more concessions?