Attention AA Mechanic and Related - Letter from Delle

[RV4]

Here is a letter from AMFA National Director O.V. Delle-Femine to all American Airlines Mechanic and Related Emlpoyees.

http://www.air-mechanic.com/pdf/DelltoAA.pdf

A Debate between AMFA and TWU would be most informative, I wonder why the TWU doesn't advocate and propose this and inform their members?

Can you say COWARDS and UNDEFENDABLE REPRESENTATION?

 

[RV4]

Seems the TWU might be telling more lies about AMFA.

 

[Checking it Out]

The Constitution
AMFA is about power...
working with the company...
they have power over you.

The International Controls the members!
All labor unions, including AMFA, are required by the federal government to prepare constitutions setting forth the union's organizational and financial structure as well as the various rules and regulations by which the union intends to govern its members. These "constitutions" are actually rulebooks, which become binding on all new members of any union. The AMFA constitution starts off with an oath of loyalty that reads as follows:
"I pledge on my honor to abide by the constitution of the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association and the rules and Bylaws of Local ______ to discharge all my commitments, duties, and obligations to my union, fellow workers and employer faithfully; and to conduct myself at all times as becomes a member of this, a professional skilled association."
Read Dignity and Respect Link to see what this actually means to you!
The AMFA constitution contains approximately 56 pages of rules and regulations that are absolutely binding on you if you voluntarily join AMFA (or are involuntarily forced to join under a negotiated union shop clause). We think you should have the opportunity to carefully review this document to determine if these are the rules and regulations that you want to abide by.








View the Constitution


[url="http://www.amfanatl.net/Pages/10_Publications&Forms/AMFAConst01idx.pdf"]http://www.amfanatl.net/Pages/10_Publicati...AConst01idx.pdf[/URL]
Note: Adobe Acrobat
Required to view documents









For example, Article XIII, Section 7 states: "Members shall discourage the working of overtime especially when fellow members are furloughed". How does the discouragement of working overtime benefit the employee? It doesn't, but if employees are not working overtime, it may mean that a company would have to hire more employees, which would mean more dues for them. This helps the union, not you. When overtime is available, many employees willingly work it today—that could change under AMFA's constitution. Look closely and see how many members actually believe this! The majority of the amfa members are out for themselves.
To see other examples of the rules and regulations that would be imposed on members, look under other areas of the board to see exactly what amfa means to you!
Who wrote this constitution? Not you. But you're the ones who will have to obey every article, section and subsection...or face "Membership Trials." Local union members can file charges against their own members, try them, convict them and punish them with reprimands, fines, suspensions, expulsions, revocations of charters and more. Do you know amfa has brought charges against their own members while organizers condemn other unions?

In respect amfa changed their constitution recently and added several provisions that guarantee certain Individuals certain rights. Do you also know amfa is passing out the old constitution to deceive you into signing a card! Amfa will stop at nothing to get a card signed. That Includes lying!

Amfa is not only an Aviation Technician Union as they have preached in the past! They are now Representing Flight Attendants and are currently working to organizing Fleet Service Clerks.
Learn the Facts! Get informed before it is to late!

Compliments of www.the-mechanic.net

TWU SOLIDARITY!

 

[Bob Owens]

CIO;

Will you ever get your act together?

By "the International" do you mean the TWU or AMFA? It is my understanding that AMFAs administrative body is the National, not International.

Lets look at the rights of union members in the AA TWU/ATD.
The contract is between the "International" and the company. Therefore jurisdiction over the contract is with the International including negotiations and Interpretation.

The members do not have the right to choose those that do the real negotiating and interpretation of the contract since these are positions that are appointed by Sonny Hall..

The members do not have the right to vote on changes to the contract despite what the Constitution says because Sonny Hall is allowed to interpret the Constitution as he sees fit.

The members do not even have the right to choose their own local leaders. So while members can not remove either Local or International officers the International can remove elected officers when ever they choose. Obviously all the power is at the top and not with the members. If the members put in officers that want change the International simply removes them.

What power do the members have beyond the power of being on or off check-off?


"Amfa is not only an Aviation Technician Union as they have preached in the past! They are now Representing Flight Attendants and are currently working to organizing Fleet Service Clerks.

Do you mean they are trying to get all airline workers into one union? So that no matter where you go you will be in the same union? So the next time we are faced with threats of government action, bankruptcy and other concerted efforts by the airlines, financial community and the government to lower our wages they will face a giant unified group of workers that have it in their power to literally stop all air transportation? Gee what's wrong with that? What is your strategy, stay split up and continue to make Sonny Hall rich and try to get into that $200,000/yr spot yourself? What about the rest of us?

 

[AAmech]

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On 8/7/2003 7:46:27 PM Checking it Out wrote:






Who wrote this constitution? Not you. But you're the ones who will have to obey every article, section and subsection...or face "Membership Trials." Local union members can file charges against their own members, try them, convict them and punish them with reprimands, fines, suspensions, expulsions, revocations of charters and more. Do you know amfa has brought charges against their own members while organizers condemn other unions?

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This is an outrage!! Amfa has brought charges against their own members, hold's membership trials and punishes them? This can't be democratic!!! I bet they have non-dues payers fired too!!

 

[RV4]

The Anti-AMFA Campaign is in full swing at American Airlines.

The question still remains, can any of you TWU supporters give us the PRO-TWU reasons for staying in an industrial union. Can you tell us what the TWU has accomplished for the AMT's of the industry in the last twenty years?

Or is your campaign and belief based on a premise that "we may suck, but AMFA sucks worse"?

Negative campaigning is easy, can you produce any positives?

If I were you, I would look at what the negative campaigning results have been against AMFA at airline after airline. You too will lose using the bashing of others when your own porch has not been swept of dirt for two decades.

Here is an example of a positive reason to go AMFA:



CAN YOU SHOW US THE EQUIVALENT IN THE TWU CONSTITUTION?
What are the MEMBERS rights under the TWU?

 

[RV4]

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On 8/8/2003 9:01:10 AM AAmech wrote:




This is an outrage!! Amfa has brought charges against their own members, hold's membership trials and punishes them? This can't be democratic!!! I bet they have non-dues payers fired too!!
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What would be an outrage is a union signing a labor agreement "without further ratification" that allows for a 32% increase in payroll deductions for employee health insurance while only giving a 1.5% raise per year.
THAT's 32% Increase in OUT-OF-POCKET!
FOR MEDICAL INSURANCE!

 

[Checking it Out]

Welcome to the web site of the Transport Workers
Union of America! We are glad you are here.








A Message from International President Sonny Hall (updated regularly) The skyrocketing cost of medical coverage and prescription drugs is arguably the most important economic issue of our day. It certainly is the most contentious issue at the bargaining table, and more often than not is the cause of contractual impasses and strikes.
Defend Against Senate Action To Take Away Workers’ Asbestos Rights -- Everyone, including unions, agree that the system is broken for bringing justice and remedy to workers suffering from asbestos exposure. However, Senate Republicans led by Sen. Orrin Hatch (Utah) are trying to use that as an excuse to reward the companies responsible for the problem and deprive injured workers of fair treatment. Write and tell your Senator to OPPOSE S. 1125.
TWU Presses Amtrak on Contract -- Click here to see the first two of a series of flyers outlining the union's continuing campaign to press Amtrak for new collective bargaining agreements.
Another Attack On Overtime Pay -- Having failed to attack overtime pay through the comp time bill, the Bush Administration is pushing a regulatory change that would strip overtime protection from over 8 million American workers.
Democrats Lay Down Conditions For Medicare Drug Bill -- Led by Sen. Ted Kennedy, 37 Democrats have drawn a line in the sand over the Medicare Drug bill, signing a letter saying "Our support for the conference report depends on the satisfactory resolution of the following [six] key issues."
House And Senate Pass (Different) Medicare Drug Bills; Both Deeply Flawed – We Need To Stop The Worst Elements -- The House and Senate have passed different versions of a Medicare prescription drug bill. Both share a number of serious flaws. Click here for more.
Senate Passes Foreign Aircraft Repair Station Restrictions; FAA Bill Goes to Conference -- The Senate passed an amendment by Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) that would require the FAA to do a 'security audit' of Foreign Maintenance Bases certified by the FAA to perform aircraft maintenance on planes used in U.S. domestic service. Any bases that fail to provide sufficient security protections would be subject to having their certification lifted.
TWU President Tells Congress: More Support For Amtrak -- Calling on Congress and the Bush Administration to make a long-term investment in Amtrak rather than dismantle it through "bureaucratic shell games" and flawed privatization schemes, TWU International President Sonny Hall, told a Senate panel June 5 that Amtrak should receive at least $1.8 billion in federal funding for Fiscal Year 2004. Click here for more.
Senate Bill Threatens TWU Prescription Drug Benefits -- Republicans and a few Democrats in the Senate have proposed a Prescription Drug Bill for Medicare.

Big Win for Flight Attendants! -- Flight Attendant Certification Included in FAA Reauthorization Bill
TWU Gets Bill Introduced to Outlaw Executive Compensation Deceptions Like the Recent American Airlines Actions -- Congressmen George Miller (D-CA) and 30 others have introduced pension reform legislation that includes language to require companies to disclose executive compensation packages to employees during negotiations. This would make illegal behavior like the recent American Airlines actions in concealing hidden protections and perks for executives while bargaining with the TWU and other unions.
DOL Dismisses Complaint Regarding 21st Constitutional Convention -- The U.S. Department of Labor recently dismissed charges brought by Local 100 President Roger Toussaint that elections conducted at the International Union's 21st Constitutional Convention violated the Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA). DOL. Click here for a complete text (PDF) of the DOL ruling dismissing these charges.
White House Tries To Cripple Local Unions -- The Department of Labor (DOL) has proposed regulation changes for labor organizations’ annual financial reporting requirements. The changes are outrageous and will financially burden unions. The revisions will require unions to break down expenses and disbursements by functional categories and flood them with massive reporting that will slow down efficiency and cost members billions of dollars.
This Week on Capitol Hill--8/4/03
Legislative Action Center! Track important bills; Send email to your Representative and Senators; Check up on your state legislature. Updated continuously throughout the day.
TWU Express online! Download actual pages of the Express from this website... get the latest news and views of your international union and its officers.

TWU SOLIDARITY!

 

[AusChud]

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On 8/7/2003 7:46:27 PM Checking it Out wrote:
Who wrote this constitution? Not you. But you're the ones who will have to obey every article, section and subsection...or face "Membership Trials." Local union members can file charges against their own members, try them, convict them and punish them with reprimands, fines, suspensions, expulsions, revocations of charters and more. Do you know amfa has brought charges against their own members while organizers condemn other unions?
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I think having AMT'S getting rid of there own trash is a great ideal. It would great to get all the lazy and worthless mechanics off there butt. The mechanic that's afraid of this type of discipline should probably think of a career change.

As far as
"Do you know amfa has brought charges against their own members while organizers condemn other unions?"

I need to see some proof.
Why would a union care if members condemn another union?

Do you mean if they are condemning there own union.

 

[RV4]

The TWU Advantage...

 

[RV4]

 

[AAmech]

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On 8/8/2003 630 PM RV4 wrote:




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Yeah thats right, go ahead and knock prefunding. I'm sure you think that amfa's NWA cutoff of retireee medical benifits at age 65 (unless you want to pay $600-900 a month) is FAR superior! I'll keep my prefunding thank you!

 

[Checking it Out]

AMFA Farm-Out Negotiations at NWA



As you know hindsight is always 20-20 and some members that are Anti-Union will never agree. I believe what is happening today in the industry is a direct result of what NWA accomplished at the bargaining table with AMFA. NWA has always been very skillful at negotiating contracts and with the experienced IAM negotiators; was always able to secure core work, seniority and language, etc. Although the “93†agreement contained concessions, It was Concessionary most members took for granted that the language the IAM fought for over the years many AMFA members are still enjoying now. The “93†agreement made great strides in the language side of the contract.
On the other hand, after 40 years! AMFA still does not have the experience in negotiating and therefore NWA took advantage of AMFA as everyone can see today. Many ardent AMFA members continue to brag how they have Seham and McCormick to protect them from NWA’s attorneys at the bargaining table. What really happened! they were at the table once in awhile! Since they were being paid by the hour and the costs were to extreme, especially for the smaller locals. The smaller locals had to assess their membership to pay back the national for their share of negotiating expenses or are gearing up for the 2005 contract.
Many members also continue to brag how AMFA had open negotiations to its members. Although personally I do not have a problem with allowing members to attend negotiations, the way AMFA organized it, allowed NWA to use this to their advantage. The problem was that members only attended the meetings once in awhile and as every one knows, issues change daily at the bargaining table. The company used the members to bounce off their ideas. The members that returned to the floor with information as to what was discussed quickly became rumors and turned out not to be very accurate. AMFA claimed they were giving out information on negotiations, and although the IAM should have done a better job, and United Airlines. District 141M did a great job informing their members on their contract negotiations, AMFA really did not give out much information other than what article they were discussing. As a District 149 Officer, John Spadino discussed allowing members into negotiations had they the opportunity to negotiate with the company.
The language did change and It would be irresponsible to say that no Aviation Technician or Related would have been laid off during the current crisis in the Airline industry and with the current Bush administration. I do not believe the cuts in the AMT workforce at NWA would have been as deep.
A commentary titled “SUBCONTRACTING†by Larry Loftus on January 2002. This document goes into great detail as to what changed in the contract that gave NWA an advantage to farm-out work. If you take the time to read the commentary you will see how NWA manipulated negotiators in believing they negotiated farm-out protection. You may have heard the old saying, “ if you tell a lie enough times, people will believe the lieâ€. Well, in my opinion that’s what happened during AMFA’s attempt to sway the membership at NWA. AMFA maintained that their was no farm-out language in the “93†agreement that prevented NWA from subcontracting out work.
That statement was not true, Tom Pedersen an AMT at NWA wrote a commentary titled “LAYOFFS AND FARMOUTS†on January 17, 2002. In Tom’s commentary, he gives accounts of arbitration awards that the IAM had won with the language that was in the contract before AMFA changed it, or more accurately, When AMFA added the 38% language to it. The reason so many members believed there was no farm-out language was because NWA was farming out work, but not nearly to the extent that they are farming out work now.

The key is what can be won in arbitration. An Arbitrator will only rule in labors favor if the Union is being injured. The problem with all the farm-out grievances filed in the mid to late 90’s is that no one was injured in the Arbitrators eyes. There were no layoffs; members were working plenty of overtime so therefore no one was hurt. The farm-out grievances that the IAM won were when members were laid off and therefore the membership was injured.
So, to answer the question, That change alone has had a catastrophic effect on the membership at NWA and is the reason why so many Union Brothers and Sisters are on the street today.
There are many other reasons why AMFA has failed in properly representing their membership. If you were to read the commentaries titled “ AN INFORMED UNION MEMBER IS A STRONG UNION MEMBER!†by Larry Loftus NWA AMT dated May 2002 and “THE AMFA NEGOTIATING PROCESS, IS IT FAIR TO EVERYONE?†by Larry Loftus dated February 13, 2002 , you will see what AMFA has been and is currently failing in.
It takes trained representatives, to uphold the contract and not to be afraid to file a grievance regardless of the grievance backlog. Yes, sometimes it takes a while to get grievances to arbitration, and yes some mistakes are made along the way. But you learn from your mistakes and improve your representation to the members.
On the other hand, after 40 years in existence AMFA still does not train its Shop Representatives, tries to talk the membership into not filing a grievance, fails to give out information on arbitrations and fails to give the membership accurate percentages on the subcontracting issue. What AMFA seems to be good at is selling a dream. Its no surprise that NWA is continuing to violate the agreement more vigorously than ever before. There is no one there to really stop them.
Its up to everyone who has taken the time to read this commentary to take the time and become informed. Read the commentaries listed above. Ask an amfa organizer or representative about the issues and get the facts.

After One Mistake the Industry has changed forever! Become Informed and you will see what the destruction amfa has caused in the Industry! Open your eyes before it’s to late!

Negotiations is a skill and takes experience, something amfa is unwilling to learn! To them it is all about money for the Companies and Sub-Contractors.
www.the-mechanic.net

 

[RV4]

The TWU Advantage...

 

[RV4]

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On 8/8/2003 6:34:44 PM AAmech wrote:




Yeah thats right, go ahead and knock prefunding. I'm sure you think that amfa's NWA cutoff of retireee medical benifits at age 65 (unless you want to pay $600-900 a month) is FAR superior! I'll keep my prefunding thank you!
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So the one positive reason why we should stay with the TWU is prefunding?
Hmmm, that sounds strange. I don't know many organizers that use a union negotiated concession that requires pay to be deducted from the employee paycheck as a positive to advocate and vote for a union organization. Is this some NEW brand of unionism?
I thought you liberals were all counting in Medicare at age 65 anyway?
What happened to your AFL-CIO and Democrats Retirement Medical?