August/September 2013 Fleet Discussion

[ograc]

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong but I believe it has been well over a decade since the NMB has released any union in the airline industry to take necessary economic action against a company. When was the last time the NMB released an airline industry union to legally strike? I believe this is a root problem of all labor organizations in the airline industry. The threat of a withdrawal of service (strike) has been denied for years, to organized labor within the industry, by the NMB. The airlines realize this and have used this reality to their advantage. With no threat of a withdrawal of service (strike) all labor organizations are subsequently denied their ability and more importantly their leverage to duly represent. I ask all Fleet Service members to consider this going forward. Please realize and appreciate the obstacles and restraints our current NC is faced with. Let's stay united! I have met the enemy Brothers and Sisters and I can tell you it is not us!

 

[Tim Nelson]

Spirit went on strike in 2011 i believe. Amfa was released in 2007 i think at nw.
W was the prez at the time.

 

[necigrad]

What's funny about that is that GWB said prior to his first election that he wouldn't allow any airline to strike.

 

[Tim Nelson]

Unfortunately the iam scabbed off amfa and was more of a scab than W.

 

[blue collar]

AMFA went on strike aug 2005, not 2007

 

[robbedagain]

i remember that. although i dont know if that was a failure or success but the bottom line is they struck bec of mgmt arrogants and greedy and im proud that they did what they did in a fight against corporate greed i dont care for the ones who crossed the line theyre just as arrogant as the mgmt

 

[700UW]

It was a failure.

 

[Kev3188]

I think the main "failure" is that too many unions now uses it as an excuse for not going to the mat come negotiation time. Worse, are the anti-labor stooges who use it as a sort of boogie man against organizing...

 

[robbedagain]

thanks guys that makes sense.. 700 do you see any success in that strike or is it just a complete failure..

 

[700UW]

Well AMFA was outsmarted by NW, they had scabs trained and ready to go to work, that had to be planned a couple of years out, as NW started training them a year before. Also they alienated all the other unions at NW and even their own sister union the PFAA who represented the Flight Attendants didnt support them.

AMFA struck, NW imposed and only 1,000 mechanics were left, AMFA ended the strike, and gave up the certification at NW upon the DL merger.

I am not sure if any guys ever got recalled, you would have to ask someone like lineguy43 who lived it.

 

[robbedagain]

ok thank you 700

 

[Kev3188]

Well AMFA was outsmarted by NW, they had scabs trained and ready to go to work, that had to be planned a couple of years out, as NW started training them a year before. Also they alienated all the other unions at NW and even their own sister union the PFAA who represented the Flight Attendants didnt support them.

AMFA struck, NW imposed and only 1,000 mechanics were left, AMFA ended the strike, and gave up the certification at NW upon the DL merger.

I am not sure if any guys ever got recalled, you would have to ask someone like lineguy43 who lived it.

Everything 700 note is correct. if you ever want to see what a company's dream CBA looks like, check out the imposed terms for the AMT group from 12/05...

That said, a lot of game theory was played in both Building A and the union hall. We all know how it turned out. I don't think the choice to strike was a failure per se; at that point, they really had no other choice.

The "failure" I see coming out of it is that many other unions have used it to scare their memberships into taking substandard CBA's. The other thing I labor has "failed" to learn from AMFA is to look past it's craft union stance, and embrace some of the structural things they have in place. Some very easy things to implement, that would really go a long way towards increasing member engagement, and advancing labor as a whole.

I don't speak for Lineguy43, GQ, or any of the other guys that walked, but I'd like to think they hope that their sacrifice wasn't made in vain. It'd be nice if the actions of the rest of us showed that to be the case...

 

[ograc]

Today, June 11, 2013, the IAM filed a request with the National Mediation Board for a proffer of arbitration in our ongoing negotiations with USAirways on behalf of our Fleet Service membership.

This request has been made after consulting with the District 141 Negotiating Team, the Transportation Dept, and Legal Dept. of our International. The request is signed by International President Buffenbarger and is supported by the entire IAM. This request for a release from mediation, under the Railway Labor Act, is the next necessary step in the negotiation process to bring these negotiations to a successful conclusion. It is not an action that is taken lightly by our Union, the Company, nor the National Mediation Board.

We will wait to hear a response from the NMB regarding this request and will follow the directives of the NMB in all matters related to these negotiations.

http://www.iam141.or...nder 061113.pdf

Oh my! US and AA executives want a seamless and timely merger; yet they continue to disrespect their obligations to labor organizations on the US property. Two IAM Baragaining units have now asked to be released by the NMB. I wonder what the shareholders and the government is thinking regarding this merger. Without labor...there will be unrest and obstacles to their agenda of disregarding labor. That is, of course, if the NMB allows legal action to be taken by the union. Without a ratified section 6 negotiated contract for the Fleet Service at US, prior to negotiations on a transition agreement, I fully support the District's position and request of the NMB.

 

[Tim Nelson]

Definately in full support of the nc. The employees turned in another fine performance finishing only behind delta in ontime.
We have plenty of time to just hold our position and keep the merger from integration.
Hopefully, the eboard of iam141 will not succomb to pressure and will resist helping hand agreements which usually proceed before any ta.
Imo, management doesnt need any help but should give a helping hand to its employees. Its absurd that management refuses to share fair wage increases even though it has collect 400% more in fees represented by billions of dollars. Has it bothered to share any of that with its fleet service? Nope.
It also needs to start treating part timers like full time as they do at amr. Same health care for pt and same retirement contributions unlike 40% of our membership that is part time but getting half pension, double health care cost but paying full time dues. C'mon maaaaannnnn!

 

[ograc]

Definately in full support of the nc. The employees turned in another fine performance finishing only behind delta in ontime.
We have plenty of time to just hold our position and keep the merger from integration.
Hopefully, the eboard of iam141 will not succomb to pressure and will resist helping hand agreements which usually proceed before any ta.
Imo, management doesnt need any help but should give a helping hand to its employees. Its absurd that management refuses to share fair wage increases even though it has collect 400% more in fees represented by billions of dollars. Has it bothered to share any of that with its fleet service? Nope.
It also needs to start treating part timers like full time as they do at amr. Same health care for pt and same retirement contributions unlike 40% of our membership that is part time but getting half pension, double health care cost but paying full time dues. C'mon maaaaannnnn!

The reasons to stay in section 6 negotiations before transition talks. Us needs to make things right with their own represented employees before a seamless merger. the company has survived to this point due largely to the concessions obtained by labor in 2 BK proceedings. Before they are allowed to reap projected billions in profits with the announced merger it's time to pay the piper.