August/September 2013 Fleet Discussion

[robbedagain]

josh did u say eagle is takin over all 7 cities where ua is farmin out if so is that in reference to american eagle?

 

[737823]

Yes Robbed, per the link from IAM DL 141 American Eagle will be handling the UA stations effective October 15.

Josh

 

[ChockJockey]

So Mr Know it All,

Why didnt the work go to Air Wisconsin, thats where you said it would go?

I get the feeling that if the IAM ever tried to burn down a nursing home you'd show up just to argue with the firefighters.

 

[ograc]

Don't you find it alarming that he [Sito] called a POS agreement "unprecedented" and that he is "extremely grateful" and you should "give yourself a pat on the back" for the work 141 did on that agreement? Sito didn't deliver results in the United FA election, nor has he made made any meaningful progress on negotiations at UA or US.



Josh

Alarming indeed! It could be seen as a labor organization that is out of touch with the realities of the memberships' needs Tim.

 

[Jester]

Alarming indeed! It could be seen as a labor organization that is out of touch with the realities of the memberships' needs Tim.

"... cover 30,000 employees of the new United Airlines..." -- Rich Delaney.
How many people will be needed in the handful of stations after all the others have been contracted out? I am not sure what is more disturbing... the fact, that they figured this contract was so good as to self-congratulate themselves in a video release extolling the TA's virtues or them figuring that losing the nearly all of the UA/CO stations wasn't such a big deal? Anyone who thought this agreement was acceptable should be forced to resign.

 

[cltrat]

I couldn't agree more jester
and chock jockey , man you almost cost me a keyboard on that one holy sh!t that was funny!

 

[john john]

So American Eagle is a wholly owned company of American and is going to merge with USAirways and they are going to be working a bunch of United flights
This has turn into one crazy business

 

[Tim Nelson]

Tim,
You're entitled to your opinion. You're opinion of Sito and the Grand Lodge is alarming. If your opinion is correct; then IMO we, as an IAM represented Fleet Service group, are doomed. Hopefully, your opinion turns out to be somewhat biased and the IAM will see to it there are respectable CBAs reached at both UA and the merged US/AA. AH is a true villan to US Fleet; yet he is nothing more than a puppet of the company. He is tasked with presenting the company's position concerning what is rightfully due to the Fleet Service at US. His position and allegiance however is clear and evident.Your opinion suggests the same cannot be said of Sito, the Grand Lodge and subsequentally the District. You insinuate that, although they are paid to represent the best interests of the membership, the GL is mostly a pro management entity. IMO... It's getting difficult for the members to determine who the enemy truly is. Which party has less regard for the livelihoods of the represented US Fleet in your opinion?

It certainly is alarming. I worked with Ira and Sito, so my opinion is first hand. Complete frauds and company rat scabs.
But, the membership isn't doomed. Just need some District leaders that push back. In organizing, my department pushed back and although I didn't get everything I wanted for the campaigns, it was enough to be successful. Same with representation imo. The problem with the HAL and UAL ta's was that the district eboard simply doesn't have anyone who pushes against the INTL. And none of the eboard members from US AIRWAYS are free to say that the UA ta sucked. That is very telling, especially when considering the future.

The INTL wants the quickest path to the dues. I get that part. Same with IBT, TWU, etc, imo.
Thus, strong district and Local leaders pushing against that would have prevented the dopey anti labor United TA and the horrific anti labor and pro 'Right to Work For Less' HAL contract.

It is too early to tell which way Delaney goes at US AIRWAYS in a TA. I use history as my schoolmaster though. Thus, my hunch is that these NC guys are all kissing arse to keep their position and will let a ta slip by that has drop dead dates and not the sorta scope that they have been promising. To be honest, they simply don't have the skill set or knowledge to know the difference either so they most likely will listen to Delaney.

 

[psa8979]

Brothers . Unions are businesses and those at the top of the pyramid become disconnected from the day in day out issues of the working Members. The question is can WE move them to get US the Best CBA and Win Grievances ? The biggest hurdle is SOLIDARITY among so many of our Brothers and Sisters who have their own agenda, are un-informed, and apathetic. Company's and Villians like AH take advantage of everything they hear and see to their advantage, The enemy of my enemy is my friend play book. The Leadership at the IAM,TWU,IBT, and CWA are only as accountable as their Members and the by-laws that protect them. The BIG PICTURE is consolidation will be complete once DOT approves AMR Group merger and how will the Unions that represent US get the JOB done WE pay them to do ? We should FOCUS on CBA and SOLIDARITY NOW and deal with the POLITICS LATER !

 

[Tim Nelson]

Brothers . Unions are businesses and those at the top of the pyramid become disconnected from the day in day out issues of the working Members. The question is can WE move them to get US the Best CBA and Win Grievances ? The biggest hurdle is SOLIDARITY among so many of our Brothers and Sisters who have their own agenda, are un-informed, and apathetic. Company's and Villians like AH take advantage of everything they hear and see to their advantage, The enemy of my enemy is my friend play book. The Leadership at the IAM,TWU,IBT, and CWA are only as accountable as their Members and the by-laws that protect them. The BIG PICTURE is consolidation will be complete once DOT approves AMR Group merger and how will the Unions that represent US get the JOB done WE pay them to do ? We should FOCUS on CBA and SOLIDARITY NOW and deal with the POLITICS LATER !

I don't think the membership is apathetic at all. I just think that it is a witness to the leadership. When I took over the organizing, they said the Republicans and laws made it tough to organize apathetic non union folks. I disagreed and we put together a great team of organizers and empowered the non union to get organized.
Same in representation. You had great representation in Marve. He put together a great leadership team and that gave the members the vision and belief that they could win good contracts. Everything, in business or anything, rises and falls on leadership. Again, the membership is fine if they are educated and led. To this point, the NC has kept a solid position, but the NC at United kept a solid position as well until they showed their hand. Nonetheless, there are leaders without titles as well, and they step up and sacrifice their time more when dopey job losing ta's are announced. Honestly, I haven't seen a IAM contract over the past ten years that has increased job security [scope, not talking about no-layoff clauses where someone can chase a job]. Same with TWU. TWU at Southwest worked every ramp, then it agreed that all new stations after 2009 can be contracted out on conditions. The only union that I have seen that has actually increased scope was the CWA. We need to have enough among us who are unattached to union titles, to be ready to fight against any TA that doesn't advance scope.

 

[700UW]

When you have over 3,000 members in CLT and you get 50 people to a union meeting, the membership is apathetic and has been for over 20 years.

You do realize you havent had a section 6 contract since 99, two chapter 11 cases, and one Transition agreement, and finally Section 6 negotiations.

I guess bankruptcy means nothing to you.

 

[mike33]

This sec 6 is the end game for alot of us. If the younger agents don't stand up now and be counted then they will never recover from this merger. It's now or never. Period. This company will be too big to fight down the road. We ( US ) need to be taken care of now. Not promises later. I'm all in. "Lock n' Load "

 

[psa8979]

TN. You,me,the membership at LCC /IAM need to FOCUS on US . The Brothers /Sisters at UAL/CO will take care of themselves and the current Leadership both in their large Locals and D-141 . There is not a DAM ! thing we can do about their CBA,Issues,and Politics. Mike is right the end game is the junior/younger Agents and sec. 6 negotiations. Taking over the IAM by US/ AMR will have to wait for another day.

 

[robbedagain]

fully agree with you mike lock n loaded now not in the future no promises its now now now

 

[737823]

When you have over 3,000 members in CLT and you get 50 people to a union meeting, the membership is apathetic and has been for over 20 years.

You do realize you havent had a section 6 contract since 99, two chapter 11 cases, and one Transition agreement, and finally Section 6 negotiations.

I guess bankruptcy means nothing to you.

All of the above you listed are reasons the membership SHOULD be engaged and holding the negotiating committee accountable, not justification for their non-performance. Clearly the IAM has missed the boat on using social media, forums like this, and other communication mediums to engage the membership. The company gains big time when they are negotiating with an apathetic and indifferent work group, you should know that.

Josh