BALLS of STEEL check in

[eolesen]

Its really moot anyway, the agreement dissapears once the merger with UAL is completed. The UAL guys are pushing for a new union because they say the IBT has not delivered on any of their promises. [snip] The UAL numbers are not clustered low cost areas. The OH they still have is in SFO and UAL guys tend to be more militant. They booted two unions in the last ten years.

The UAL numbers may not be in low cost areas, but what's the breakdown of former CAL to UAL? As already noted, the size of the combined UAL-CAL is still smaller than UAL of ten years ago. What are the chances that the CAL contract winds up as the survivor?

 

[High Speed Steel]

Odie,

You need to figure out which way you want to point your pecker, because on 12-14-2010 your negotiating committee is due to begin the process to resolve your "No Vote" and they "require" your support as a TWU member....

Also. I think you need to listen to what Informer is saying to you about this thread. There are those including myself who don't totally disagree with his opinion of what to expect....

 

[odie01]

Odie,

You need to figure out which way you want to point your pecker, because on 12-14-2010 your negotiating committee is due to begin the process to resolve your "No Vote" and they "require" your support as a TWU member....

Also. I think you need to listen to what Informer is saying to you about this thread. There are those including myself who don't totally disagree with his opinion of what to expect....

What is Informer trying to say? And what is your opinion on what to expect? Don't worry about my pecker its been pointed for me and my balls are checked in. Maybe you and Informer can chug on over to Mambi Pambi land to find some balls..........Jackwagon !!!!!!

 

[DallasConehead]

This thread is premature, Kane hasn't declared an "impasse", so any talk of strike is ahead of its time. MCI is correct though, one should be prepared.

A legal strike vote has been conducted, 2/3s of the membership voted to strike.

Currently the TWU is our certified bargaining agent.

Hate to urinate on anyones parade but these are the facts.

Anyway, don't we still have three years of intermittent negotiations ahead, you know, the ones where they meet once every 3-4 months and do a power point?

In closing I will leave a quote from Local 565 President, Bob Zimmermen's letter to the membership dated 12/2/2010:

"That being said, another issue I would like to address is the increased scrutiny of our members by the Federal Aviation Administration. The company has asked for one hundred percent compliance. It is in all of our best interests to comply. We have simply had too many of our members receive fines and suspensions. Please be sure that when you perform any task that you have the proper paperwork, tools and equipment. If you do not, stop what you are doing until you have everything you need to perform your task in the proper manner. Follow the Maintenance Manual procedures to the letter. This also applies to Airworthiness Directives; do not deviate for any reason. If your equipment is unsafe, do not use it. Tag it so that it may be properly repaired. Remember safety is everyone’s responsibility."

 

[Hopeful]

While I fully support a strike. I truly doubt it will ever happen. The most I believe will occur is a release from mediation follpwed by governement intervention. As each day goes buy and coworkers ask one another and union reps about negotiations, I can see the wearing down of mechanics' resolve. MOST that I know do not have gumption and nerve to strike. Talking about it is one thing, actually doing it is another. I have been hearing from quite a few NO voters that if the company offers a lump sum or some retro pay, they are a YES vote next time. People already now are frothing at the mouth waiting for OT to make ends meet.
Does anyone believe these people are going to strike? I am not saying they will scab, but I believe the next TA offered to us will be sweetened, voted in and no strike will happen. I hope I am wrong.
I will be a NO vote until restore and more is reality. But in all honestly, not many are willing to strike even thought they authorized one.
Having said that, I truly believe that if we are released from mediation, a PEB will be appointed. This is not Spirit airlines with a fraction of the operations and employees and position in the industry that AA has.

 

[eolesen]

Only an idiot would be talking about going on strike without having good cause to do so. Right now, it looks like you don't even know *why* you should be on strike, but to each their own...

 

[odie01]

Only an idiot would be talking about going on strike without having good cause to do so. Right now, it looks like you don't even know *why* you should be on strike, but to each their own...

What are you saying, the twu int. is a bunch of idiots? When we checked NO on the TA ballot in JULY it also stated that we authoize a strike. I agree, only idiots would be talking about a strike at this time.

 

[Hackman]

Odie,

You need to figure out which way you want to point your pecker, because on 12-14-2010 your negotiating committee is due to begin the process to resolve your "No Vote" and they "require" your support as a TWU member....

Also. I think you need to listen to what Informer is saying to you about this thread. There are those including myself who don't totally disagree with his opinion of what to expect....

What you need to figure out Speedy is your weak excuse for a union (I'm telling this to a sellout TWu YES voter, go figure). The TWu is facing a large pissed off collective pecker...the membership.... and you know where it's pointing??? Take a guess. The TWu membership have had a belly full of the TWu B.S. excuses, slogan shirts, and sellouts. The TWu is being well overpaid for a service, that is membership representation and negotiating a class leading contract. They have failed over, and over, and over, and over again. The TWu have proven they cannot produce or provide said services to date, and the sad fact they participate in "Company Unionism".

The membership are sick and tired of the TWu International getting rich off our backs while we hear constant excuses, see Little's sexertary making $140.000 a year, and Little Jimmy himself pulling in $250,000!!! BOVINE EXCREMENT!!!! Not to mention the rest of the TWu International minions in the six-figure range.

It's time to FISH or CUT BAIT TWu!!!! There is another card drive for a reason!!!!

If the TWu can't do the job....then it's boot-in-the-ass time!!!

On December 14, 2010 the TWu had better show us some of that "Americans Real Strength".

FIGHT or GET OUT!!!!

 

[Hackman]

Only an idiot would be talking about going on strike without having good cause to do so. Right now, it looks like you don't even know *why* you should be on strike, but to each their own...

Only an idiot would not consider the possibility of a strike or prepare for it, as remote as it is at this point. Even though the TWu company union more than likely will sellout first before that happens, as they own the contract. We all saw Little Jimmy do that in 2003 with no re-vote as promised.

After 3 years of AA management stonewalling, I'd say they are pushing for some type of job action. More than likely by the F/A's or the pilots, as they don't have the weak TWu International company union to feed at the trough.

Must be a boring day at the office again for eolesen to stick his nose in this one, no surprise.

 

[Frank Szabo]

Their is a drive to replace the twu because we shouldn't even be here to begin with, we are caught between a twu and a hard place. What do we do Frank? What happens if the company doesn't go for the minimum 2001 contract, and tells us to go play in traffic? Do we put on our red snake shirts and go hisss, hisss? Its out of our hands, everyone should sign an AMP card to put pressure on the company/twu int., and the international needs to realize they need to stay out of our business or they WILL be replaced.

Not an answer, Odie, but a deflection.

Anyone else care to try? The original question, edited for clarity, was:

So - if we collectively trust the TWu enough (with our jobs) to follow a possible call to to strike the company, why is there a drive on attempting to replace them?

If, on the other hand, we don't trust them at all why would any of us be willing to listen to any of the TWu's directives, obviously being the product of a bought-and-paid-for corporate mouthpiece maneuvering its membership for the maximum advantage of its true master, the AMR Corporation?

Should an impasse be declared by a mediator sometime in the future and we walk out on strike, would we not be then be doing the will of the company by following Little's clarion call?

"What do we do?", indeed.

 

[Hackman]

Odie, I've got a question for you - or anyone else that'd care to answer.

A number of people seem to be quite willing to send the TWu packing, replacing 'it' with AMP. Considering the TWu's continual failures to the company's favor over the years, it is more than understandable a group of slackers such as that would be tossed to the street.

What I fail to understand is why, on one hand, some are trying to replace them yet on the other hand that same group is willing to follow them out on a strike, knowing full well the TWu "leadership" would not have been given "authorization" to call a strike unless it played into their owners' plans. From all accounts, the initial "for show" request for release from mediation to the NMB has been withdrawn by Little Jimmy.

So - if we collectively trust the TWu enough (with our jobs) to follow a possible call to to strike the company, why is there a drive on attempting to replace them?

If, on the other hand, we don't trust them at all why would any of us be willing to listen to any of the TWu's directives, obviously being the product of a bought-and-paid-for corporate mouthpiece maneuvering its membership for the maximum advantage of its true master?

In my view it's as simple as this:

1. The TWu is the union on the AA property, per the RLA. They are the one's with the power to amend our dismal 8 year concessionary contract.

2. The latest TWu sellout T/A was handily rejected this summer, major welcome surprise. The strike vote was authorized by 2/3 of the membership. Message sent, loud and clear. No more TWu excuses or confusion, you heard the LOUD message sent. Is the TWu International listening? I doubt it.

3. The TWu International will now have another chance at bat. It's the bottom of the 9th inning, and Phat Don is on deck...again. The only difference is we now have some local presidents hopefully with a collective nut sack doing the talking. Phat Don can go sit in the corner.

4. Will Phat Don sell them out for his company reward? We shall see.... Strikeout again....not acceptable.

5. I will support the local president again, until another TWu International failure comes. Prove me wrong....please.

6. Cross that next bridge when it comes.....

 

[odie01]

"Collective Trust in the twu" is that like "Millitary Intelligence?" Their is a drive to remove the twu because they, the international, are robbing us blind and not negotiating in our best intrests. What other choice do we have AT THIS TIME, but to support our current negotiating team? I don't like it, but until AMP is instated we are forced to support the twu, its all part of being in a union. So, I guess the answer to your qustion is I have to support this pos union until WE collect enough AMP cards to get them off the property. If they athorize a strike, I have to go, like it or not.

 

[MikeCobbAFW]

Not an answer, Odie, but a deflection.

Anyone else care to try? The original question, edited for clarity, was:

Frank, if you follow through with the logic of your question posed, your implied answer is to completely table the idea of going on strike at all. I think we should at least keep it as an option if we don't come to an agreement that will appease 51% of the membership. Though the lack of trust in our Intl is very real, I do trust many of our union brothers currently and recently put in place to negotiate. Huge numbers amongst our ranks are hoping for the best in regards to our next proposed T/A, but have made the choice to pursue a vote to replace our current union. We are indeed in between a rock and a hard place with a union whose Intl seems out of touch with us on the floor, my opinion is the Intl will never allow a strike anyway, but we should at the very least prepare ourselves if that is our last resort.

 

[Duke787]

I voted yes on the TA, I don't like being in a union, I think the TWU is corrupt, I don't like the rhetoric of the negotiating team, but if OUR UNION calls a strike I will go on strike. As Bob Owens said once "they can replace you, but they can't replace all of us".......or something like that. Hopefully a 30 day count down would be enough pain for AA.

 

[High Speed Steel]

Only an idiot would be talking about going on strike without having good cause to do so. Right now, it looks like you don't even know *why* you should be on strike, but to each their own...

Absolutely correct....