Dear IAM

[Kev3188]

Not only do you not communicate well with us , or do much of anything for us , but when we do show up to the union meetings , we end up having to wait 40 minutes before anything US Airways related even comes up … When I used to go to the old TWU meetings , it was ONLY about us , I didn’t have to listen for 20 minutes while the gate agent from southwest airlines complains about some minor working condition that’s popped up that they don’t like . Let me be honest , when I was sitting there listing to this I’m thinking “ what the hell do we care? We want to see you go under “ .If it were OUR gate agents that’s another matter , but south west and our competitors ? Give me a break .

I have to disagree on this one point. It is financially benefical to have several carriers in the share the same local. Each carrier can help share facility costs etc. I realize PHX is almost all US/HP, just like ORD would be mostly UA, MSP would be mostly NW, etc. Use this opportunity to see how the other half lives. My old local out west had WN, UA and us (NW). It was always beneficial to see how they were dealing with things.

Most meetings are scheduled "at the same time" to make sure all members of the E-board as well as officers will be there.

Is there only one meeting time down there? I would think that there would be a first, second and third shift meeting to afford everyone a shot at coming. In smaller locals, there's usually only one.

Lastly, take heart; my current local is 75 miles away. :down:

At the old TWU meetings you could scream at the union president if you had a problem , during the IAM meetings your too afraid to speak up because it’s so damn formatted and ridged . I had problems with TWU , but at least you knew where to find them , I don’t think the IAM even has offices here in PHX …

What's stopping you? When the "new business" portion of the meeting comes up, you have a right to say your peace. Lay out your concern politely, but firmly. Have a cogent argument, and ideally a solution (if it's about something specific).

Don't allow anyone to cut you off. If nothing else, it will at least be on the record in the minutes of the meeting, so they can't say you never brought a particular item up.

As for beer, 700UW is right; liability prevents havng it at the local. Why not find a good bar nearby, and make that the de-facto post meeting meeting place? You can use that time to meet some of the folks from other carriers, which might make sitting through their portion of the meeting easier. It will definitely make your local stronger if it's closer-knit.

Just my .02

 

[Tim Nelson]

I have to disagree on this one point. It is financially benefical to have several carriers in the share the same local. Each carrier can help share facility costs etc. I realize PHX is almost all US/HP, just like ORD would be mostly UA, MSP would be mostly NW, etc. Use this opportunity to see how the other half lives. My old local out west had WN, UA and us (NW). It was always beneficial to see how they were dealing with things.

Most meetings are scheduled "at the same time" to make sure all members of the E-board as well as officers will be there.

Is there only one meeting time down there? I would think that there would be a first, second and third shift meeting to afford everyone a shot at coming. In smaller locals, there's usually only one.

Lastly, take heart; my current local is 75 miles away. :down:
What's stopping you? When the "new business" portion of the meeting comes up, you have a right to say your peace. Lay out your concern politely, but firmly. Have a cogent argument, and ideally a solution (if it's about something specific).

Don't allow anyone to cut you off. If nothing else, it will at least be on the record in the minutes of the meeting, so they can't say you never brought a particular item up.

As for beer, 700UW is right; liability prevents havng it at the local. Why not find a good bar nearby, and make that the de-facto post meeting meeting place? You can use that time to meet some of the folks from other carriers, which might make sitting through their portion of the meeting easier. It will definitely make your local stronger if it's closer-knit.

Just my .02

Beer is served at IAM locals after meetings but it can't be served until after any voting is suppose to take place. I'm not sure what liability concerns 700 has but every IAM meeting I ever attended there was always beer.

regards,

 

[700UW]

In CLT beer is sold at the bar at the American Legion after the meeting, no local funds are used to purchase it.

Guess you never heard if someone leaves your house or bar after you served them and they get into a wreck you are liable, that is the law.

 

[Kev3188]

Beer is served at IAM locals after meetings but it can't be served until after any voting is suppose to take place. I'm not sure what liability concerns 700 has but every IAM meeting I ever attended there was always beer.

regards,

fair enough, but my local wouldn't/couldn't serve it due to liabilty laws...No matter, we just went to a sports bar a few blocks away after the meetings.

 

[Harry Callahan]

Tim:
Like 700 said, they don't do it here .

 

[700IAM]

I stopped reading this crap after I read the Fan's crying post.

Same ole same ole IAM bashing. Crying whining babies on here that cry until they’re blue in the face instead of either getting involved or simply quitting and moving forward to something more favorable for their personal situations.

NO ONE is stuck with his lot in this life UNLESS he makes that choice to be stuck, NO ONE!! The ones making the choice to stay are the one crying the loudest.

I can't thank the IAM enough for what THEY and NOT the company provided me. I receive a pension for the rest of my natural life, and I received that pension at a relatively young age. How many other union members can boast such? NOT many I KNOW. I have been around the block and hear all the stories of men working for some company for twenty nine and a half years and then the company went bankrupt leaving the poor soul with absolutely nothing! They had to start all over again in their 50's some in their 60’s. Not so with the IAM on your side.

I read this crap and shake my head. Grown men afraid to take charge of their lives shifting the blame of their plight on something else that is an easy target, like the IAM.

I say GOD BLESS the IAM!

EX U Mechanic for 15 years and still working and glad the IAM was part of my life.

Long Live the IAM So Others Can Live an Easier Life Too.

 

[Kev3188]

I have been around the block and hear all the stories of men working for some company for twenty nine and a half years and then the company went bankrupt leaving the poor soul with absolutely nothing! They had to start all over again in their 50's some in their 60’s. Not so with the IAM on your side.

There are hundreds of IAM represented NWA employees in the recently outsourced cities that are in this exact situation.

Same story at your beloved US.....

IAMNPP might be nice, but we at NW have no idea, because one full year after ratification of our CBA, there's been *zero* information put out about the specifics (ie multiplier, etc.).

 

[700UW]

In Maintenance at US the employees do not have the IAMNPF, they have the terminated DBP that was taken over by the PBGC which was replaced by at 3% DCP.

 

[Tim Nelson]

In Maintenance at US the employees do not have the IAMNPF, they have the terminated DBP that was taken over by the PBGC which was replaced by at 3% DCP.

That 3% DCP is much better than the dinosauric and 3% IAMNP given to many fleet service. Defined benefit plans of the IAM have become mostly extinct in the real world.

Most employees and employers have moved so far ahead of the rigid retirement plans of the last century. The only reason why the US AIRWAYS fleet workers have a jurasiclike plan is because the IAM caused it upon them. Unfortunately, fleet service had to eat the bill with their second greatest concession of all time $48 million by having the IAM pension negotiated against them.

Anyways, in both IAMNP and DCP, the company can't take back its previous contributions, but employees can 'access' their DCP for various financial matters, unlike the IAMNP.

regards,

 

[700IAM]

To Tim Nelson:


I can't speak for the airline nationwide but can as far as the Pittsburgh ground crew.

I remember clearly how they threw out the IAM and immediately received the royal shaft from the company. They weakened themselves greatly with that action. This was due to piss poor and self proclaimed union leadership, that fact coupled with sorely misinformed ground crew workers equals today’s realities. They then ended up with the IAM “againâ€￾ AFTER the fact. AFTER the company had their way with them and now they are blaming the IAM instead of looking in the mirror.

The way I see it such morons get exactly what you ask for, exactly! I have absolutely no empathy for mental midgets.

Three of these guys are my neighbors and I KNOW what happened.

Your hatred is unfounded and slowly killing you from within.

 

[700UW]

They were not IAM when they were decertified. Fleet at BOS, BUF, PHL and PIT were IBT and they made less money than the non-union fleet service stations at US Air.

They voted four more times for a union from 1989 to 1995 when the IAM won a run-off election between the USWA and the IAM.

 

[Tim Nelson]

They were not IAM when they were decertified. Fleet at BOS, BUF, PHL and PIT were IBT and they made less money than the non-union fleet service stations at US Air.

They voted four more times for a union from 1989 to 1995 when the IAM won a run-off election between the USWA and the IAM.

Now they all make less money as I'll Ask Management members than they did being non-union in '93.

 

[700UW]

I guess 9/11, bankruptcies, record high fuel prices and all the LCCs now around had nothing do with ALL the legacies taking concessions.

Don't let the facts get in your way.

 

[lithuanian]

Let's just keep close eye on what the I'll Ask Management is up to in their 'explorations'. My understanding is that US AIRWAYS wants to extend your contract at least 2 additional years. The legal exploration may be to see if this is feasable without a vote. My sources say that since there are just a few token nonhub stations left that the hubs will dominate any new vote. Each Hub is a very strong and 'radical' "no vote" to allow the union boss to toss out arbitration, unless it 'shows the money upfront'. The fear of losing 19 stations out west is NONE of the hubs concerns.

My gut says no way will the IAM allow a contract extension without a vote, but it is a 'strong rumor'. Still I don't buy it but who knows.

regards,

 

[Tim Nelson]

To Tim Nelson:
I can't speak for the airline nationwide but can as far as the Pittsburgh ground crew.

I remember clearly how they threw out the IAM and immediately received the royal shaft from the company. They weakened themselves greatly with that action. This was due to piss poor and self proclaimed union leadership, that fact coupled with sorely misinformed ground crew workers equals today’s realities. They then ended up with the IAM “againâ€￾ AFTER the fact. AFTER the company had their way with them and now they are blaming the IAM instead of looking in the mirror.

The way I see it such morons get exactly what you ask for, exactly! I have absolutely no empathy for mental midgets.

Three of these guys are my neighbors and I KNOW what happened.

Your hatred is unfounded and slowly killing you from within.

So you're saying the working men and women get exactly what they deserve because they voted out union? Such talk is treason against Justice and worthy of 1,000 nights with Rosie Odonnel! Like Delldude, your understanding of justice is lacking. Nobody deserves to be treated unfairly. And it is appaling, juvinile, and utter nonsense to blame the working men and women, but very Delldude & 700like.

Another thing, most who are advocating that the IAM is not doing their job are the very same people who tried to make a difference in the union. But the communisitic and full blown paternalism structure limits those who seek changes.
The result is a union of nepatudes, uneducated and weak minded thugs, and alchoholics that are running the show.

regards,