xUT
Veteran
Since I was appointed by AMFA wannabe’s on this board as the IBT cheerleader, what the hell, I’ll give it a shot. I am no expert however and have been a Teamster only a fraction of the time as whoop whoop, but I was easily able to come up with a list of positive things about my Union. Most of this info was easily found at http://www.teamster.org
1. Teamsters have a completely democratic process starting with its International General President. Every member has a chance to decide our leadership and direction by voting from the initial nominations chosen by elected delegates, all the way to the final election process. Ballots are sent to each and every Teamster member. The Teamsters General Executive Board is voted on by the membership every five years. One member, one vote!
2. Local Officers are also elected within the Teamsters. Business agents in some Locals are elected as part of the executive committee, and at other Locals the most experienced and qualified are hired by the elected Principal Officer. This ensures the best person for the job and all the positions are held to high membership standards. If a BA does not meet the minimum expectations of the membership and the principal officer, said BA is gone. Proof is at UAL in SFO.
3. IBT executive board members and principal officers come from many areas of labor. The all bring their unique expertise and professional experience. Many of the Local Presidents are business professionals, such as Pilots and Lawyers.
4. The pay and benefits for each Local Employed Officer and Business Agent is stated in each of the Locals By Laws and are available to each member.
5. Teamsters conduct private professional negotiations, with experienced negotiators. There is no circus act and the company does not know our hand by reading it on the web. Our negotiators are full time, and negotiate agreements on an ongoing basis. These negotiations are supplemented with the Business agents who are in direct contract with the members, and with the members themselves through elected or chosen negotiating team members. These members too are held to the highest Teamster standards. The negotiating team is responsible for accepting the company proposals, and the membership is allowed a vote. Our last contract at UAL, even though an large number of us hated our first proposal, at least the Teamsters had the decency to allow us to look at the companies beat offer and vote for ourselves.
6. IBT can hold and support a strike and picket line. We have a huge war chest in the international strike fund which has amounted to over several million dollars. In addition, many Locals have their own strike fund and this money is paid IN ADDITION TO the international funds. Having a strike fund sends a message to the Employer that your Union is ready to take on a fight should it be necessary. While the money may not match your regular pay check, the money paid is much more than you might think. See how much you can expect by going to http://www.teamster....to Teamster.org . NWA strikers received nothing ($0.00) financial support from their Union.
7. Teamsters employ in house professionals who are dedicated solely to the members. There is no conflict of interest. Teamsters have their own in house fully staffed Legal, Safety and health, Economics and Contracts, Training and Development, and a dozen other departments all willing able and ready to help members when needed. Go to http://www.teamster.org and under the About Us tab, click on Departments to find out more.
8. Teamsters get involved in every aspect needed to benefit the members. Teamsters members are able to enjoy unique discounts, disaster relief aid, retiree assistance, job banks, and many other Teamster member privileges. You can get assistance and aid for many types of real life issues as a member of the Teamsters. You can also get good rates on credit cards if that's your thing. Teamsters also created the Teamster Airline Maintenance Coalition to discuss those issues immediately important to all airline mechanics. This group looks at issues outside the contracts such as outsourcing or new emerging FAA policies. All other Unions were invited to participate in collectively speaking up for our profession. The association refuses to take part or help in this collective movement.
9. Teamsters have many concerns. To better the life of the A&P mechanic and related is one of those concerns. Teamsters fight to improve working conditions, pay and benefits, and job security. Teamsters work in the negotiating rooms, board rooms, and in the offices of law makers to ensure top working conditions, benefits, and pay for all members. It takes a combination of many different fights to gain what’s right. After all, the company is fighting us constantly using weapons like the bankruptcy courts. Teamster concerns have to be broad based in order to fight for the members.
Additionally Teamsters represent many other industries outside of Aircraft Maintenance.
In 2009 the Teamster represented Pilots of Amerijet went out on strike. With only 7 aircraft and the company had no problem finding replacement pilots (the real definition of scabs) to continue flying. The other Teamster professions quickly came to these pilots aid. The headquarters were not cleaned or serviced, garbage pickup was halted, and parts were not delivered. In some of the cities served, even the airport cops are Teamsters and it was rumored that they too did unofficially supported the strike.
Unions in other countries supported the striking Teamster Pilots and made it difficult for the scab workers. The South American Government even stepped in supporting their country's labor unions and confiscated two aircraft because they did not have enough fuel to leave. The union employees tasked with providing fuel refused to cross a Teamster line. 17 striking Teamster Pilots received much more support than the thousands of striking NWA mechanics.
I see the Teamster logo everywhere, even on the ending credits for one of my favorite movies, Ironman. When a Teamster represented group goes out on strike, people know it, There is no mistaking a Teamster Picket Line.
10. Teamsters have open and direct communications. See for yourself at http://www.teamster.org and http://teamstermagazine.com
When the Teamster General President makes an announcement on labor, or backs a political candidate such as the US President, it is covered on the front pages and shown as the leading story of news casts.
Teamster members number over 1.4 million strong with hundreds of original represented contracts. More than all else, the Teamsters have the Financial capability of competeing against airlines.
How is this for a start? I expect a bunch of name calling and accusations of lying, so you are free to verify this for yourselves. I reserched all of this using google and this time, kept my opinion to a minimum.
Let me help you out.
http://www.mechanicsforchange.com/site_broken_promises.shtml
“With the Teamsters as your bargaining representative any changes to the contract will be voted on by the membership, and you will be kept well informed throughout the process.” Quote from Paul Molenburg Teamsters appointed business agent during 2007 IBT UAL campaign. Teamsters UAL News Vol 2 Issue 4.
Another Broken Teamsters campaign promise
Mr. Molenburg broke his promise to the membership when he signed an agreement to create a new classification in your contract without the knowledge or consent of the UAL SFOOV shop stewards or membership. Teamsters’ hypocrisy at its finest. This letter of agreement which has established a new classification is an example of the inexperience, and incompetence we see everyday under the “Teamster representation” at United Airlines. The Airframe Support Lead LOA is Here...
This Teamster appointed business agent and the company created a new classification in your contract
The qualifications and responsibilities of the new classification are to be “determined by the company” after the signing of the letter. This inexperienced business agent has shown disregard for our contract and membership.
He is a shining example of everything we dislike about the Teamsters. Clacy Griswold and Chris Griswold Local 986 Secretary appointed Paul to the business agent position and shortly thereafter they divided the SFO membership in half. The IBT repaid his campaign lies and loyalty by putting this inexperienced and unqualified person in charge of enforcing (or not enforcing) our contract. The Teamsters constitution and bylaws no longer has provisions for electing a business agent this right was removed in 1981. Teamsters’ democracy at its best!
During their campaign Mr. Molenburg wrote on union democracy and open negotiations.
His fairytale description of Teamster democracy is so far from Teamster reality at UAL it is laughable. Mr. Molenburg talks about furloughed UAL mechanics rights even as the IBT UAL negotiating team works to eliminate United mechanic lifetime recall rights! The article is available at mechanicsforchange.com. Everything the Teamsters promised in their campaign at UAL has turned out to be a lie.
Even from the IAM...
You guys need to get your stories straight!
B) xUT
