Kev, my point is this one or two members on a picket line does not do much to make the public aware of the issues. I believe you said you were a NWA mechanic? Either way, would you just answer this question.
If you had a strike fund, do you thing it would be easier to survive a strike? The Teamster strike fund from the international is four times your monthly dues per week. In addition, many Locals pay strike funds on top of the international rate and some of them pay at the same rate. If you are in one of the larger locals you could also get 4 times your union dues. So lets say dues are $65.00 per month. If you were on strike with the Teamsters, you could get as much as $260.00 from the International Strike Fund + $260.00 from the Local Strike Fund each week. Now to get the pay you have to walk a picket line. Please realize, in most states, if not all, there is no unemployment pay for walking out on strike.
My question is simple. Do you think you NWA mechanics would have gotten more participants for the picket line if the members were paid $520.00 per week just to show up and walk the picket line? Yes or no? How about you Ken? What do you think?
AMFA paid NOTHING
Does it really matter how much is being paid to walk the picket line when the industrial unions are providing scabs to management to protect the greed and artificial power of their worthless and corrupt institution? The NWA AMFA picket line never failed because AMFA members ran out of money, that strike failed becuase the TWU, IBT, and the IAM provided scab labor to management.
Again all you have to spread is fear of failure, and negative opinions about craft unionism. Yet, it is clear that the industrial unions have been the majority representation in this industry for over 60 years, have failed us, and lead us to this point, and will do anything including scab a picket line to insure the craft union never gets to be the majority. Because if that were to succeed the industrial union institution of greed and false power would be proven a failure.
One big hurdle that is encountered when attempting cultural change is institutional politics, that is who you are, that is what you represent, and you should be considered one of many hurdles that needs to be ignored and rejected as one step in the process of positive change.
I will never accept another man's fear and negative opinions as reason not to change. The mechanics at American Airlines are entitled to try craft unionism, if it does not work out, then we change again. You expect us to not experience it for ourselves, by claiming we will fail, and it will be a negative experience. You are nobody, your opinions are as worthless as our current union. We will change and we sure as hell do not need an institutional fear monger to save us from ourselves. You are nothing more than a alias on a forum, and all you bring are negative overtures and fear of failure. you have been identified as just that and nothing more. you can repeat your fear and negativity over and over and over, but you will not be heard.
We will experience craft unionism for ourselves, and if it fails we will change again.