20 years of the membership voting on and passing those concessions has to be dealt with. 20 years of allowing the floor's voice to be heard through the vote system, unforgiveable!
Let's play pretend a minute. Let's pretend Delle started @ AA in '63 and was successful in getting AMFA in at that time. What would have been different? Do you think he has the power to sway a vote on any contract? Do you think his team of real estate lawyers would only bring contracts to the vote that are progressive, regardless of the current economy or even a change in our industry.
I understand your grief, I understand your thinking that a different union would be your choice, but I do not believe that laying blame on the TWU for the last 20 years of events in your workplace is fair. You have to look at your fellow workers, their vote will not change with a different union. And please, do not state that AMFA would NEVER have presented contracts to the floor to vote upon as the TWU has, AMFA is changing, AMFA has changed it's "NO CONCESSIONS" stance already to "NO UNWARRANTED CONCESSIONS", the only reason they survive today is the fact that AMFA is still a "babe" union, AMFA has not weathered any storms yet. AMFA lost FM1, AMFA accepted a "bone" of 150 mechs on FM2. AMFA has nothing in it's structure or posture that excites me. AMFA will never be a true craft union. AMFA is a "craft orientated" union, what a weak statement. Like stating , I want to be a craft union, but they won't let me. Real weak.
And Raptor has a very strong argument about the VP slot. Fact being, I wouldn't want ANY of the AMFA organizers in an officail position, that would only prove to me that thay are truly self-serving individuals out to get themselves appointed since they lack the ability to actually run and get elected.
Have you ever wondered why the members that would make a good officer never run for office? It's due to their intelligence level, they are to smart to run, they know, within months of being elected, there will be a following that desire their removal, regardless of their performance.