It's time to sign a AMFA card

[Chuck Schalk]

[SIZE=13.5pt]Open vs. Secret Negotiations[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10.5pt]During the bankruptcy process AMFA established the principle of open negotiations, where members could observe its leaders at the table. UAL at first hesitated at accepting this new way of doing business, but quickly adjusted.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10.5pt]The union showed that the “third person at the table” (the eyes and ears of the membership) materially changed the negotiation dynamic, keeping Company and union negotiators focused on the member impact of the issues before them.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10.5pt]AMFA’s leaders published the full and final language of the contract modifications (a new Letter of Agreement) for the membership to review before a ratification vote. The union rejected forcing members to vote based only on a term-sheet summary.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10.5pt]AMFA established, for the first time ever, the use of “Observer Notes.” These regular, at times daily reports were widely read on the shop and hangar floor. They were even read by management officials.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=10.5pt]The open negotiations approach, rejected by other unions, shows the potential power of rank-and-file democracy and exposes the lie that secrecy is the best way to conduct union business. (Secrecy by definition means only the union and company negotiators know each others’ positions while dues-paying members are kept in the dark.)[/SIZE]
 
[SIZE=10.5pt]Most members, even those who did not agree with AMFA’s craft union philosophy, praised the “Negotiation Notes” and considered it an important change in negotiation strategy.[/SIZE]

 

[700UW]

Do you not understand according to BTS WN outsources more maintenance than any other airline in the US?
 
They have almost 700 planes and have four lines of Cs in DAL.
 
They got the fourth line to let WN send planes to Aeroman in SAL for overhaul.
 
Those are the facts.

 

[Chuck Schalk]

Do you not understand according to BTS WN outsources more maintenance than any other airline in the US?
 
They have almost 700 planes and have four lines of Cs in DAL.
 
They got the fourth line to let WN send planes to Aeroman in SAL for overhaul.
 
Those are the facts.

who represented southwest before AMFA that allowed all the outsourcing?
Why are you not knocking them?
AMFA is bringing work back, how are they at fault for that

 

[700UW]

The IBT represented them before AMFA.
 
I am not knocking them, they outsource more heavy maintenance than any other US based airline.
 
They got the fourth line to let WN outsource to Aeroman in San Salvador.
 
And shall we talk about OAK and AS and how AMFA's CBA let AS shut it down, farm it out and layoff 340 AMFA members?
 
Almost 700 planes and only four lines done in-house.

 

[Chuck Schalk]

The IBT represented them before AMFA.
 
I am not knocking them, they outsource more heavy maintenance than any other US based airline.
 
They got the fourth line to let WN outsource to Aeroman in San Salvador.
 
And shall we talk about OAK and AS and how AMFA's CBA let AS shut it down, farm it out and layoff 340 AMFA members?
 
Almost 700 planes and only four lines done in-house.

The TWU has screwed the entire industry and due to their push for concessions it will affect negotiations at US Air and you want to knock AMFA for fighting to get work back.  
you can thank JIM Little and the TWU when Parker demands our contract upon you. You have more to worry about than AMFA right now.

 

[700UW]

How long has AMFA been at WN?
 
They got one line of heavy added in-house in order to let WN outsource their planes to Aeroman.
 
How is that getting work back in when they let work out to get that work back in?
 
700 Planes and four lines of heavy.
 
PMAA has over 600 planes, how many lines of heavy do you have?

 

[blue collar]

You guys are equating unions with the amount of work done in-house - not companies. It is the company's prerogative to do as much inhouse mx as they see fit. The legacies all had it done in house, and have lost the amount over time. Southwest had always outsourced most of its mx, and has brought some inhouse. If I'm not mistaken- didn't southwest mechanics used to be IAM? How many lines of heavy did they have back then? Cactus4ever is wrong when he says AMFA will outsource more mx - AMFA natl won't do anything, it's up to the members to decide if they want to give that away, because I know the company would be more than happy to. As an AMFA represented employee, i get the accountability I want in a union to work for me - not for the bottom line. Speaking of bottom lines, mine's been better here than at the previous carriers I worked at - AA and US included. The choice is all yours, I hope you guys do the best with it.

 

[swamt]

700 you are very wrong sir.  SWA does not do 4 c's in DAL.  Dal maint includes 4 heavy maint lines, which AMFA has been successful in adding 2 heavy lines since we fired the teamsters, NOT just one line of heavy.  AMFA has also added numerous upon numerous other maint and checks.  I just love it when outsiders try to explain what type of maint we do, or has been added or taken away here at SWA.  NONE of you outsiders have a clue of the true reality.  
As I have stated in the past;  SWA has always outsourced between 70-75% of their maint. I believe we are at 72% now.  The IAM was the very first union on this property back in the day, then the teamsters took over from them.  The language from the previous union representation at SWA is what allowed the outsourcing at SWA for well over 25-28 years.  Since AMFA has came into SWA, more maint, checks, added lines and C's, as well as mods and projects have been added more than any other representational union has EVER done while on property at SWA,  PERIOD.  
700, please do not turn into a WT in this discussion.  Think before you post.  Don't just post off the cuff.  People will say anything to keep AMFA out from AA and US, as they all know what will happen once they get in and this includes all the unions as well as the companies.  Do not try and tell the story at SWA with the unions that have been here and that is here now without knowing what really has taken place. It just makes you look bad...

 

[700UW]

Four lines are done in-house, how many are done by a vendor?

 

[1AA]

Four lines are done in-house, how many are done by a vendor?

Geez, let it go will you. You got it from the horses mouth and you still persist to prove what point? Your not a AMT and you do not work for SWA. Take your own advice for once.
Your not a AMT and you do not know what we do so mind your own business. Do these words sound familiar? Do not let the facts get in your way. Sound familiar? You keep saying it.

 

[whoop whoop]

Why do you guys even pay attention to what this 700uw has to say? Just ignore the SCAB.
 
He is a proven liar and SCAB sympathizer and supporter. If he was a true UNION believer, he would be happy to see the A&P mechanics forming their own craft union. But he is a greedy SCAB that pretends to be a unionist but is really a corporate lover. Be it  corporate unions like the iam, ibt, twu, or the corporations that are degrading our profession.
 
His/her lies are irrelevant, why even waste energy and thought?

 

[enough already]

This post is hidden because you have chosen to ignore posts by 700UW. View it anyway?

 

[AMFAinMIAMI]

The IBT represented them before AMFA.
 
I am not knocking them, they outsource more heavy maintenance than any other US based airline.
 
They got the fourth line to let WN outsource to Aeroman in San Salvador.
 
And shall we talk about OAK and AS and how AMFA's CBA let AS shut it down, farm it out and layoff 340 AMFA members?
 
Almost 700 planes and only four lines done in-house.

 
700UW
 
Again You are sticking your two cents into a maintenance issue.
 
This is a discussion with and for the mechanics of USAir.
 
I know before you go off about the board and I don't own it, typical 700 bs.
 
UAL/USAir/CAL/DAL/SWA/AS all of the carriers have out sourced work we all can agree on that.
 
We can also agree that Eastern/TWA/Continental/United and many more were all IAM back in the day. How many of those mentioned above lost members and how many BK's did they go thru, how many lost pensions?
 
Did the IAM have a plan with them? USAir went twice what did they do for the membership there? So now they about to merge with AA. AA did away with the pension for all work groups. (froze the pension) You get on every thread, attempting to show us all just how much you know.
 
The IAM if it didn't tell the members that they would loose the pension it would be gone since they signed enough cards to get a vote with the IBT. 
 
Scare tactics is what you are using along with the rest of the IAM supporters just like we have our O/S, reality check, HSS, the TWU supporters.
 
If AMFA is so bad then lets have a vote a run off between the IAM and AMFA.
Let the membership decide, why is it that tell us all just how bad this tiny union is and that they can't represent like the iAM which is affiliated with the AFL-CIO.
Just what have they done, during the current negotiations?
 
I am on a conf call each week and there are IAM guys from USAirway there as well. They tell us that nothing is being done and that the membership is hearing very little from the iAM. Show us a site that is current info into whats going on at US.
 
You call us elitist, because we just want the mechanics, not the stores or ramp (FSC) what ever each group is called.  There is a group there at US collecting cards for AMFA.
 
The AW Mgmt which runs US is making changes here at AA, I can imagine just what they did there with only 3500-4000 mechanics. CLT, PHX, PIT, Tulsa, DWH, AFW,
all have work which will get outsourced. AA is joining the ranks of carriers which have outsourced the O/H or heavy checks. UAL closed maintenance facilities, Continental too. Delta has even out sourced.
 
We all can throw stones at the unions which over the yrs have screwed its members.
 
But with AMFA we can recall and vote out the top guys, their salary is not 2 or 3X what a mechanics is. They also are on the floor at times. How about TB? or the district lodge guys? I bet NOT.   Hoffa from the IBT he is not even an airline guy.
 
With AMFA we get airline guys running the union for airline employees. 
 
With AMFA we the mechanics get our own locals which will be dedicated to our class and craft, no ramp discussions, or stores discussions. Just mechanic issues.
That is what we pay dues for, we don't go to meetings because we are the smallest work force and it seems our issue are dwarfed by the FSC and stores numbers.
 
I can sit in on negotiations at my station while the road show is in town, can't do that with the TWU or IAM.
 
So, to sum this up all unions in the industry have failed at one time or another.
Lost 10's of thousand members, lost pensions, jobs and have outsourced work.
 
But it is time to look at at different way at least for the mechanics, (aircraft-Facilities-Utility-Automotive-OSM-Shop) 
 
Sign an AFMA card NOW, lets move forward bringing a new way of thinking, a new leadership that is for mechanics, our class and craft has suffered enough under the IAM and the TWU's watch. A joint contract for us the mechanics of the NEW AA is the only way we will better our career. Every one has a chance to be a leader will you take that step to help?
 
AMFA at AA in 2014
 

 

[1AA]

^^^^  +1

 

[Chuck Schalk]

Four lines are done in-house, how many are done by a vendor?

what happened to pittsburgs major hub under the great IAM watch?  
 
doesn't parker outsource facilities and automotive?