JCBA Negotiations and updates for AA AMTS

[UPNAWAY]

Mechanics are highly skilled and specialized professionals with little need of a union. Your career options, salries and quality of life would certianly be better if the industry had not traditionally been unionized.

 

[chilokie1]

 
We've tried.  Many times.
 
But coming from LUS, I know it can be done.  If you are united enough.
 
Look at our pilots.  They successfully left ALPA, and formed their very own brand new union.  And it worked.
 
All it takes is work, strength, anger, unity, time and money.  And a majority. 
 
So that tells me, we as AMT's, as a whole, are happy is what we have.  Otherwise as a majority, we would have made a change already.

 
I agree, it would be awesome to have both our mechanic groups join forces into a 
union that sees our profession as what it is. But the 10,000,000LB elephant in the 
room is our difference in pension plans. If you leave the IAM you will lose you investment
and LAA guys will never join the IAMPF.

 

[DallasConehead]

I applaud any drive to get out of the association. I will sign a card to force a vote if given one. However, after witnessing 30 years of failed attempts and self determination, I dont see anything changing anytime soon. Maybe someday, but not in my lifetime.

 

[Real tired]

 
I agree, it would be awesome to have both our mechanic groups join forces into a 
union that sees our profession as what it is. But the 10,000,000LB elephant in the 
room is our difference in pension plans. If you leave the IAM you will lose you investment
and LAA guys will never join the IAMPF.

 
You're right, the pension difference is a huge issue.
 
But another elephant in the way of our groups joining forces is incentive.  And now with this raise outside of a signed JCBA, there is no incentive, especially on the LUS side.
 
To the majority of my coworkers, everything is just peachy keen.  Everything is just great.  Why try to invoke a change?  We can now sit in the same breakroom as you, wearing the same ID, doing the same job, but we have more sick time, holidays, vacation and overtime pay and scope.  All fought for and won by the IAM.  Or so we think.  To me, it looks like the standard Delta playbook.
 
Actually, at this point in time, I feel sorry for the LAA people.  And more so, I feel sorry for all of us in our profession.  I am happy about the extra money, but now the company has what they want, we have what we want.  Why risk changing that?
 
You won't find much fight out of the LUS group anymore.

 

[Buck]

I applaud any drive to get out of the association. I will sign a card to force a vote if given one. However, after witnessing 30 years of failed attempts and self determination, I dont see anything changing anytime soon. Maybe someday, but not in my lifetime.

Why?

 

[aanoob]

How many AMT's received the "red circle" freeze?

 

[1AA]

Why?

TULSA.

 

[conehead777]

TULSA.[/quote[lus I feel our bigger reason the osm in Tulsa plus they put fac and auto maint . And the twu scared those groups off saying AMFA will throw you guys under the bus. Plus now with two different retirees groups aa frozen pension and us has the iampf, so I'm sure that will make getting AMFA a lot harder.

 

[JABORD]

Mechanics are highly skilled and specialized professionals with little need of a union. Your career options, salries and quality of life would certianly be better if the industry had not traditionally been unionized.

Your anti-union sentiment displays your ignorance of Unionism. Where will you look for support when we see a downturn in this industry's natural cycle and your employer looks to pillage again? Another group who qualifies to your profile you indicated of mechanics are pilots. Even they are wise enough to not abandon what a Union can provide at Delta, eh?
 

 
I agree, it would be awesome to have both our mechanic groups join forces into a 
union that sees our profession as what it is. But the 10,000,000LB elephant in the 
room is our difference in pension plans. If you leave the IAM you will lose you investment
and LAA guys will never join the IAMPF.

Hey buddy, the US mechanics would do us all good to get their heads out of their asses on this IAMNPF issue. Prior to 2006 you will receive a retirement check from the PBGC and even though you've only entered the IAMNPF in 2008, a fact that many still don't realize, legislation protects you once vested. Meaning you will receive a separate check from them at retirement. Don't get suckered by the IAM fear campaign that leaving their union requires your loss of pension. Also, options for retirement are our choice. Even AMFA has the ability to be in a pension plan in their Constitution if members support that idea. Too many on the US side have given up. Those that have should be ashamed to call themselves Aircraft Mechanics.

 

[Buck]

TULSA.

Where was the Line Stations 20-25 years ago when the first attempts to separate from the TWU?

 

[1AA]

Where was the Line Stations 20-25 years ago when the first attempts to separate from the TWU?

First attempt was 1987. Tulsa was not onboard. Other drives failed over and over because Tulsa was not onboard. The question should be "Where was Tulsa 25 plus years ago"? As far as I can remember all drives started from line stations. And that's where they terminated because of insufficient interest from Tulsa.

 

[MetalMover]

First attempt was 1987. Tulsa was not onboard. Other drives failed over and over because Tulsa was not onboard. The question should be "Where was Tulsa 25 plus years ago"? As far as I can remember all drives started from line stations. And that's where they terminated because of insufficient interest from Tulsa.

Good post...but looking at the seniority list, the line stations should NOW have sufficient votes for a change in representation. It is those pro TWU supporters in the line stations who make the difference. I invite those who are doing cartwheels over this raise to see how much, or LITTLE separates them from the fac and auto mechanics. No disrespect and no belittling of other work groups, but NO other work group is subject to the scrutiny of IAW and the threat of FAA fines and license suspension/revocation. The bottom line is the TWU continually lumps us all in the same cash pool when it comes to deciding who gets how much. Sadly, until the aircraft mechanics choose their own representation (ALA pilots), this is something we will have to live with.

 

[skydrol]

Hey you guys, pass the bowl this way I want a hit too. The association has killed any hope of a card drive. Too much diversity the cards will not get signed. Cudos to the IAM for getting the best deal for their membership. TWU failed once again. Out played , Now someone can come along and say this is America all your dreams can come true bla bla ........

 

[chilokie1]

 
You're right, the pension difference is a huge issue.
 
But another elephant in the way of our groups joining forces is incentive.  And now with this raise outside of a signed JCBA, there is no incentive, especially on the LUS side.
 
To the majority of my coworkers, everything is just peachy keen.  Everything is just great.  Why try to invoke a change?  We can now sit in the same breakroom as you, wearing the same ID, doing the same job, but we have more sick time, holidays, vacation and overtime pay and scope.  All fought for and won by the IAM.  Or so we think.  To me, it looks like the standard Delta playbook.
 
Actually, at this point in time, I feel sorry for the LAA people.  And more so, I feel sorry for all of us in our profession.  I am happy about the extra money, but now the company has what they want, we have what we want.  Why risk changing that?
 
You won't find much fight out of the LUS group anymore.

 
Great post!  Crazy thing is the company added to the LUS members pension deposits 
(which I think is correct and fair) because as they claimed they "needed to even things up". Really?
The most current paycheck I had on AUG 5th was 4 hour's short because I had used a sick
day in the checks timeframe, and to put salt on the wound the LAA mechanics in Tulsa 
(not sure the rest of the system) get to visit the sick nazi to explain why we needed to used our contractually 
negotiated benefit.

 

[Buck]

That's not entirerly true. There was a large group in Tulsa that could not get the Line Stations to help. I am not saying there was no help from the Line, but those of us in Tulsa trying to get cards for AMFA got the cold should from the Line in general.
Yes it was 1987 I was in JT8 and that was our experience. I know Tulsa as a whole was a major problem, but the TWU supporters on the Line know who they are. The hard areas were the machinists in Tulsa, just as it is today. If it is true the Line has the seniority I bow to your abilities to get this done.....