Largest Airline needs Mechanics Union

[Chuck Schalk]

all I can say is:
 
 
HAD ENOUGH YET?

 

[Chuck Schalk]

As president of Local 514 I have many responsibilities. My number one job is to secure strong union representation for this membership. Since 2001 our local has been reducing in size, from over 7,000 to 4,500 members strong. The changes I have implemented today reflect that reduction.
 
I thought we were saving jobs?
 
BTW:  had enough yet?

 

[HMK]

all I can say is:
 
 
HAD ENOUGH YET?

I HAVE!!!

 

[HMK]

The TWU works for us and has failed us too many times to even count. If you own a company and your employee was non productive, the company would get rid of that employee....nothing is different here!
 
Fire the TWU, hire a new union...sign a card for AMFA!

 

[Bob Owens]

Overspeeds ratio is more important to him than job security.  

Well we all have to consider what Overspeed's definition of "Job Security" is.

If you are a Junior member of the International then job security is enhanced by ensuring the the headcount remains steady, if you cant do that at least shoot for a ratio or some other figure to justify your salary and presence at the ATD. The individuals themselves are of no consequence, its strictly a function of how many people are paying dues. If you have no other way to justify the undeniable losses then you grab onto ratios. "Yes we lost 5000 mechanics but we still have more mechanics per airplane than anyone else". Overspeed leaves out the fact that while the fleet shrunk by 30% and got older the headcount shrunk by well over 35%. these were figures put out by Donnelley.

To most of us "job security" relates to the people we actually work with. We don't want to see "Joe" who sits across the break room table and changed tires and brakes with us get laid off. So our objective when we think of "job Security" is to make sure that Joe doesnt get laid off, but we also dont want to see the job deteriorate to the point that Joe quits and goes somewhere else, but if "Al" retires and they don't replace him, or if the company gets more planes and they don't add people, well thats always been the company's prerogative, but for us as real people , real members, Job security has a face, the face of people we know, not numbers or figures or ratios. We had job security like that, it was called System protection, and Overspeed told us to give that up, then claimed that this deal which has no job security, would provide us job security, and the price of that false security would be the lowest wage, giving up as much as two weeks vacation every year, working all the holidays with only five where we get 4 hours extra pay, only half the sick time everyone else gets and the worst work rules in the industry. For Overspeed job security is a faceless ratio, the real people don't matter, thats why it doesn't matter if real people lose their pensions, their benefits, their vacations, Holiday pay and even work rules in order to try and maintain a number, a number that justifies his position. Our ratios were driven by old aircraft and capacity, not by our language. we rolled back system protection, lost thousands of jobs yet the ratio went up, so how could a ratio possibly be an indicator of Job security? As much as he tries to spin it its not.

Of course we all know OS, now he will cite how we were in BK, well BK or not we should have still said no. There are so many things about this BK thats out of the norm (shareholders getting stock and any gains on the stock over the first 120 days. WTF??) that we should have stuck to our guns. The pilots got an improved contract by facing abrogation and they are nowhere near as bad off compared to their peers as we are. Overspeeds ratios do nothing to help those of us who were here since 2003 prepare for retirement, send our kids to college or enjoy our day to day living. Sure it may have enabled AA to call back all their Riffed workers, most of whom rejected the call, and hire new people off the street, that quit nearly as fast as they did back in the late 80s, but some of those vacancies where mostly created by people who voluntarily left, not contractual language tied to any ratio of his, and the price for this "ratio" was huge, and it hurt every mechanic in the industry.

 

[swamt]

I cannot disagree with you at all Bob...

 

[MetalMover]

Well we all have to consider what Overspeed's definition of "Job Security" is.

Overspeed reminds me of Baghdad Bob who was on the TV during the Iraq war telling the world all there were no Americans in Iraq...
 
http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/jokes/bljoke-iraqinfominister.htm

 

[AMFAinMIAMI]

http://www.lombardoteam.org/?page_id=62
 
This is a link to the Lombardo team page, it states that Little opened the door for the IBT raid on the mechanics. How the TWU sold out to the IAM giving them part of the new AA.
 
This is the new TWU/IAM alliance, if he thinks it is wrong, WHY isn't he doing everything is his power to stop it?
 
It also states that he would Erase the past seven yrs of Failure. I say the TWU has Failed here at AA for a very Long time?
 
 Today schemes like merging with the CWA and the joint agreement with the Machinists are hatched by one person, Jim Little, without consultation and then dropped on other officers and the membership like a lead weight.
 
Obviously, we cannot afford four more years of the status quo, much less four more years of further retreat.
 
Well what has the Lombardo Team actually done, anyone know?
 
The LOMBARDO TEAM will return power to the Locals, keep them informed and allow them to bring their strength, passion and experience to bear on our problems. Has anyone seen any of this?
 
We will restore pride in the TWU and revive its fighting spirit by respecting the opinions of our Locals and members; consulting with Local leadership over plans of action and freeing them from the restraints placed on them by the International in doing their job.  If this was true then why does Local 591 have legal action pending against the TWU Intl.?  
 
Just how many lies are we going to hear before we send them packing?
 
Now the Equity stock thing is upfront and on everyones mind, it is just more of the same old TWU. One screwing after another.
 
Wasn't Lombardo part of the TWU when Little was there? If he felt that what was being done to us then was wrong why did he just back and let it happen?
It is Time for us all to say we have enough of the TWU, its lies.
 
 
Contact your stations AMFA Organizer or be one yourself, lets get all the mechanics, both title 1 & 2 to sign AMFA cards.

 

[Overspeed]

Overspeed reminds me of Baghdad Bob who was on the TV during the Iraq war telling the world all there were no Americans in Iraq...
 
http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/jokes/bljoke-iraqinfominister.htm

 
My definition of job security is one that makes labor so valuable that AA cannot make money with out our unionized work force. Meaning that we are the best trained, most efficient AMTs in the business. IMHO telling mgmt we will deny AA our services is not a viable option. It is an all or nothing approach. Ask AMFA how that worked out at NWA. Did you know that our new MX VP is formerly from NWA? How many people truly believe that the NMB will let airline workers strike now given there are only four major airlines?
 
So what are the options? Vote AMFA and capitulate on the overhaul is worth fighting for argument? That's what has happened at all other major airlines by either breaking existing scope clauses (IAM/UA and AMFA/NWA) or by never fighting for overhaul in the first place (AMFA/WN and IBT/US)
 
But hey, the members that lost their jobs at NW, US, and UA love the great contracts that allowed their jobs to be outsourced. The new CBA at AA does provide more protection than any of those at the other majors.

 

[AMFAinMIAMI]

 
My definition of job security is one that makes labor so valuable that AA cannot make money with out our unionized work force. Meaning that we are the best trained, most efficient AMTs in the business. IMHO telling mgmt we will deny AA our services is not a viable option. It is an all or nothing approach. Ask AMFA how that worked out at NWA. Did you know that our new MX VP is formerly from NWA? How many people truly believe that the NMB will let airline workers strike now given there are only four major airlines?
 
So what are the options? Vote AMFA and capitulate on the overhaul is worth fighting for argument? That's what has happened at all other major airlines by either breaking existing scope clauses (IAM/UA and AMFA/NWA) or by never fighting for overhaul in the first place (AMFA/WN and IBT/US)
 
But hey, the members that lost their jobs at NW, US, and UA love the great contracts that allowed their jobs to be outsourced. The new CBA at AA does provide more protection than any of those at the other majors.

 
Overspeed
 
AA was the last to protect the O/H bases but it cost the membership lots of money over the yrs. It will also cost us more in the yrs to come. The work force is older now and by the time AA does another round of hiring most of us will be gone. The merger will also be upfront and how the integration of both US and AA. will be done.
 
No Strike or lockout is a scam and you know that. Any airline that would effect the US economy will never get released to go on strike and now that we have shrunk the industry to 4 big companies none of those will ever strike. The self help clause we knew from the past is over, done. Strike funds are just a way in which the unions give the members a sense of security, but when they never get used it is just MORE MONEY for the unions to skim from the hard working employees at what ever company. 
 
Voting in AMFA will force a change in leadership, at both the Local level and the Top.
We will have a say as to who sits on the Top. Its not being elitist as some say but we will truly be separate from the ramp/stores. This will give the negotiation team a bit more leverage at the table. The company won't be looking at the big TWU, to share profits.
 
I will be able to sit in on the negotiation sessions as well, which can't be done with the IAM/IBT/TWU. Only select few get to sit in. 
 
The IAM at Eastern/Continental/United/TWA all lost with the big industrial unions.
PanAm what about them as well. Did the union there protect them from defeat?
How many pensions and jobs were lost at those carriers as well?
 
The bs that the TWU and You continue to spill about how we saved jobs cost so much here it is a disgrace. You know as well that the airlines shuffles its high level mgmt.
Greg H. went from here to UAL to Fedx, getting more money and power each time.
Danny M, went from here to AAR I hear. Both came from Eastern. They all learn from the leaders of the past and have ideas of their own to hold labor cost down.
 
It's not that AMFA will bring more money or a better contract NO Union can promise that its the fact that the TWU has Failed here at AA, and the membership has just had enough of the lies and bs. It time to make a change, for the good or bad but it is time to change and see. As the mechanics did at UAL if we feel AMFA is failing we can replace the leadership or the union again. But to continue this madness with the TWU is just insane.
 
If you continue to tell us how the TWU is the best, it is for one reason that YOU are part of the SCAM, You benefit from the TWU being here. WE got a new line Local and still the scam remains. It's just inherent within the TWU. Got a new TWU Intl. Team and still we are looking at what J. Little did before he left. Lombardo is just the same.
 
We got NON mechanic leaders with the new ATD, the ramp/stores was not trying to rid the TWU from AA, it was maintenance, but again we are not the favorite work group.
 
This IAM/TWU alliance wants to have two unions so if you work at one station your IAM if at another your TWU. This was a plan conceived by both to keep dues coming in.
It's a way in which the TWU & IAM leaders get theirs. WE Loose Again.
 
With AMFA we get to succeed or fail by our choice NOT BY Appointed Leaders.
 
Here is an example when you get tired of your PC with all the virus and hardware problems most switch to a MAC. Well O/S we are tired of the scamming and being let down by the TWU we want to switch, If you are so sure that the TWU would win in a VOTE then Promote the process, tell everyone to fill out a card, and lets just see which union wins in the voting process. The democratic way.

 

[1AA]

Basically with AMFA you have a union structure that the union leaders are held 100% accountable to the members they represent. If they fail to do so guess what the membership can do that you can NOT do with the TWU and the IAM?
 
Sign a card and see how a real craft union represents its members.

 

[swamt]

Overspeed lied again folks.  He stated AMFA/WN never fought for overhaul.  All lies folks, all lies.  Keep posting OS, please keep posting, you are doing a great job...

 

[Show me the money]

The question is!!!!! Will the TWU bring us up to the benefits of what the US mechanics get (2 1/2 times on holidays, more holidays, more vacation, more sick time) or will they bring them down to our pitifull level. Try asking any international officer that question and watch the choking and backpedaling begin. You will get "we are about same" ARE YOU KIDDING!!! Sign an AMFA card and let's show  the TWU and the IAM the door.

 

[1AA]

No real negotiations going on at USAir. My take on this is that the company will negotiate some kind of concessions just better than our contract and then work on a JCBA even more concessionary than the CBA at USAir but just slightly better than ours. End result will be CONCESSIONARY.

 

[700UW]

See if you were a PMUS employee and IAM member you would know whats on the table, and nothing the IAM is asking for is concessionary.
 
Wage in the $39 range, more vacation, double time and a pension increase for a $104 multiplier and other improvements.