E-TRONS said:
Hey LAVMAN, I recall the first AMFA election at UAL...you know the one where the IAM INSISTED TO THE NMB that NON-DUES PAYING MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL WERE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE IN THE ELECTION. I think there were about 1200 or so
INELIGIBLE VOTERS that helped de-rail AMFA at that time. And let's not forget the FORCED RE-VOTE due to our CONFUSION!!
So what should I think of the IAM for doing such abominable things?? Trust them?? NO WAY :down:
The IAM will go to all lengths to preserve the cash influx into upper Marlboro. Have to keep that LEARJET flying you know.....and the GOLF COURSE....and the Pension Fund scam going. And last but not least, those 77 law firms who do who the heck knows what!!
It's been said that when someone repeatedly lies and deceives those around him,
eventually he will begin to believe his own lies too. Know anyone that fits that description?? Hint: IAM.
Great post HIGH IRON...I can always count on you to raise the bar.
E-TRONS OUT.
AMFA Rules Let Northwest Close Atlanta Base,
Farm Out Many Hundreds
of Mechanic Jobs;
Will AMFA Lose Continental Mechanic Jobs, Too?
Whenever AMFA makes a claim about their contract at Northwest Airlines, remember that AMFA gave management a green light to subcontract up to 38% of the Northwest mechanic work hours to repair stations, including non-union and foreign stations. AMFA’s job protection loophole increased the amount of permissible subcontracting by almost 150%! That huge loophole has allowed Northwest to shut down its Atlanta repair base just last month and eliminate over 1,000 mechanic jobs. How many mechanic jobs will disappear forever to subcontracting? You can bet AMFA won’t tell you!
Under the IAM’s Northwest Contract the IAM was able to file grievances to contest subcontracting by the Company. AMFA gave up that right when it gave the Company a free hand to subcontract. AMFA can’t do anything about subcontracting so long as NWA doesn’t exceed 38% of work hours. You can bet Northwest management knows how to massage those numbers so it can farm out union jobs to low cost repair stations.
You might ask what union would ever agree to let management eliminate almost 40% of union work through subcontracting? Well, no real union ever would and the Teamsters Union consistently negotiates scope restrictions in mechanic contracts to prevent those management tactics. But the AMFA “Association†with its management lawyers, real estate property managers and nonexistent negotiators lets management get away with it. What else can you expect from a “virtual union†that exists only on the internet?
In fact, AMFA is being sued right now by Northwest mechanics who claim that AMFA blew a grievance against 9/11 layoffs by failing to follow contract procedures and that the “Association†failed to file grievances to dispute Company subcontracting. The judge found that nothing refuted the mechanics’ claim that AMFA had failed to file grievances. Not only did AMFA not file grievances on Company subcontracting, the mechanics claim that it misled them into not filing grievances on their own! AMFA presented nothing to the judge to dispute the mechanics’ allegation. So that’s AMFA “representation.†Screw up filing grievances where members’ jobs are on the line and then mislead them into giving up their own right to file a grievance!
When you think about protecting your job against cut-rate subcontracting, remember, the Teamsters Union fights to preserve bargaining-unit work and AMFA gives it away, either by contract or incompetence!
AMFA's Failure to Represent Its Members
AMFA has been in negotiations for the Alaska Airline mechanics for many months. During this time, AMFA failed to bring the legal assistance to the table that it had promised the mechanics. Instead, AMFA left a negotiating committee of untrained mechanics to do the best they could without legal assistance. The result is that AMFA, advised by their real estate specialists (McCormick Group), failed to negotiate any significant improvements in wages, benefits, or work rules.
Through AMFA's agreement, the final contract will be approved by an arbitrator rather than being put to a vote by the mechanics who have a stake in the outcome. This is baseball arbitration and it is what airline managements are working so hard to get Congress to approve. The results of such an arbitration are predictable: minor tweaks will be made here and there, leaving the Alaska Airline mechanics far behind the industry, especially those represented by real unions. This is not even take it or leave it, it is simply take it—the Alaska Airline mechanics have no choice. So much for an association that claims to be democratic!
DELETED BY MODERATOR- Please do not post mechanic related links.
Northwest Invokes Right To Unlimited, Unrestricted
Subcontracting of Technician and Cleaner Work
Nothing progressive in AMFA victory, argues United Airlines worker
AMFA Puts Future of United
Airlines and its Employees at Risk
Recalled amfa President Gives Inside Account of the amfa Circus
In the wake of the recent Alaska Airlines tragedy, there has been a renewed interest in amfa's participation in recalling it's Alaska Local 37 President for "conduct unbecoming an officer". His 'unbecoming conduct' consisted of informing the FAA of safety violations by members of Alaska management. Being the airline industries company union of choice, amfa fully supported managements attempts to discredit Mr. Liotine.
On August 30, 1999 John Liotine wrote a letter to amfa National Director O.V. Delle-Femine, requesting an appeal of the decision of the trial committee that recalled him from office. He also documents how management has seized control of the amfa local, and amfa's violations of the Labor Management Disclosure Act, and even its own Constitution, in its zeal to give Alaska management the satisfaction it demanded for having its negligent management practices exposed.
Recently, a UAL amfa supporter on the amfa website asked Delle-Femine why the amfa national wasn't taking a bigger role in supporting Mr. Liotine against Alaska management, which forced him into "administrative leave" shortly after the letter below was written. Delle's response :
"Seeing that you have brought up John Liotine's name (which surprises me again, because he is from Alaska, Local 37 and is not a UAL employee); Is John Liotine before the FAA regarding a FAR violation?
Has John Liotine been fired from his carrier? Both answers are no. So Joe what is your problem? You are not an AMFA officer. I take exception of your continuous interference in Local 37 matters as well as your unfounded, scurrilous rhetoric that demeans the local officers. Shame on you. Further, you didn't mention everything that was said at that meeting.
I urge you to collect cards from UAL-SFO so we can have an election. The line stations are waiting for some SFO leadership, as we had in the past, to join them."
Delle makes his point very clear. 'Don't question anything I do, just increase my bank account.'
After reading the lengthy document, no fair person will be able to deny that the concept of fairness and autonomy amfa peddles is nothing more than a sham.
