New Election Rules

[aapitbull]

If the union is so valuable to the employee, would it really matter if the company were able to fund a decertification drive? If they're so important, surely the employees would see thru that, so what's the concern?...

I have no concern I also believe in the AMFA postion on this matter, "If your union is not acting in your best interrest not only should they be replaced it is you duty to do so" Now having said that if someone tries to either replace or de-certify a bad union they will find out where the NMB really stands.

I personally have picketed the NMB on more than one occasion and I can tell you for certain they are a corrupt self serving organizaton, but they do not make it easy to get a union or change one, they seem to live for the status quo.

As for the company spending money to de-certify I have no problem with it as long as it must be done openly. At the end of the day it is the peoples right to choose, that is our system and I am for it. In the case of AMFA vs TWU the union, company & NMB all conspireded togther to stop the people from being heard!

 

[aapitbull]

Tell that to those who claim that the "democratic standard used in all elections" should apply to representational elections. You know those representational elections that apply to both voting in and voting out a union. Likewise for those who claim that "if it's good enough under the NLRB it should be good enough under the NMB" but only want the certification part of the NLRB rules and wouldn't touch the NLRB's decertification or contract rules with a 10 foot pole.

Jim

I'm with Bob get rid of the RLA take away the NMB I see no use for either I have no fear of de-certification or the loss of compulsary dues, the union would be forced to act in the best interest of the members or fail. Why would you believe a true union man would fear this? You guys are the one saying the NMB is our friend and that they are making it easy on us.

The RLA also says that the company must remain neutral during a drive, do they, no they threaten,harrass & intimadate organizers if the standards have to be the same for every election than the companies behavior must be the same for every election or they have the advantage.

 

[frontline]

The purpose of the NMB and RLA is to make strikes very difficult. To the members of the traveling general public I can see how this would be beneficial thing. No one wants to make plans six months out only to have an airline totally shut down by the time of travel. As a union guy I'm a lot less favorable to it, but seeing as how I don't think a strike right now would accomplish much of anything positive for us I don't really care.

 

[MCI transplant]

The purpose of the NMB and RLA is to make strikes very difficult. To the members of the traveling general public I can see how this would be beneficial thing. No one wants to make plans six months out only to have an airline totally shut down by the time of travel. As a union guy I'm a lot less favorable to it, but seeing as how I don't think a strike right now would accomplish much of anything positive for us I don't really care.

<_< ------Frontline, let me ask you this. If you don't believe "a strike would accomplish much of anything positive for us right now", when would it?------ What I'm asking is: What would it take for you to justify going on strike? Because if your waiting for the ideal time, ------- you'll have a long wait!!!------If ever!

 

[Bob Owens]

Tell that to those who claim that the "democratic standard used in all elections" should apply to representational elections. You know those representational elections that apply to both voting in and voting out a union. Likewise for those who claim that "if it's good enough under the NLRB it should be good enough under the NMB" but only want the certification part of the NLRB rules and wouldn't touch the NLRB's decertification or contract rules with a 10 foot pole.

Jim

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-ap-us-rural-delivery,0,1276555.story

Interesting article on the FEdEx-UPS battle. Seems that Fed Ex considers being under the RLA advantageous, I agree, so does the author of the article who cites on numerous occasions that the RLA helps companies fight unions.

Our gate agents would have organized years ago if not for he RLA. The RLA decides who is in the class and craft regardless of working conditions and it was the RLA decision that Res agents were the same as gate agents that kept them from getting organized.

While the New Rule makes organizing under the RLA more like under the NLRA the RLA it doesnt help the unionized worker to use unionization in his best interests. About all it does is ward off a possible uprising, led by the unions, against the RLA. I still say dump it. Put us under the NLRB.

 

[frontline]

MCI transplant-

I might consider it an option if the economy were stronger and if we were at the bottom of the pay scales in the industry. But the reality right now is that if we walk AA will have us replaced in no time flat. If you thought Northwest did it fast a couple years ago, that was with unemployment at half the level it is now. I don't want to see my job evaporate because my union brothers wouldn't settle for anything less than snap back.

 

[Bob Owens]

MCI transplant-

I might consider it an option if the economy were stronger and if we were at the bottom of the pay scales in the industry. But the reality right now is that if we walk AA will have us replaced in no time flat. If you thought Northwest did it fast a couple years ago, that was with unemployment at half the level it is now. I don't want to see my job evaporate because my union brothers wouldn't settle for anything less than snap back.

Wrong.
AA could not replace us. They admitted it last December when I asked why they couldnt extend the VBR to the line. They said they could not afford to lose line mechanics because they are losing too many as it is.

If AA could replace a guy who is at the max pay rate and max vacation for the $17,000 payout, (which they save anyway by getting the guy out early before he starts to burn off his sick bank) with a new hire earning $26,000 a year less with just one week of vacation and no benifits for a year dont you think they would have jumped at it? Didnt you notice that this agreement has no early buyout? They arent out there. AA would need more than NWA and NWA couldnt get what they needed five years ago, they scraped the barrel dry. Most of the A&P schools have closed, you have airlines desperately trying to help these schools, AA gave one an MD-80, and footed the bill for moving it to them!

Even if all of a sudden the school started turning out thousands of mechanics again, they dont know enough to keep them flying right out of school.

More than half of us are over 50. More than half of us will be gone in 10 years, and there isnt anyone behind us. The industry is facing a crisis, it takes years to become proficient as a mechanic.

You point out NWA but ignore the more recent Spirit strike. There are a lot more licensed pilots out there than mechanics, Sprit is a small company, if they could not replace the small number of pilots they have what makes you think AA, which is under intense scrutiny from the FAA, could all of a sudden find thousands to replacement us? It took NWA years of prep following the biggest layoff in this industry's history to replace their mechanics and like I said they sraped the barrel dry, theres nothing left, thats why AA didnt even bother to try, instead they rely on people like you to spread baseless fears.