Thats the key word here.
Thanks to their "brothers" hanging them out to dry, they were forced to find employment elsewhere. Id rather decide my fate myself, thanks.
OK AMT's Hit me with the new rumors...
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Thats the key word here.
Thanks to their "brothers" hanging them out to dry, they were forced to find employment elsewhere. Id rather decide my fate myself, thanks.
Don Smith
Veteran
Au contrare Pierre, The union made no decision for me. I've stated many times on these boards that the decision was mine and mine alone. There was no gurantee of unemployment payments, no help from some big union coffer (didn't exits). There was honor or dishonor. I chose honor. The state of Michigan eventually confirmed us by making unemployment payments 2 months after the strike began and the UAW kicked a couple of hundo, which we were all grateful for, but there was never a gurantee. I knew my family would be cared for just like every other time I faced a job crisis. My prior experiences on strengthened my faith that I would get a better job and that we certainly wouldn't starve. I do agree that the "job" is quite a way down the list of priorities. But having to get up every morning, look in the mirror and have a SCAB staring back at me was unacceptable. Contrary to your assertion that my family is somewhere down the list beneath "union brothers" you are very mistaken. My God, wife, children, are at the top and that is why I walked the picket line. To give them an honorable man for a husband and father. Its not always about money.
As far as what I know about "people", I observe, I read, I form an opinion. If Ralph comes down on me for expressing an opinion about another poster I can always tell him, "he started it".
As far as what I know about "people", I observe, I read, I form an opinion. If Ralph comes down on me for expressing an opinion about another poster I can always tell him, "he started it".
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I wasn't referring to you when i referenced people I knew who went on strike. With you it's more like a cult than anything.
Don Smith
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Airlinelifer
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Kev, the will learn the "hard" way when it comes to this new CLT. Here's a word that they should remember, "BOHICA".
As a DL AMT I also agree with Don. I learned the same lesson from my Dad. I remember as a kid of about 9 years old when Dad came home and said he may have to go on strike from the power company. He said it wasn't something he wanted to do, but he felt it was the right thing to do. Lucky for us they came to terms at the 11th hour.
DT, no argument here, just disapointment. You speak of the union making the decision for them to strike. Did you every sit and realize that the company makes decisions for you without questioning from you. Just think about it, seriously. I have research your industry and various others out there and for those who can unionize, have a choice. You choose to not unionize, your choice, your co-workers choice. It just baffles me that most workers do not like the downside of being a "At Will Employee", but with no credit backing them, say no to representation. Do people have a right to have and keep a job? No. Should anybody make decision for you? No. Unless you let them. Kev3188 choose representation and I can safetly say he knew what can happen.
Absolutely..Kev knows the consequences of being employed at a union carrier the posiblity of a strike down the road may exist. I am sure Delta Technician feels he joined a non-union company and wants to keep it that way as I am sure if his convictions are strong enough he would quit DL if the mechanics ever voted in a union. Would be a tough road but if your convictions are that strong than thats what you need to do. But don't think for a minute you make the wages you do because you are such a valuable asset. You make those wages because DL pays them to keep the unions out just as FedEx does. As a poster on ExNwa stated most if not all mechanics would be making less that 30 dollars an hr had it not been for the NWA AMFA 2001 contract. We fought hard and in the end paid the ultimate price to help raise the bar on this industry. We helped put that extra money in your non-union pocket my friend. Just remember someone always has to stand and fight to get something good or even fair and sometimes they have to fall on the sword for the betterment of all. I enjoy my non-union job at FedEx and don't really care to belong to another one. But unlike these veterans I work along side who never have been in a union I know the sacrifice other people made to get me the wage I enjoy today.
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I would have to say this is the most stupid reply I have seen to this thread. My convictions would never lead me to quitting as I am not a quitter, I leave that to the union people who quit working and look stupid carrying signs and marching in a circle. My convictions would lead me to doing my job no matter what. While you are drawing pennies on the dollar, I will be drawing dollars to support my family and my company. Remember, when you sacrifice your livlihood, you sacrifice your family. There is nothing a union has to offer to get me to do that. Maybe you should put your family first...I'm sure they would appreciate that.
Kev3188
Veteran
I thought was pretty accurate... What makes it so "stupid?"
Translation: "I'll be the first to cross the line should it ever come to that."
I think you answered the question to where you would be if it ever came down to fighting for your job. I would not want to be a cop with you as my back up. Wanna know why I walked a picket line brainiac? Because NW wanted to eliminate 53 percent of the workforce and initiate a 25 percent paycut to those who remained. After 17 yrs I was in the 53 percent to be eliminated. Would have been pretty damn selfish of me to run across the picket line to save my job that was being eliminated when guys who could have stayed with more seniority are out walking the line to save MY job. Glad to see those who like to reap the rewards that others fought for but would never fight themselves. And believe it or not I did put my family first. We never went hungry I always said I will work as many jobs as I had to and walk the picket line in between jobs but crossing the line NEVER was a consideration for me.
So you were screwed either way. Really sucks what you guys went through, but, it was going to happen whether you had representation or not.
As far as reaping the rewards, what would you have us do, say "No thanks we dont deserve it"? That would be ridiculous.
"looking stupid carrying signs"? in your industry you guys are the only non-union group. don't you know thats what your company base your "industry standard". Guys who carried signs and marched for better raises, and a better working environment. those guys are the reason why your company gave you whatever pay they thought was reasonable for you. your industry standard is base off unions bargaining. keep in mind dt, you do not own your seniority, your company does. you don't own or have any say so outside of federal/state working laws nor a voice. you do not have any value. contracts determine worth. contracts are a hedge on what's to come. i know you heard this a million times, but what will you do if tomorrow your company makes the decision to release you from your job duties. keep in mind you are a "at will employee" in a "right to work" state. no rhyme or reason for letting you go. you are boxing with no arms. you cannot "strike" or defend yourself. I will assume i am wasting my time with you. I played both sides of the field and have a little insight on the issue at hand. board meetings, discussion circles, punch in, punch out, etc...
I guess I care
Not saying you have to not accept a higher wage. Just trying to prove a point to Delta Technician who hates unions that he does not have to condemn us who were in a union and who went on strike to save not only our own jobs but to keep the rest of the industry including non-union DL and FDX from going down that slippery slope of reduced wages which we fought hard for and helped raise in our 2001 contract. However, it has already happened at a number of airlines already after NW busted AMFA. Thankfully SWA, FDX and UPS havent slashed wages like the rest.
