What a wild and busy weekend. Friday night was superb. We had a Scab Fest at the "All Around" Friday night for some of us Scabs that are leaving. We had a great turnout, guys from all shifts showed up. With a quick PM I got to meet no other than our Great CSAR Green. We had a blast, thanks for the hat CSAR. Some of you guys' ears should have been burning like hell
. He's a good man even if he is taller than me. I do hate looking up at people. Saturday morning required a few Tylonol to get started but I eventually got moving to load the truck for the sixteen-hour drive south. I pulled into the garage at 7:45 A.M. Sunday morning June 25th. One year and nineteen days I was away from home. That was much too long for me to be gone. It will not happen again. If I am to remain in aviation I will stick to the contract side of the industry where I retain my freedom to work when and where I please.
I was disappointed not to see any strikers out Friday afternoon. I had psyched myself up to stop for a chat. I very much wanted to meet one particular AMFA Boy named Ralph.
I will say that I am going to miss working line with my co-Scabs at NWA. You couldn't ask for a better bunch of Mechanics to work with. This even goes for the AMFA Scabs that crossed. I was really surprised at how many of them showed up for the Scab Fest. There was this one that we had asked to go out with us earlier when he first crossed but wouldn't. Well come to find out he wouldn't because he was afraid we were setting him up, he thought we were going to duct tape him up and drop him off at the UAW over on Telegraph where AMFA is shacked up.
. These guys have been a blast. I wish I could give names but I will not but in the event he ever reads this I just want him to know that it has been a pleasure working with him and the majority of the AMFA Scabs. Some were a bit slow in adjusting to their new environment but now I think they have come along quiet well.
If NWA can retain their current workforce they will be in very good and capable hands. Hackman and many of you other guys like to belittle these Great Mechanics even after they have proven more than their worth, even as they surpass his own company in his beloved DOT Stats, even after his company has one emergency landing after another.
I would like to say to the flying public that NWA is as safe an Airline to fly as any other. As a contactor I have worked on many aircraft from many different airlines and I can say that NWA's maintenance is second only to FED-EX. Do be wary of the 9's though for their heavy checks are performed at MAE.
To the NWA Scabs still working line, you guys are the best. I am sure you guys know that we pulled off the impossible. This has been a ride that I will never forget. You are a great bunch of mechanics and I have very much enjoyed working with you guys. You Men keep those birds flying straight and true. I hope to see you guys again out on other contracts.
To NWA I would like to thank you for this rare treat in the aviation contract world. It was indeed a Grand Ride. Though I would like to add that when you change your workforce you really do need to learn more about the people you are hiring. These guys are of a free will and mind and if you wish to keep them around I suggest you treat them as such. They do not take well to trivial work rules, especially work rules that are written under an AMFA contract, the very union you brought us there to bust. I might also suggest that you handle gripes and complaints in a much more timely manor than you do. For example the DAT Day issue. It took you six weeks to resolve that issue. To a contractor that is about four to four and a half weeks too long. It varies depending on payroll and an individual’s circumstances. You need to keep in mind that these guys are receiving calls on a weekly if not a daily basis depending on the contracts available. A contractor can simply be having a bad day and receive the right call and pick-up stakes right then and there, these guys are extremely flexible. As of right now pay is not your problem, your biggest problems is the insane number of coaching’s and levels that are being given out over the most trivial shet, unless of course this is by design to make Mechanics leave. When a mans daughter is getting married a thousand miles away I promise you he does not give a rats arse about your schedule or policies and procedures. I strongly suggest you send your management teams to some type of people skills course and give them some type of flexibility in your “policies and proceduresâ€. It is flat out stupid to train a man for 319/320's, 57’s, 57 ETOPS, 330, 330 ETOPS and is DLRA, just to let him walk out because of some BS policy. You have got to learn to work with these guys on an individual basis or you can forget about them hanging around. Unless of course, you are purposely running these men off. Good luck in your efforts in keeping NWA flying in these difficult times for the company.
To all my loving friends here at US Aviation.com
, it has been great conversing, debating, sparring and insulting each and every one of you. I have learned a great deal from you guys and enjoyed every minute of your company. Each and every one of you are very interesting individuals with much to offer. Good luck and best wishes to each and every one of you
To the Moderating Team, thank you very much for what I am sure was very restrained patience. I would hate to know how many times your little “notifiers†lit up on your screens on the account of me. This is a great site and I recommend it to everyone. You guys are doing a great job and service to the aviation community.
I have a lot of work to do this summer as my list of “honey do’s†has grown to an astronomical length. So my visits here will reduce dramatically. Don’t start cheering just yet for I will continue to check in on you guys from time to time. I am really interested in what CSAR finds out about the seat issue. I didn’t know it would cause such controversy and I didn’t read the MEL on it. I would really hate to think that it would actually ground the bird especially if parts are not readily available.
Graffiti written on the scuff plate of the “Magic Carpetâ€: “Bobby DePace sold us outâ€
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