Question regarding unions for Delta AMTs

[Slopoke]

I'm an AMT at AA and we have the TWU as our union. I know that you are not represented by any union, so I'd like to know how it works regarding work rules, pay rates, vacations, etc. Do you have a formal agreement? If so, do you have a negotiating team that does this? I always hear that "if you don't have a union, you can be fired for anything". Does this happen? I just want to find out why you all are content on not having a union. I'm tired of paying roughly $700 a year for a pocket calendar and maybe a few slices of pizza per year and most of all, dead beats that get their jobs back because of the TWU. Thanks in advance.

 

[topDawg]

I'm an AMT at AA and we have the TWU as our union.

sorry about that. 
 

I know that you are not represented by any union, so I'd like to know how it works regarding work rules, pay rates, vacations, etc. Do you have a formal agreement?

no
 

If so, do you have a negotiating team that does this?

no
 

I always hear that "if you don't have a union, you can be fired for anything". Does this happen?

ehhh in theory yes this is true but it doesn't happen. Its pretty hard to get fired on the MX side. The running joke is those that should get fired just make management. 
 

I just want to find out why you all are content on not having a union.

No us v them mentality. Most Unions would destroy the MRO side of the house. Unions want due paying member so they generally have higher people per tail doing less work. Delta's biggest advantage over a lot of the MROs is you get a 121 carriers quality with MRO productivity. Also because the unions have completely failed to protect our craft so whats the point of joining a union to basically be in the same place we are now?
 
The only real issues I hear from people is lack of pension (nothing a union will do about that) and lack of Scope. Pay and work rules are pretty good.  

 

I'm tired of paying roughly $700 a year for a pocket calendar and maybe a few slices of pizza per year and most of all, dead beats that get their jobs back because of the TWU. Thanks in advance.

Plenty of dead beats at Delta. 
 
If you get fired its because you did show up to work (more than one time) or got caught stealing high ticket items. 

 

[metopower]

Well now you've done it....your going to get flamed for telling it like it is. What DL has is a culture that was instilled from the beginning . It works here and may not work anywhere else. As I've said and if your not part of it it is hard to understand as an outsider but...if you show up when you are suppose to ...do your job.... Get along with your co workers and don't steal....you can work here as long as you want .

 

[topDawg]

Well now you've done it....your going to get flamed for telling it like it is. What DL has is a culture that was instilled from the beginning . It works here and may not work anywhere else. As I've said and if your not part of it it is hard to understand as an outsider but...if you show up when you are suppose to ...do your job.... Get along with your co workers and don't steal....you can work here as long as you want .

pretty much. 
 
you have a much higher chance of getting outsourced than you do getting fired. 

 

[Kev3188]

Maybe someday life in ACS will mirror what Dawg has noted for the MX side... It'd be nice.

 

[topDawg]

Maybe someday life in ACS will mirror what Dawg has noted for the MX side... It'd be nice.

Probably not. 
 
Delta doesn't like the ramp. They'd DGS you guys if they thought they could do it without getting a union vote. IMHO Delta would dump the ramp completely, but if they kept anything it would be the hubs and maybe a few other very large cities (BOS, SFO, LAS, MCO) 

 

[Slopoke]

Thanks for the info. I've got a better picture about things now.

 

[Kev3188]

Probably not. 
 
Delta doesn't like the ramp. 

 
 
No, they don't...
 
Shame, really...

 

[737823]

IMHO Delta would dump the ramp completely, but if they kept anything it would be the hubs and maybe a few other very large cities (BOS, SFO, LAS, MCO)

Kev made that prediction following the 2010 IAM decertification and that hasn't been the case.

My guess: Hubs, and a few gateways stay (ie BOS, LGA, LAX, and the like). The rest? Toast w/in 18-24 mos.

Josh

 

[737823]

The indisputable fact is DL has more people in more locations than any other legacy network carrier. The new UA agreement will have 7 stations in a few years. AA TWU is currently 17 stations (plus cargo at five hub cities) although many have cinderella dates and are subject to contracting out based on flight activity (S80 flying replaced with E75s). It remains to be seen what the joint AA/US scope looks like but given the IAMs track record at AS and UA I wouldn't count on much.

Josh

 

[Kev3188]

Still happy to be wrong; let's hope it lasts...

 

[700UW]

And 40% are ready reserve getting one raise to $14 an hour with no benefits.

What does a full time regular ACS top out at?

 

[737823]

And 40% are ready reserve getting one raise to $14 an hour with no benefits.
What does a full time regular ACS top out at?

Meanwhile at AS hubs are outsourced to Menzies thanks to the IAM fewer than 600 rampers in the state of Alaska.

UA will be down to seven stations in a few years, employees at hubs are being downgraded to part time thanks to LOA from 141.

Josh

 

[WorldTraveler]

but, Josh, the members VOTED for that.

so that is supposed to make it all hunky dory.

meanwhile, DL has its employees at more stations than any other US airline.

and they all get profit sharing unlike what a bunch of unions did at AA and US only to find out that profit sharing is a major issue for their employees - but Parker isn't about to reopen the contracts to add something that could cost hundreds of millions - if not a billion dollars or more - in order to "keep up" with DL.

 

[Kev3188]

Nice to see you two have made up...