The TWU is claiming that “early openers†in 2006 are justification for Jim Little’s accepting our concessionary contract “without further ratificationâ€. Truth is “early openers†are a FARCE!
Why are they a farce? Because openers or not, our contract is not amendable until mid 2008. Sure we can accept anything the company wants to give before that, but we can not threaten a job action or attempt to withhold our labor until well after the amendable date, a mediator declared impasse, and a 30 day cooling off period.
I would therefore like to open this thread to possible scenarios concerning “early openers†and offer this one to start:
TWU: Well, it’s 2006 and here are our section 6 openers… We want everything we gave up in 2003 plus 10%.
AA: WHAT? HA HA HA HA HA… Oh, sorry. Well, uhhh we’re really not doing that well right now. All we can offer you guys is like 3%, 2 holidays and uhh maybe shift differential, and we want a 3 year extension on the contract.
TWU: WHAT? What the heck are you talking about? You said if we helped you guys out you’d…
AA: Hey, sorry. We just can’t afford it right now.
TWU: WELL, then I guess we’re just gonna have to STRIKE!
AA: HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA WHOOOOOO That’s a good one.
TWU: We mean it this time!
AA: HA HA HA HA HA Stop it, you’re killing me.
:angry: Anyway you can’t strike until the contract’s amendable. It's called the Railway Labor Act, remember?
TWU: Huh? :huh: Hey you tricked us!
AA: Ok, look. Don’t get yer panties in a wad. Let’s agree to come back in 6 months and if we’re doing any better, we’ll make a better offer.
TWU: Well…
AA: Hey, honest. We love you man.
TWU: Oh, alright.
(6 months later, repeat the same dialog)
(another 6 months later, repeat the same dialog)
(and then another 6 months later, repeat the same dialog)
Then.....
TWU: Well it’s 2008 and our contract is amendable. Now we want everything we gave up or else.
AA: We’ll give you 2% a year for 6 years and one floating holiday.
TWU: No! We said we want it all back.
AA: NO
TWU: Please
AA: You’ll go sell this to the slugs on the floor or we’ll outsource all your work.
TWU: Ok.
(Informer Headline: IT’S THE BEST WE COULD DO BROTHERS!)
(Next Informer Headline: “We’ll get ‘em next timeâ€)
(Final Informer Headline: AMFA SUCKS)
Why are they a farce? Because openers or not, our contract is not amendable until mid 2008. Sure we can accept anything the company wants to give before that, but we can not threaten a job action or attempt to withhold our labor until well after the amendable date, a mediator declared impasse, and a 30 day cooling off period.
I would therefore like to open this thread to possible scenarios concerning “early openers†and offer this one to start:
TWU: Well, it’s 2006 and here are our section 6 openers… We want everything we gave up in 2003 plus 10%.
AA: WHAT? HA HA HA HA HA… Oh, sorry. Well, uhhh we’re really not doing that well right now. All we can offer you guys is like 3%, 2 holidays and uhh maybe shift differential, and we want a 3 year extension on the contract.
TWU: WHAT? What the heck are you talking about? You said if we helped you guys out you’d…
AA: Hey, sorry. We just can’t afford it right now.
TWU: WELL, then I guess we’re just gonna have to STRIKE!
AA: HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA WHOOOOOO That’s a good one.

TWU: We mean it this time!
AA: HA HA HA HA HA Stop it, you’re killing me.

:angry: Anyway you can’t strike until the contract’s amendable. It's called the Railway Labor Act, remember?
TWU: Huh? :huh: Hey you tricked us!
AA: Ok, look. Don’t get yer panties in a wad. Let’s agree to come back in 6 months and if we’re doing any better, we’ll make a better offer.
TWU: Well…
AA: Hey, honest. We love you man.
TWU: Oh, alright.
(6 months later, repeat the same dialog)
(another 6 months later, repeat the same dialog)
(and then another 6 months later, repeat the same dialog)
Then.....
TWU: Well it’s 2008 and our contract is amendable. Now we want everything we gave up or else.
AA: We’ll give you 2% a year for 6 years and one floating holiday.
TWU: No! We said we want it all back.
AA: NO
TWU: Please
AA: You’ll go sell this to the slugs on the floor or we’ll outsource all your work.
TWU: Ok.
(Informer Headline: IT’S THE BEST WE COULD DO BROTHERS!)
(Next Informer Headline: “We’ll get ‘em next timeâ€)
(Final Informer Headline: AMFA SUCKS)