TWU and IAM representation alliance vote

[TRAVIS]

It's funny how members of the ramp can forget just who they are getting in bed with.
 http://articles.philly.com/2006-05-24/business/25399989_1_baggage-handlers-union-representation-union-branch
 



By Jane M. Von Bergen INQUIRER STAFF WRITER
POSTED: May 24, 2006



Warrants were issued Monday for the arrests of 22 members of the International Association of Machinists, who are accused of aggravated and simple assault, conspiracy, making terroristic threats, and theft in connection with a Feb. 8 brawl at the Philadelphia Airport Marriott Hotel.
The union members, including three officers, are accused of assaulting organizers from a rival union, the Transport Workers Union.
Ten of those charged turned themselves in yesterday and the rest will surrender on Tuesday, said Charles Ehrlich, the prosecutor who heads the municipal courts unit.




Stephen "Randy" Canale, general chairman of the machinists' union branch that represents US Airways baggage handlers, said the union "does not advocate or condone violence." However, he said, "we discourage any rush to judgment based on incomplete accounts."
The unions were in competition to represent baggage handlers and fleet-service workers at US Airways, which merged last year with America West Airlines. Since then, the unions have agreed that the machinists' union will represent all the baggage handlers.
The machinists' union had represented US Airways' baggage handlers, the TWU America West's.
"It's a sad chapter in the history of the IAM," said David Rosen, the Transport Workers Union's general counsel. "If they are guilty, they don't belong in the labor movement or as airline employees."
The three union officers for whom warrants have been issued are Robert Boland, local president of IAM Local Lodge 1776 in Philadelphia; Anthony Armidio, assistant general chairman; and Vincent Cerasso, international representative.
On Feb. 8, three men identifying themselves as machinists' union officials warned five TWU organizers to leave the hotel and the city, according to the arrest warrants issued Monday.
A few minutes later, about 25 men entered the room and began throwing chairs, glasses, tables - and punches - according to a police affidavit. Two of the TWU organizers were beaten badly enough that they went by ambulance to Methodist Hospital.
Hotel videotape captured the men in the hotel corridors, but not what happened inside the meeting room. US Airways officials were able to identify all those on tape, police said
Shortly after the incident, US Airways fired the 22 men. The machinists' union responded by demanding arbitration for all the men and by filing a federal lawsuit that accused US Airways of trying to systematically eliminate union representation at US Airways facilities at Philadelphia International Airport.
The suit said the machinists' union members acted in self-defense. US Airways said the suit had no merit.
Contact staff writer Jane M. Von Bergen at 215-854-2769 or jvonbergen@phillynews.com.
 
One of the TWU organizers lost an eye if I'm not mistaken.
So I guess the old saying goes if you cant beat them join up and beat everyone.. 


 

 

[WeAAsles]

When have I ever said Tulsa should be making less than us? I have said that if they aren't willing to fight for more that they should not drag us down with them. I have no problem with standing shoulder to shoulder with my fellow mechanics to fight for $50/hr, but if they don't want to do that they should not resist at least supporting a geo rate that would bring us up to what all our peers are making. In negotiations Hewitt said "not one penny more for the line, if you do then this deal is D.O.A. in Tulsa, I'll make sure of it". So the representative from Tulsa was ok with all the concessions but only on the condition that nothing was done to ease the pain on the line one IOTA, despite the fact that they knew we were already hurting, it was only 50 cents an hour. 

Look again. I didn't say that "YOU" said guys in NYC and other high COL areas should be making more then guys in low COL areas like TUL and in Fleet DFW and CLT. I said it. I said what should be common sense but it isn't because individual greed is what prevents it. They vote against the idea behind a COLA and claim that it's anti union, when you and I both know they're full of shite. Call it GEO pay or a COLA Bob, we're on the same team there. 
 
So do you support the Alliance or not? You can't say you support it but are against what the Alliance has already stated.

Yes I support the Alliance but also yes I wish we had had an internal union vote on it first. I also don't want to fight against another Union though. I'd prefer we take our fight to the company instead.
 
IAMPF-beleive what you want, but at least read the document, it clearly states their intent get us all into the IAMPF. You won't be forced into that any more than you were forced out of pre funding. 

Bankruptcy and the laws as they are written that people do nothing about are what forced us out of the pre-funding. We won't be in BK for that decision and it will take 4 parties to decide anyway. The IAM, TWU, The Company and Ultimately the membership. Again if it was forced on us I'll be right there in the front row with you throwing tomatoes. I'll support a choice between the two options.   
 
I think Harry is an improvement over Little, as I think he is truly a Union man, dispatch, Sim Tech, and the Flight Instructors. Little was simply a fraud who made sure AA got whatever they wanted. Unfortunately Harry has limited knowledge of our industry and had made the mistake of stacking the ATD with Fleet service clerks. This was done for political reasons at the Convention, Tulsa also got a seat. It has already cost the TWU three other groups, . Lets face it, Union business, even at the Local level is a pretty great escape for a FSC. Much better pay and much less wear and tear on your body. For us its additional pay but hour for hour we could do better with less stress on the floor. There has always been a long history of resentment between the two groups. Fleet see maint as prima donnas, pampered by the company that looks the other way when a mechanic screws up but quickly terminates a FSC for the same thing. Now they have complete control of the ATD.

It's funny because when I talked on the phone with you years ago you were the one who told me that you liked Jim Little when I wasn't so sure.

As for your Prima Donna comment, yes. Some FSC do think of you guys that way. But it's because too many make it painfully obvious how they look down on us when in our minds they forgot where they came from. (not all of course) Many mechanics were former FSC's first. I actually admire you guys. You put in the schooling required to try and do something else you wanted to do. 10 years on graveyard shift is what kept me away from it personally. Money is not my main motivator although I like to have some.

I want to see you be the top paid in the industry but I want to be top paid too. Some people have no problem becoming the top paid though off the backs of others. I have a problem with that.  
 
 
I can't be bothered to go back and look for your name, Ok you came out, good. 

Very flippant remark Bob when you're the one who called me out. Sounds kind of Prima Donna if you ask me? Next time you might learn a lesson that if you call someone out they may just take you up on it and check you.  

 

[Rogallo]

A few minutes later, about 25 men entered the room and began throwing chairs, glasses, tables - and punches - according to a police affidavit. Two of the TWU organizers were beaten badly enough that they went by ambulance to Methodist Hospital.


Hotel videotape captured the men in the hotel corridors, but not what happened inside the meeting room. US Airways officials were able to identify all those on tape, police said
Shortly after the incident, US Airways fired the 22 men. The machinists' union responded by demanding arbitration for all the men and by filing a federal lawsuit that accused US Airways of trying to systematically eliminate union representation at US Airways facilities at Philadelphia International Airport.
The suit said the machinists' union members acted in self-defense. US Airways said the suit had no merit.
Contact staff writer Jane M. Von Bergen at 215-854-2769 or jvonbergen@phillynews.com.
 
One of the TWU organizers lost an eye if I'm not mistaken.
So I guess the old saying goes if you cant beat them join up and beat everyone.. 


 

 
Never heard about that. Wow!
 
Did they get their jobs back?

 

[700UW]

No there were arrested, convicted and fired.
 
The IAM didnt condone nor encourage the rouge behavior that they did.

 

[Rogallo]

Damn Elitists!

 

[2ndGENAMT]

No there were arrested, convicted and fired.
 
The IAM didnt condone nor encourage the rouge behavior that they did.

Shortly after the incident, US Airways fired the 22 men. The machinists' union responded by demanding arbitration for all the men and by filing a federal lawsuit that accused US Airways of trying to systematically eliminate union representation at US Airways facilities at Philadelphia International Airport.

Didn't condone or encourage the rogue behavior yet they used membership funds to defend them!

 

[700UW]

The IAM dropped any defense of them after all the facts came out.
 
And per the CBA they had to defend them in the grievance procedure or be sued for DFR.

 

[swamt]

It's funny how members of the ramp can forget just who they are getting in bed with.
 http://articles.philly.com/2006-05-24/business/25399989_1_baggage-handlers-union-representation-union-branch
 

By Jane M. Von Bergen INQUIRER STAFF WRITER POSTED: May 24, 2006



Warrants were issued Monday for the arrests of 22 members of the International Association of Machinists, who are accused of aggravated and simple assault, conspiracy, making terroristic threats, and theft in connection with a Feb. 8 brawl at the Philadelphia Airport Marriott Hotel.
The union members, including three officers, are accused of assaulting organizers from a rival union, the Transport Workers Union.
Ten of those charged turned themselves in yesterday and the rest will surrender on Tuesday, said Charles Ehrlich, the prosecutor who heads the municipal courts unit.




Stephen "Randy" Canale, general chairman of the machinists' union branch that represents US Airways baggage handlers, said the union "does not advocate or condone violence." However, he said, "we discourage any rush to judgment based on incomplete accounts."
The unions were in competition to represent baggage handlers and fleet-service workers at US Airways, which merged last year with America West Airlines. Since then, the unions have agreed that the machinists' union will represent all the baggage handlers.
The machinists' union had represented US Airways' baggage handlers, the TWU America West's.
"It's a sad chapter in the history of the IAM," said David Rosen, the Transport Workers Union's general counsel. "If they are guilty, they don't belong in the labor movement or as airline employees."
The three union officers for whom warrants have been issued are Robert Boland, local president of IAM Local Lodge 1776 in Philadelphia; Anthony Armidio, assistant general chairman; and Vincent Cerasso, international representative.
On Feb. 8, three men identifying themselves as machinists' union officials warned five TWU organizers to leave the hotel and the city, according to the arrest warrants issued Monday.
A few minutes later, about 25 men entered the room and began throwing chairs, glasses, tables - and punches - according to a police affidavit. Two of the TWU organizers were beaten badly enough that they went by ambulance to Methodist Hospital.
Hotel videotape captured the men in the hotel corridors, but not what happened inside the meeting room. US Airways officials were able to identify all those on tape, police said
Shortly after the incident, US Airways fired the 22 men. The machinists' union responded by demanding arbitration for all the men and by filing a federal lawsuit that accused US Airways of trying to systematically eliminate union representation at US Airways facilities at Philadelphia International Airport.
The suit said the machinists' union members acted in self-defense. US Airways said the suit had no merit.
Contact staff writer Jane M. Von Bergen at 215-854-2769 or jvonbergen@phillynews.com.
 
One of the TWU organizers lost an eye if I'm not mistaken.
So I guess the old saying goes if you cant beat them join up and beat everyone.. 


 

And people want these two unions to combine and represent them as an alliance at the new AA?  Really??  Come on people.   Time to get a clue folks...

 

[NYer]

FYI,
The 'company' determines what it chooses for 'industry standard' rates.
AMFA had been pushing for UPS/FEDEX rates or years but the 'company' pushes back.
Doesn't which union tries it, the 'company' will not accept it.
B) xUT

Well, at least you can admit that AMFA can't get the wages that some on these threads use as basis to get a chance in representarion.

 

[NYer]

Neither is AMFA......your point?

Why did you not include the TWU in saying that AMFA. Isn't using fedex/ ups in wage comparison? If your going to to blame one association for not doing it, then I feel you should INCLUDE all associations/ unions.[/quote]

The AMFA supporters are the ones that continually use FedEx and UPS as a baseline of hire much they should be making...implying that the TWU is what's standing in they say. Not to mention that those freight carriers have a handful of licenced mechanics (as compared to passenger airlines)

 

[MetalMover]

Why did you not include the TWU in saying that AMFA. Isn't using fedex/ ups in wage comparison? If your going to to blame one association for not doing it, then I feel you should INCLUDE all associations/ unions.

The AMFA supporters are the ones that continually use FedEx and UPS as a baseline of hire much they should be making...implying that the TWU is what's standing in they say. Not to mention that those freight carriers have a handful of licenced mechanics (as compared to passenger airlines)

[/QUOTE]So by your reasoning, the larger the airline with the most mechanics, they should make the least????? Is this your position?

 

[NYer]

So by your reasoning, the larger the airline with the most mechanics, they should make the least????? Is this your position?

Nope. but if you want to compare compensation then you have to include the fact that there are substantially less mechanics in those operations that with a passenger airline.

Is every mechanic at FedEx and UPS carry an A&P license?

 

[blue collar]

Is every mechanic at FedEx and UPS carry an A&P license?

Every aircraft mechanic, yes.

 

[Flying low]

Nope. but if you want to compare compensation then you have to include the fact that there are substantially less mechanics in those operations that with a passenger airline.
Is every mechanic at FedEx and UPS carry an A&P license?

So by that reasoning the larger the company is, the less the employees should make?

 

[NYer]

So by that reasoning the larger the company is, the less the employees should make?

How did you reach that conclusion? FedEx is larger than AA by most measures.

The point is, if you have 15,000 mechanics it is makes negotiations more difficult than if you have a larger company with substantially less mechanics. It's basic math.

The original point is that many want to change the TWU and one of the arguments is the pay rates at FedEx and UPS are superior to AA. At the same time, AMFA has a wage comparison in their SWA contract to which their compare wages to other mechanics within the industry but it doesn't include FedEx or UPS.