It looks to me like you have been directing your Q and A's towards me so I'm going to respond for myself and what
"I" think.
First I'll start with the fact that my group is very different than yours. Our group doesn't require any level of education past High School. Sure we have people with all sorts of levels of education but for the most part, if you have a high School diploma you can get and do our jobs and in time become very proficient at it.
We've taken cuts absolutely and no one should forget that but what I feel the TWU has given me came from over
70 years of collective bargaining raising the bar. The bar was raised so much that even after the cuts I make
$269.00 per week more than the average High School graduate. (Not even considering benefits) That's
$1076.00 per month more than the average. I actually make more than the average American worker and more than those who've completed an Associates degree.
$93.00 per week more than the average American and
$143.00 more per week than the Associates. I'm also expecting a decent raise when the JCBA talks are concluded BTW.
http://www.bls.gov/emp/ep_chart_001.htm
Now by the way the Average Baggage Handler only makes
$12.00 per hour in the US. I currently make
$23.00. Yes maybe with time in my chosen career outside of a Union shop I would make more than $12.00 per hour but then again there is my High School friend Gus Econnomu who works at one of those non union companies in JFK handling bags and cargo. He's been with this company for
10 years and only makes
$14.50 per hour. Crappy benefits too BTW but at least he does have some.
http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Baggage_Handler_%28Aviation%2fAirline%29/Hourly_Rate
So this is what I see when I think about the TWU. I really don't care all that much about who is in what position banging what pretty secretary over the desk in his office. That's just a bunch of guys who want a leather chair of some kind and they can have it all they want. You got plenty that support your group who want their own leather chair as well. Don't be naive about that my friend.
You asked what do I expect or what do I want out of the association? Well for one thing I want peace. I don't want to fight against Union Brothers and Sisters over what union is better and what union I'm more comfortable with or what I like. It's not about me, it's about all of us. You don't think these guys will learn to get along and learn that there are bigger issues out there than us. I think your all wrong. I think they will learn and find that common ground (Call me naive)
Between the IAM and the TWU they have Fleet almost locked up in the industry. Still working on Delta and Jet Blue but I think they'll come in soon and they just got Spirit and Frontier so they're bringing in those LCC's. I think once that's all locked up we'll have much better bargaining power and this association is the perfect link in working together to coordinate our efforts. The US Airline industry has finished it's restructuring and it's in the best position it's been in since before Deregulation in 1978. So I expect gains finally off the backs of those who should be paying us, the passengers. Fares are going to rise along with labor costs. (Read the analysts and what they have to say)
You and I have a fundamental ideological difference. You want to go small while I want to grow huge. You don't like or trust as you call them the Industrial Unions. None of them. I just don't feel insulating and isolating yourself is the answer. It just feels like you want to go hide in the closet from the big cruel world that's out there that wants to punch you in the eye. You don't call your group elitists but you only want to represent your class and craft and no one else. And yes there is the APA and APFA but I think they should be part of a much larger group as well. And I'd be telling them the same thing as I'm saying here if they were looking to isolate themselves.
Look maybe you'll get your cards before you retire and maybe you won't? If you do I wish you and all the guys you work with good luck. But the truth is that AMFA used to be a lot bigger than they are today and they are only down to about 2000 members left. That may not tell you something but it does tell me something. I'm just not into the idea of going small. I don't think it's going to work for your class and craft at the end of the day?
