TWU negotiations.........what?

[Ken MacTiernan]

"The members have a responsibility to act like a union member, especially while in front of management, regardless of there differences with there leadership."

Very well said and 100% true. It is unfortunate that we have individuals that have this mind set. But allowing people who have forgotten why they spent time and money to enter this career so they can take the easy way to tarnish what we take pride in will not stop us from having a better union future. People who harm their fellow workers are a disgrace to our craft. The same is true for people who you can not vote for who harm our craft!

There are MANY people at the local level who do the best they can and do fight the good fight. Now, just imagine these same people fighting with National Officers who are elected and held accountable standing side by side with them.

GO AMP!

 

[Bob Owens]

Outside of some presidents who had international jobs on their mind when they ran, the local leadership at the few locals that I've worked out has been very good. The membership on the other hand has taken advantage of rule 32 to weaken the leadership. I've seen this on several occasions where the member goes to management because they got there feelings hurt by a stewart or eboard guy.
Your argument, which I don't totally disagree with is like the argument I hear about how it is school teachers responsibility to raise and educate better children and not the parents. The members have a responsibility to act like a union member, especially while in front of management, regardless of there differences with there leadership. That simply does not happen. In fact we had an eboard guy here who would do exactly what you say, and the members voted him out for sounding like a company guy when he pushed for professionalism on the job.
If you have leadership that is scamming, recall them. We have done that several times here at 567. I'm not sure what local your out of, but if they are out for themselves, prove it and recall them.
Now if you are talking about the international, disregard everything I just wrote, that is a different story that can't be fixed.

You should use caution when you use terms like "the membership" and not allow the actions of the few taint the reputation of the many. Most members do not run to management and become rats but there are always a few that do.

 

[Tex-Mech]

You should use caution when you use terms like "the membership" and not allow the actions of the few taint the reputation of the many. Most members do not run to management and become rats but there are always a few that do.

Good point Bob, but at AFW there are quite a few rats. So lets just call it the rats who run to management.

 

[odie01]

Bob Owens,
Do you know anything about this.....
News According to a leak from the TWU. All the guys in the ATD just got brand spanking new Buick LaCrosses at a wopping $34,000.00 each!


No way, this can't be true?

 

[Frank Szabo]

Bob Owens,
Do you know anything about this.....
News According to a leak from the TWU. All the guys in the ATD just got brand spanking new Buick LaCrosses at a wopping $34,000.00 each!


No way, this can't be true?

If true, one would have to speculate why - another slap in the face to us or "getting business done" before the International loses income.

 

[Tex-Mech]

Bob Owens,
Do you know anything about this.....
News According to a leak from the TWU. All the guys in the ATD just got brand spanking new Buick LaCrosses at a wopping $34,000.00 each!


No way, this can't be true?

Used to be cadillacs, they must be cutting back.

Check the LM2.

 

[MCI transplant]

<_< -----What are you driving Tex???

 

[Tex-Mech]

<_< -----What are you driving Tex???

A 2000 Ford Focus with 135k on it. A/C is going, but she's a beauty.

I hope all your driving is a moped enjoying that caribbean weather.

 

[PhatSappy]

$10 per hour line premium or I vote no.

 

[Deleted member 14439]

$10 per hour line premium or I vote no.

then NO it is........................

 

[MCI transplant]

A 2000 Ford Focus with K on it. A/C is going, but she's a beauty.

I hope all your driving is a moped enjoying that Caribbean weather.

------ I'm ,at present, back in Kansas City Tex. Listening to the weatherman talking more "snow" tonight! But if your interested, I do have a small "villa", on a Golf course, overlooking the Caribbean, pool, tennis, white sand beach, etc., for rent! 82-85 degree's year around! If your interested!? B)

 

[FrequentFlierCA]

$10 per hour line premium or I vote no.

Hard to see this coming down on the offer table.

If you get it, you'll probably be putting the overhaul boys out of work as they'll have to outsource to afford that kind of expense. Wonder if the guys in Tulsa and Dallas would be willing to hit the unemployment line so you could have your raise?

 

[TWU informer]

Hard to see this coming down on the offer table.

If you get it, you'll probably be putting the overhaul boys out of work as they'll have to outsource to afford that kind of expense. Wonder if the guys in Tulsa and Dallas would be willing to hit the unemployment line so you could have your raise?

Must drive OH vs Line Wedge

Must drive OH vs Line Wedge

Must drive OH vs Line Wedge

 

[TWU informer]

It looks to me like this whole thing is playing out just like AA Management said it would about 2 months ago.

Money and benefits back in exchange for work rules.

But let's make it look like the union did it. Supervisors in Tulsa were telling us this back in January.

 

[Bob Owens]

Bob Owens,
Do you know anything about this.....
News According to a leak from the TWU. All the guys in the ATD just got brand spanking new Buick LaCrosses at a wopping $34,000.00 each!


No way, this can't be true?

I got an E-mail from one of my guys about it the other day. This is nothing new, I dont see the justification for it other than yet another way of insulating our International reps against the realities our members face. Its wrong, after all cars are competitors for the business that the overwheliming majority of our members are in, Mass Transit, Railroads and Airlines. Other than going back and forth to the office what need do they have for cars? This is nothing more than hidden compensation, my guess is the fuel and insurance are paid as well. This represents a significant cost savings for guys that are paid significantly more than the members they represent. Transportation represents around 20% of most houshold expenses, so its like a 20% raise if your employer picks up your transportation expense. Its wrong.

Back to negotiations.

FFCA maintains that the only way the company can pay these wages are to get rid of OH. Well what does he base this on? You have to remember that AA had something no other major carrier had, OSMs, very low cost mechanics. The fact is wages are climbing for Aircraft Mechanics. UPS is at the Top with $50.13/hr by 2012. The facilities that do work for the airlines are having trouble finding workers. Add to that the fact that carriers are trying to recall the thousands of mechanics they laid off with little succees despite the recession and record high unemployment rates. When the economy recovers things will get worse for those who want mecahanics unless they start forking over some serious dollars. I think the airlines saw this coming, they know its here. I think that one of the biggest drivers for the recent mergers we've seen is aquistion of workers as well as routes, facilities and equipement. How many mechanics have been laid off due to all the recent mergers we've seen? ZERO, when is the last time you saw mergers without subsequent layoffs? Never.


AA is probably in the best spot as far as having enough mechanics, they just need to figure out how to get them where they want them. If you look at their offer their intents are clear, lure the A&Ps out of the bases, unlike how they pushed them out of the shops in 1995. Lets say you're an A&P in AFW and the agreement passed. So you get your lump sum, but now since you work weekends you put in and go to Dallas and get the higher line premium. AA is focusing on five hubs, with Dallas being a mega hub. I could see DFW with 3000 mechanics in a few years.

We know the industry is having trouble attracting workers while unemployment remains at very high levels. AA is trying to secure baragin basement rates before the shortage becomes undeniable, they are trying to repeat what they did in 1995.

I beleive that one of the main drivers of the loss that AA showed was Eagle. AA buys every seat on Eagle which despite its lower labor costs is an ineffiocient airline. The planes are simply too small and it doesnt make sense to waste slots into places like Miami, NY,ORD and LAX.

AA will try and secure a contract where once they dump Eagle they can post profits and tell us like they did in the late 90s "Too bad fellas, we will take care of you next time but we got a contract and the Board will not authorize us to open it to bring you up to everyone else. Dont blame the company, blame the union." And of course the International will say "You voted for it".