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

[FrequentFlierCA]

Explain how you fight for better conditions in a way that has no effect on passengers. Management only reacts to workers concerns when failure to address those concerns affect the passengers. If there was an effective way for workers to get what they need without affecting the passengers they would do it.

Is it better to taxi real slow and cause a full-fare paying passenger like me to miss an important meeting? I am totally understanding when things are beyond an airline's control, but job actions that affect my travel schedule directly affect my business and profits. I therefore have to take my business elsewhere while you work out your spat, and that's less revenue you get to fight over.

Job actions that target customers are short-sighted in the extreme.

 

[Chuck Schalk]

Is it better to taxi real slow and cause a full-fare paying passenger like me to miss an important meeting? I am totally understanding when things are beyond an airline's control, but job actions that affect my travel schedule directly affect my business and profits. I therefore have to take my business elsewhere while you work out your spat, and that's less revenue you get to fight over.

Job actions that target customers are short-sighted in the extreme.
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Job actions are derived from employee frustration of dealing with management over a period of time. Non one wakes up wanting to withold labor. It festers over time and after exhausting all options. Employees are tired of hearing "your lucky to have a job", "if you don't like it, then leave", and not holding company executives accountable for bad decisions that the employees have no direct input. When the company does well they pat each other on the back and when things go wrong the company looks to the emplolyees to bal them out.

 

[Hopeful]

Is it better to taxi real slow and cause a full-fare paying passenger like me to miss an important meeting? I am totally understanding when things are beyond an airline's control, but job actions that affect my travel schedule directly affect my business and profits. I therefore have to take my business elsewhere while you work out your spat, and that's less revenue you get to fight over.

Job actions that target customers are short-sighted in the extreme.

So let's all give 100% and wait for the unappreciative management to offer a few scraps while they take the lion's share of the rewards.

 

[Chuck Schalk]

Loser CEOs walk away from mess with big payouts
BY Helen Kennedy
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Monday, September 8th 2008, 8:27 PM

Don't shed any tears for the ousted heads of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Even though they headed their firms during a shocking downward spiral that ended with a government takeover of both firms, the two men will be living on easy street.

Shareholders might be out of luck after the total collapse of Fannie and Freddie's stock value, but Fannie's CEO, Daniel Mudd, is expected to walk out with a $9 million golden parachute, and Freddie's Richard Syron should get a package worth at least $13 million, analysts said.


Now somebody explain to me again this thoery of "pull together win together" and shared sacrifice. I don't see it and there is no accountability for management, only the workers are held to that. Management will hassle you over calling sick while management runs the company down the drain and still has a payday! All I can say is one thing: A working class revolt is inevidible at this rate.

 

[sprflyr123]

Is it better to taxi real slow and cause a full-fare paying passenger like me to miss an important meeting? I am totally understanding when things are beyond an airline's control, but job actions that affect my travel schedule directly affect my business and profits. I therefore have to take my business elsewhere while you work out your spat, and that's less revenue you get to fight over.

Job actions that target customers are short-sighted in the extreme.

Job actions are short shighted when your industry profits are driven by paying customers. It is truly a sad state of affairs when some believe that this is the only course of action that will wake management up to the frustrations we have. There has got to be a better way than dragging customers into our fight. Not only will this harm our credibilty, but the bottom line (including our ability to negotiate better pay) in the long run. Let's face it - exec pay is not going anywhere, so we are going to get whatever is left over. I can't afford to risk a loss to the pot because some are choosing to bring their anger to the public in a way that could cut into AA's profits.

 

[Bob Owens]

Still waiting for a idea on how we can effectively fight for better conditions in a way that doesnt affect the passengers.

Dont blame us, the government has left airline workers very few options. They have also made job actions worse on passengers through the RLA. If we had contracts that expired then we could release to the public that if we dont have a contract by that date we would be going on strike, then passngers could make alternate plans.

Besides you have to remember that the airline made the contract with the passenger, not the airline worker. Airline workers take actions against the airline, not the passengers.

 

[Ken MacTiernan]

Job actions are short shighted when your industry profits are driven by paying customers. It is truly a sad state of affairs when some believe that this is the only course of action that will wake management up to the frustrations we have. There has got to be a better way than dragging customers into our fight. Not only will this harm our credibilty, but the bottom line (including our ability to negotiate better pay) in the long run. Let's face it - exec pay is not going anywhere, so we are going to get whatever is left over. I can't afford to risk a loss to the pot because some are choosing to bring their anger to the public in a way that could cut into AA's profits.

"There has got to be a better way than dragging customers into our fight."

Our Fight? Who are you? Are you an AMT? What do you suggest labor should do to protect our pay and benefits?

As for a previous post pointing out that no one wakes up and deliberately wants to inconvenience the passenger is 100% correct. He is also correct that the company creates the festering stew that boils and simmers.

Why do yoy say executive pay is not going anywhere? If labor stood together there would be three 800 pound gorillas the company would have to deal with. Unfortunately the TWU is not one of these. But that does not mean we are lost forever. It takes good people to stand up and lead and good people to follow in order to "fight the good fight".

By your posts you seem to definitely be an individual who is willing to continuously take a bite from the $#!$ sandwhich and be grateful for each bite. Just my opinion of course. Please continue to post as your thought process will only encourage others to decide to fight for respect and fair wages.

 

[AdiosAmigos]

Loser CEOs walk away from mess with big payouts
BY Helen Kennedy
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Monday, September 8th 2008, 8:27 PM

Don't shed any tears for the ousted heads of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Even though they headed their firms during a shocking downward spiral that ended with a government takeover of both firms, the two men will be living on easy street.

Shareholders might be out of luck after the total collapse of Fannie and Freddie's stock value, but Fannie's CEO, Daniel Mudd, is expected to walk out with a $9 million golden parachute, and Freddie's Richard Syron should get a package worth at least $13 million, analysts said.


Now somebody explain to me again this thoery of "pull together win together" and shared sacrifice. I don't see it and there is no accountability for management, only the workers are held to that. Management will hassle you over calling sick while management runs the company down the drain and still has a payday! All I can say is one thing: A working class revolt is inevidible at this rate.

crystal ball says---good-bye mci-even more h/cuts-lower fuel costs-new administration(u.s.)-and then----make your reservations now-------------------------------a 1st quarter finance mtng. where exec. bonuses are announced-------

 

[Hopeful]

Job actions are short shighted when your industry profits are driven by paying customers. It is truly a sad state of affairs when some believe that this is the only course of action that will wake management up to the frustrations we have. There has got to be a better way than dragging customers into our fight. Not only will this harm our credibilty, but the bottom line (including our ability to negotiate better pay) in the long run. Let's face it - exec pay is not going anywhere, so we are going to get whatever is left over. I can't afford to risk a loss to the pot because some are choosing to bring their anger to the public in a way that could cut into AA's profits.

What rock did you crawl out from other, flyr? AA management refuses to negotiate in good faith.. their only concern is taking care of the executives.. AA doesn't care about their passengers either or else they would be working 24/7 to correct the morale problem.

 

[frontline]

Still waiting for a idea on how we can effectively fight for better conditions in a way that doesnt affect the passengers.

Dont blame us, the government has left airline workers very few options. They have also made job actions worse on passengers through the RLA. If we had contracts that expired then we could release to the public that if we dont have a contract by that date we would be going on strike, then passngers could make alternate plans.

Besides you have to remember that the airline made the contract with the passenger, not the airline worker. Airline workers take actions against the airline, not the passengers.

I wish the RLA did allow contract expiration for us, that would be a much better option for everyone.

But your distinction between us workers taking action against the airline instead of the pax is totally meaningless in reality. It is still the fare paying pax who get hosed and then we lose their business.

If you want to fight for real change without angering our customers, take your grievance to the only people who have any real control over management: the shareholders.

 

[Bob Owens]

I wish the RLA did allow contract expiration for us, that would be a much better option for everyone.

I agree.

But your distinction between us workers taking action against the airline instead of the pax is totally meaningless in reality. It is still the fare paying pax who get hosed and then we lose their business.

Thats true of ANY labor dispute. Customers are always collateral damage.

If you want to fight for real change without angering our customers, take your grievance to the only people who have any real control over management: the shareholders.

Yea good luck with that. If worker discontent on the shareholders conference floor doesnt turn into poor performance of the stock they could care less. When the shareholders see their investment at risk because management is losing control over the workforce and customers are leaving thats the only time a shareholder driven resolution might occur. Even then I've never seen where workers got a better contract by airing their grievances to the stockholders.

 

[frontline]

Yea good luck with that. If worker discontent on the shareholders conference floor doesnt turn into poor performance of the stock they could care less. When the shareholders see their investment at risk because management is losing control over the workforce and customers are leaving thats the only time a shareholder driven resolution might occur. Even then I've never seen where workers got a better contract by airing their grievances to the stockholders.

I see a double standard here. There's lots of talk about the TWU being undemocratic, but the this is the democratic way corporations work: shareholders elect directors who appoint officers. Maybe they won't be sympathetic, but that's the way corporate democracy works. The shareholders votes have all the power.

 

[Wretched Wrench]

I see a double standard here. There's lots of talk about the TWU being undemocratic, but the this is the democratic way corporations work: shareholders elect directors who appoint officers. Maybe they won't be sympathetic, but that's the way corporate democracy works. The shareholders votes have all the power.

Yeah, sure. High School.

Obviously, you have not attended very many stockholders meetings. They are all dog and pony shows, rigidly controlled by the CEO, with stockholder questions spun or blown off. Stockholders know they are shouting into the wind, but it makes a few activists feel good. The directors are part of a good ol boys network where they all sit on each others boards and take care of their own.

Perhaps a most extreme example was one of Nardelli's shareholder meetings when he ran Home Depot.

From Business Week:

"The assembled shareholders — a sparse crowd of longtime stockholders, employees, and union representatives — expected the usual corporate routine: A presentation on the state of Home Depot's $81.5 billion business, a vote on an assortment of shareholder proposals, and plenty of time for questions aimed at Nardelli and the other 10 members of Home Depot's board.

But something strange soon became apparent: The board wasn't there. Citing time constraints and the imperative of working on important matters back home at Atlanta headquarters, the eminent overseers of Home Depot failed to show up at their own event. That left Nardelli to handle the meeting on his own. He did that in an abrupt 30 minutes. Shareholders were limited to just one question each. A digital clock timed them: One minute, then the microphone cut off."

 

[Chuck Schalk]

The TWU Negotiation team is meeting on Thursday Sept 18th. We can only anticipate that the agenda will be for the last proposal by the TWU to be brought back for reconsideration and if the International wants it they will keep the committee negotiating till late friday. We will see what happens.

 

[Bob Owens]

I see a double standard here. There's lots of talk about the TWU being undemocratic, but the this is the democratic way corporations work: shareholders elect directors who appoint officers. Maybe they won't be sympathetic, but that's the way corporate democracy works. The shareholders votes have all the power.

Corporate democracy is not true democracy. True democracy is one men one vote. In corporate democracy even corporations can vote.

In the AA/TWU members are never given a ballot for International directors, officers etc. These unaccountable people appoint officials who run negotiations.