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

[Chuck Schalk]

Unfortunately, I am inclined to feel that the company will have a complete previous package to offer each group with the hopes that it will get sent back to membership for a vote.

 

[1AA]

A word to the wise.
Before you vote on a contract WE must see the language not just the highlights.

The bad language or lack of is going to nail the last coffin in our profession.
Non licensed AMTs at the line stations is going to turn into a nuclear war.
Non pensionable compensation is not acceptable.
I think I made my point. God help us because our union is not going too.
Think of tomorrow not just today.

 

[Chuck Schalk]

A word to the wise.
Before you vote on a contract WE must see the language not just the highlights.

The bad language or lack of is going to nail the last coffin in our profession.
Non licensed AMTs at the line stations is going to turn into a nuclear war.
Non pensionable compensation is not acceptable.
I think I made my point. God help us because our union is not going too.
Think of tomorrow not just today.

non licensed employees doing our work will be the death to our careers and will be considered an act of treason if the International allows this to even be discussed in negotiations!

 

[Hopeful]

Go by the book.

 

[goodwrench]

Please, everybody put down the crack pipe. The TWU has no intention of securing an industry leading contract for the mechanics. You believe otherwise and you need your head examined. Inaction by the company this long requires action from the union. They do nothing. They say " oh we have tried things in the past and they don't work. Gosh darn " We just plod along like a little puppy dog following mama dog. In the end we'll get just what the company wants us to have. They hold all the cards. We don't need any cards cause we won't play them anyway.

 

[Hopeful]

Please, everybody put down the crack pipe. The TWU has no intention of securing an industry leading contract for the mechanics. You believe otherwise and you need your head examined. Inaction by the company this long requires action from the union. They do nothing. They say " oh we have tried things in the past and they don't work. Gosh darn " We just plod along like a little puppy dog following mama dog. In the end we'll get just what the company wants us to have. They hold all the cards. We don't need any cards cause we won't play them anyway.

GO BY THE BOOK

 

[goodwrench]

Unless we have union leadership [can't believe I connected those words in a sentence] for Go By The Book it's meaningless. It is a very good thing to do and something we all should be doing. Follow the MM by the letter. But this far into contract talks we can't have 9000 members doing their own thing. We need to act as one with a common goal. That will never happen. We have a union for handling local grievances. That's their claim to fame. Nothing more.
Besides, how many members will interrupt their down time to take action to have a better life for their families. Sadly not many.

 

[skydrol]

Well all I know is I did not put up all the posters and signs sayin follow the GPM,AMM,SRM,MCM,AD,ECO, etc etc... Exactally as written. These instructions are the greatest and latest posted by the Company. If we were restored and more tomorrow and this Company policy remained in place I would still do as directed. It has no bearing on the TWU contract. No bearing on departure time etc etc.... Cannot understand the mantra go by the book when that is what we are mandated to do.

 

[Hopeful]

Well all I know is I did not put up all the posters and signs sayin follow the GPM,AMM,SRM,MCM,AD,ECO, etc etc... Exactally as written. These instructions are the greatest and latest posted by the Company. If we were restored and more tomorrow and this Company policy remained in place I would still do as directed. It has no bearing on the TWU contract. No bearing on departure time etc etc.... Cannot understand the mantra go by the book when that is what we are mandated to do.

The "by the book" mantra means more now with regards to "simple" maintenance items. No one ignores going by the mm when doing more major work like replacing an IDG or a brake, etc.

It's the little ones that, let's face, are simple enough to do and cut down on a delay.
For instance, 10 mins before departure, the crew calls in a leaking coffeemaker. Until now, once I got the call, I would run to stores and grab a new coffeemaker, rush to the flight and make an on time departure. Now, I take a few minutes to pull up the paperwork, go to the aircraft first to make sure it is in fact a bad coffeemaker, then go to stores for a serviceable one. I just took a 10 minute delay for the coffeemaker.

That's one example of my "go by the book mantra" that unfortunately causes delays.

And what are we supposed to do? The company has been having us do mandatory computer based training about going by the book VERBATIM. Remember, it's our licences at stake, and the company will wash their hands in our failure to comply.

 

[skydrol]

I guess I still do not get "it" the company position is "do it by the book" so why would a person be worried about delays when they are following company policy? If the AMM says put gear pins in to check break pin wear then why not? I mean after all the so called folks that are going to be "HEROS" are going to get the book shoved up their butt if it is not followed. I do not know about you but I love my family more than the company so I am going to do as told by the company to not put my family in jepordy. If i did not need this job I would quit so guess what I still need this Job. P.S. you are not the only line mechanic that works for AA.

 

[Hopeful]

I guess I still do not get "it" the company position is "do it by the book" so why would a person be worried about delays when they are following company policy? If the AMM says put gear pins in to check break pin wear then why not? I mean after all the so called folks that are going to be "HEROS" are going to get the book shoved up their butt if it is not followed. I do not know about you but I love my family more than the company so I am going to do as told by the company to not put my family in jepordy. If i did not need this job I would quit so guess what I still need this Job. P.S. you are not the only line mechanic that works for AA.

The by the book, like I said, is for the "simple items." They can cause more smaller delays than the more critical items. If you're a line mechanic, then you know exactly what I mean about the "last minute coffeemaker leaking or inop item." What I am saying is that since this VERBATIM compliance push by the company, did you or do you pull up the maintenance manual reference for replacing a coffeemaker? CMON now, I know you love your family, be honest now... DO YOU PULL UP THE MAINTENANCE MANUAL PROCEDURE FOR REPLACING A COFFEEMAKER.?

 

[skydrol]

I believe at least a mechanic should do until the 3rd quarter paper in hand policy comes into play is look up the procedure then go on the call. If the crew cheif can sit on a scratch for a couple hours till the plane hits the gate then hands out the scratch after the plane hit the gate for 20 min. why would I run out like the house is on fire????I am going to do what the company says to do and could care less about delays, boarding etc etc...after all our job description never mentions on time departure. These basic management things are out of my hands. So I still do not get your point tell me slower I am too simple minded. Facts remain the company policy that you will be held to is by the book so what would be the motivation to deviate? More money? cudos? pats on the back? High fives? not coming.... P.S. your union will back the company if you failed to comply. "They can do that brother"...In the end we are saying the same thing....However I am saying it needs to be a way of life and you seem to be saying it is a temporary thing.

 

[Hopeful]

Please go back and reread my posts. I never said "by the book" was temporary.
Again, I refer to the "coffeemaker." Do you or have you ever pulled up paperwork to replace one?

Of course we all follow procedures. Have you ever adjusted a seat recline with paperwork?
Re lamp a reading light? Re pack an O2 mask? All without paperwork?

What I am saying is that if the company wants to play hardball and not negotiate in good faith, just take care of executives, the going "by the book" will not stop at the more critical brake and IDG changes.
The last minute gate calls will now become lengthy delays where as in the past we all shrived for an on time departure. More smaller lengthy delays will become a greater bane to the company.

Maybe if the company negotiated in good faith instead of constantly reminding us to go by the book and tell us how lucky we are to have jobs and if we don't like it we can quit....WE ALL MIGHT MOVE FASTER TO GET THAT ON TIME DEPARTURE.

After all, according to the company, money isn't a motivator....unless, of course, you're an executive....

 

[skydrol]

Alright I suppose we agree,and can disagree I am too simple to go any further, but I cannot comprehend why folks are so concerned with deviating from the book for a on time departure? When this book is going to get crammed up your fanny if not complied with??????..My position is and always has been is whatever the Company demands I do, I will do, I am just a pion that will apply the company procedures as told. If you do this principal you will make money. Is this not the reason we work for someone? Lets debate over and over .....later dude im out....

 

[FrequentFlierCA]

Certainly doing things "by the book" is the right way to go; the book was written for a reason.

Where I see trouble in this "philosophy" is when members start interpreting things far outside the scope of the intention of the rule, and using this as an excuse to delay flights in order to further a political agenda.

There's no way to describe that kind of behavior except unprofessional and wrong.