US IAM Fleet Service topic 3/6-

[Dog Wonder]

Guess you werent in CLT, PIT or PHL, in CLT we sent them places and they were on committees.

Another apathetic member.

Another bad guess.

But this isn't about me. It is about he old IAM and their disregard for Fleet Service after certification. The roots of apathy were born then.

Once again, I am glad things have changed.

 

[orioleman]

Lets see you all didnt pay dues till 1999 and our Mechanic and Related MONEY paid for your negotiations and to send you to conventions, conferences and Placid Harbor.

Did you ever thank us for paying for your lost time, hotel and per diem?

Yep thats a red headed step child all right and you were organized in 1995, must have been nice to have a four year free ride.

Your initiation fees were waived too.

Thats called "the cost of doing business " It happens every time you get new membership. But since the IAM hasn't organized anyone in like 10 yrs I guess you
wouldn't understand. Also If we didn't have MTC people negotiating our contracts then maybe we could have ratified a contract sooner. The last thing I need to
hear from a Mechanic is "I need to take this deal after all its your first contract" Hog wash. Having 1 person on the E-board doesn't constitute a voice even you
should know that. Oh and sorry I forgot Thanks for nothing. that whole "voice in numbers BS" was just that. BS . The IAM didn't even come after the fleet group
they jumped on after the Steel workers and IBT did all the campaigning. Sorry the truth hurts. and the MTC against FLEET is still alive and well . You wouldn't know
your NOT apart of it anymore remember.

 

[orioleman]

Guess you werent in CLT, PIT or PHL, in CLT we sent them places and they were on committees.

Another apathetic member.

I guess your referring to the "boys club" the same 3 people that went to conventions and placid harbor,

but then again how could other people get involved if they weren't educated , YEP those guys had a good little gig going

for a long time..

 

[700UW]

Like I said fleet was apathetic and didnt attend the meetings to be eligible to go places, your group wanted everything handed to them on a silver platter

 

[orioleman]

700 why don't you explain why YOU were pushing that POS first contract with top out somewhere around 16 bucks an hour less than what we were making

and it was YOUR beloved IAM that WAIVED the initiation FEE. Let's reflect next to "Stronger in NUMBERS" there was also NO INITIATION FEE. Lets not leave

out important details. Again . Fleet Service didn't need Utility or MTC people dictating to us what we should or shouldn't take. So it took a few more years, from

which I believe you were upset over because being Utility you were no longer the Red headed step child to mtc. So lets tie Fleet up to some POS "cause they

don't know any better".

 

[Dog Wonder]

Having been on the front line during the organizing drive that got a union for Fleet Service there was no apathy then. There was a passion for improving the lot of our co-workers.

Four years of waiting, with a union but no contract, took a toll. What we worked so diligently for was sidetracked by other work groups who had been handed thousands of new members on a silver platter.

Instead of sharing the new strength they kept it for their own. Pretending it was their victory instead of giving credit to, and embracing, the people who made it happen. Four years of waiting to see the fruits of their labor created apathy.

Thankfully, the situation has changed. As a person who strongly believes unions change things for the benefit of workers, it is long overdue.

 

[Harry Callahan]

700 no longer works for US & hasn't for a long time.

 

[700UW]

Utility was not a step child, I was the RS in the local one of the most powerful officer positions, went to all the placid harbor classes and many conferences and conventions.

Its not what classification you are, its the person and your ambition.

Plus I left utility and went to stores and was the first utility person ever on the negotiating committee.

 

[necigrad]

How did the Fleet Service topic become a debate about what 700UW, a non Fleet member, did or didn't do?

 

[Edward]

ff: Lets get back on topic & not about each other. Thank you.

 

[Dog Wonder]

All solipsism aside, Utility did benefit Fleet Service in CLT.

At one time rampers had among them a number of jawflappers and binphobes whose primary job duty was avoiding any productive work. When Utility opened its ranks to any ramper who wanted to join them it was a rare opportunity. The shirkers could transfer to a job where there was less work to avoid (being exhausted from dodging work at the end of a ramp shift).

So in one gracious act, Utility freed the rampers of having to carry the listless around all day. Additionally, the jawflappers had their own areas to congregate, away from the ramp breakrooms, and never had to be heard from again.

Unfortunately Utility worked so diligently at being unproductive they have become an endangered species.

 

[john john]

Another bad guess.

But this isn't about me. It is about he old IAM and their disregard for Fleet Service after certification. The roots of apathy were born then.

Once again, I am glad things have changed.

I remember the PPG agreement they put together

 

[Real tired]

........................Unfortunately Utility worked so diligently at being unproductive they have become an endangered species.

Other than the remaining 50, Utility ceased to exist as a job classification on 3-25-05, the day when this dirt bag outfit decided that the services of the 3000 or so professionals were no longer needed.

When the ramp took over cleaning of the aircraft, Utility became a "type" of work instead of a sub-department of Maintenance.

Never forget Utility and the many thousands who worked their entire career here in that classification.

Gods speed to them all.

 

[john john]

Never forget Utility and the many thousands who worked their entire career here in that classification.

Gods speed to them all.

At least they have a retirement

 

[rat tales]

How did the Fleet Service topic become a debate about what 700UW, a non Fleet member, did or didn't do?

Necrigrad,

700 makes some good points and I think they are relevant to the issue at hand. He was part of the old regime that spread the elven magic crack around. He was correct when he stated that we did not pay dues until we signed our first contract. What he did not tell you was that we signed in as guests and could not participate or vote on any local business until the contract was signed and we started paying dues. He is also not stating that we did not pay initiation dues because the union had to sweeten the pot when they had to compete against the Teamsters and the Steelworkers. He says that we are not divided but does not bring any attention to the Mechanics dividing the District (141*M*) and booting Fleet out of the PIT Local and making them start their own.
CLT Local Mechanics historically kept control of the Executive Board by keeping interest down i.e., If fleet is to pissed off to come to meetings and vote they keep whoever they wanted elected. The previous CLT Grievance Committee were all on the Local Executive Board, but they drank the koolaid, hung out at the local, and never were on the property to serve the membership. They were also good at never letting the membership know when an election was so that no one could run against them.
Three years ago that ended. Fleet members started meeting after work and decided to work together to put people in place and bring in fresh blood. The old Grievance Committee was run out and a new Committee was elected. The new guys work out of the union office on the property and have made themselves accessible to the membership.
Fleet in CLT flexed their muscle in the last three elections by coming out in droves to make themselves heard. The best turnout being around 700 out of 1200. This got the attention of the Local and the District. The Local President (a mechanic) was put on notice that if we were not given any respect, the Local would be the next target. Fleet turned out for local nominations and a record number of Fleet were nominated for just about all positions. This couldnt have happened at a better time because the mechanics tried to take over the entire board by running for all positions. The mechanics pulled out all stops and drug every one they could from the hanger. In the history of the local, there had never been such a turn out. They ran out of ballots. Fleet Service prevailed and took a controlling amount of seats on the board.
The election was contested because the Recording Secretary (a mechanic who was beaten) put out improper ballots. Imagine that. But that is the way they have always done it. They contest until no one shows, they tick everyone off, and people get fed up and stop showing up to meetings.

I hope everyone in CLT reading knows how important it is to show up time after time to let them know that things have changed and we will be heard.

I was going to chastise 700 for not being a shop steward, local lodge officer, or even for not being on the BCTGM Local 317-T negotiating committee. But I see he was laid off from Phillip Morris and is a man without a Union. Now I know why he is so reminiscent of the good old days.