When will we know what the company and the TWU "agreed to".......will you be able to say if you recommend it or not?
I got the same info that was released today.
What I recommend is we focus on whats in front of us and vote NO. If we really had a Labor movement in this country, upon rejection the International would file with the NMB for a release, make a lot of noise about it too, better yet get the support of the AFL-CIO, tell the NMB they are giving them 30 days notice that we will resort to self help if they do not release us. Have huge demonstrations and press conferences with the leaders of all airline unions citing the abuse of extended negotiations, rubber stamp BK courts and the inequity of 1167. No contract-No peace. (Much the way Mike Quill told the Judge 40 years ago) 4 years, Sect 1113 and two rejected deals, offers that management admits are "rediculously bad" what possible reason could there be to assume that we can get a fair deal through the current process? Its obvious that the company does not want a deal. This way if they abrogate, we do whatever we need to do-level playing field. Cant disrupt Commerce because hey allowed too much consolidation? Then maybe a PEB where we all get to present our case where the objective is to settle a dispute not jam something down the workers throats.
But alas that would require real action, it would mean that our leaders would really be putting themselves at risk, better to sit back, collect their executive like salaries and blame the decline of the working class on Republicans and an apathetic membership. How many times was Debs, Harry Bridges or Mike Quill arrested? How often did they bring deals to their members without an endorsement one way or anther? Did all the caliber of the members change or did the caliber of leaders change? Odds tend to favor the conclusion that it was the leaders that changed, they got very comfortable in suits and first Class.
Watch what you get in the mail with your ballott. It will be a soft cell YES plug. You will get half the story, one that makes make it seem like not fighting is the better choice. To me its "take a position and be willing to support it", if you truly feel that we should roll over and accept this crap then go ahead and say so, be prepared to defend that position, LEAD, thats what Leaders do. I heard one guy say "I aint going to tell my members how to vote" well thats a cop out, its a soft endorsement for YES but not having the courage to say so because when guys realize how bad things are they can turn around and say "Dont blame me, I didnt recommend a YES vote". Could you imagine a General leading his troops into battle the way todays labor leaders do. "Here are your choices guys, do what you want to do, I'll lead you into battle, if you really want me to, but some of you are going to die and we will probably lose, so let me know what you want to do.
Voting YES lets the Leaders off the hook, it allows them to continue to get $600/year off you without getting what Union members should expect from their dues- better wages and benefits, Jet Blue and Delta both non-union and both make more than we do!
USAIR, nice diversion, better than what AA has offered in some respects, but not exactly desirable, they are only the second worst carrier to work for, if AA and USAIR were to merge they would be the worst and our position would not have changed. The resultant carrier, counting Eagle, which is really a paralell operation, would be around 500 planes bigger than any other carrier. It would not be good for airline workers as a whole, we really need to start thinking if AAs survival is good for our long term sucess. While I think a change in administartion is warranted unless we can get Herb Kelleher its six of one half a dozen of the other.
The decision is out of our hands anyway, lets just make sure we do not get pinned down to a crappy deal for another 6 years. In the time it takes to go from kindergarten to Grad school our take home puy would not have increased a penny if we agree to this. VOTE NO.
