This is post 9-11. Aviation !!! It wasn't always like this. Unions fought long and hard to make this a respectable career. I don't blame my union the fault is with the membership.
How many members were at your last local lodge meeting?
Every Mechanic wants the $$$$$ but won't do the work to get it.
N617P
This is true every mechanic wants the money, but long before 9-11 the industrial unions gave away the $$$ and vacation and yrs of service to be vested toward retirement. Holidays, 2.5X, sick time, etc...pensions. Many including myself have had to start over and over loosing everything every time another carrier went out of business, or Boeing/Douglas/Lockheed lost a government contract.
How many times under the IAM did the CAL employees take a hit.
Under the IAM what did the USAir employees loose?
UAL under the IAM lost pension in the ESOP scam.
Eastern under the IAM went on strike and employees lost it all there. ( I was one)
NWA under AMFA lost in its strike to prevent the corporate greed that the Airlines have used to devalue our class and craft. IAM crossed that picket line.
UAL under IAM let Indy and SFO start to be closed, and which under AMFA couldn't and did not stop.
Under the TWU@AA they have let the company come up with the jr program, 12yrs to top out, signed a 1% pay raise over a 6 yr period. Cafeteria medical plan, on and on the TWU has failed here at AA.
When yr after yr the unions of the airlines keep loosing we as AMT's get tired of going to the union meetings. We pay dues, and listening to the we will get em next time speeches, just gets old. The industrial unions cater to the ramp and stores, due to the vast numbers. Its all about the money. (dues)
The top positions of the IBT any Aircraft maintenance leaders there? "No" truckers
What about the TWU, bus drivers again no aircraft maintenance there.
AMFA is the only union around at this time that represents ailine mechanics. If there was another we then would have a choice. But until then AMFA is the way we want to go.
When the industrial union intl.s (example-IAM/IBT/TWU) makes the decisions during the negotiations and the local officers have NO real power, why go to union meetings. Nothing said or even voted on ever gets changed. When you give up so much over your career it is all about the money available to put away since union did not fight for the medical and pensions of the workers. Snap back clauses and retro pay are ways in which they could of shown they care about the workers but they let that go as well.
Your Union is which one?
Your unions membership is at fault why?
What have YOU done to better your Union and help the members?
