Isn't that the truth. At least AMFA has brought in 2 heavy lines and 2 C-checks, some back shop maint. and even some other lines of maint at other stations. The 4th line was the most recent that the union also had to sue for and won the suit. Even after the company agreed to the 4th line they still tried not to bring it in and then totally refused to bring it in. At least AMFA knows how to fight for more work when the teamsters just simply agreed with the company and told all the membership, "they can do it per the contract brother" and it was their contracts. But your right, the teamsters started this whole outsourcing game at SWA by allowing the 75-80% outsourcing from the very beginning. It is so hard to maint. to come back in house, it's like almost impossible we all know that, and AMFA has been working very hard and at least trying. So far, in say, what, 13-14 years here they have doubled the heavy maint lines in Dallas (from 2-4) added back in house several C check lines that were being outsourced before, added more and more back shop work in maint cities, even had outsource position occupied by a union official and not company. It is night and day difference from the teamsters 30 years here and AMFA's 14. The teamsters were only successful at adding one line of maint while they were here.
To add a little to your barn door comment. AMFA has been and is still working at closing that barn door the teamsters left open and flopping in the wind. It was the teamsters language that allowed the company to go international the first and second time. First in Canada, then to El Salvador. AMFA fought and brought the Canada maint back to the states. AMFA also fought for the El Salvador maint to stay within the borders, the teamsters language was no help, so AMFA, after taking over the contract of teamsters language, was successful in getting a bunch of rules to follow, as well as restrictions in place and newly added language that the company must get permission from the union to outsource any more internationally period, and also was successful in adding the 4th line to Dallas's heavy maint. They are currently trying to get a 5th line of maint added in order to show some good faith nego. at the table but the company is not willing to move. All of this is one of the biggest reasons to go with AMFA or a mechanic classification union rather than the industrial unions, huge difference guys. With what you guys have at AA is the majority are fleet and other non class groups in your contract, you guys really need to get those non classifications out of your contract. This way they are NOT voting on your issues and you guys are not voting on their issues and that way the company cannot just focus on one group to help them pass a contract.
I know you know all of this conehead, but sometimes when newbies come on or some time has past it just deserves to be repeated to remind all how it really was here back in the teamster days. I cannot speak from first hand experience about the TWU or the IAM but I can tell you from what I read that they too have agreed to outsource a lot more than they once did back in the old days, and they are now just as bad as the teamsters if not worse by not allowing the membership's to vote on issues that really affect them big time, even contracts. Final word, I would take AMFA (or any mechanics only class union) anytime over any of the industrial unions hands down, it's a no brainer. You always get your few teamster lovers who are still just heartbroken over them getting fired. But most of those are people that were in it for themselves and NOT the membership as a whole.
