Ken MacTiernan
Veteran
Another Reason.
The T/A that we within Mechanics & Related (M&R) voted NO against, would have resulted in further concessions to be burdened by labor had it passed. Some like to argue that had that T/A been voted in, we would have seen pay raises, other increases and we’d be better off now. WRONG! In my opinion, Granted when you tell someone they will get a pay raise, say for example 3% o...n the face of it that sounds great. But in reality, that “pay raise” comes at a cost that would have seen job loss and further give backs. Selling yourself out for 30 pieces of silver is foolish. But we held to our principles of fighting for what we are worth and voted NO. This NO VOTE surprised the daylights out of the company, but even more so, for the twu because the international promoted that M&R "vote yes" campaign. The international looked rather obtuse and those at the Local level who voted to bring back that POS t/a looked even more foolish.
Now the twu represented Fleet Service Clerks face a similar T/A. This T/A was brought back for a vote much like our T/A was brought back, because Local Presidents that refuse to utilize their spine caved. Did the international’s bidding while selling out the membership? Point being, with M&R the twu international remains insulated and unaffected by any further concessions that the membership must endure, because those within the twu international do not live under the contracts that they negotiate.
The twu international officers, who we do not get an opportunity to vote for, have no binding ties to the membership whom they claim to represent. The twu international has proven that regardless of which work group they “represent”, they have no problem with bringing back concessionary tentative agreements. There is absolutely no urgency for the twu international to bring back something that will benefit the members fully because they are not the membership.
However, unlike Fleet Service we in M&R have an opportunity to remove the twu international from continuing to bring back a T/A that is beneficial only to the company. That being said, by removing the twu and electing AMP where all officers are elected by the membership and also live under the same contract. There is a direct connection between those who we elect to represent us and the membership. Under the AMP Constitution there is no place like the “TWU International” to hide in or behind.
Under the AMP Constitution, those who negotiate our contracts also live under the same contract agreement. With the twu international’s track record of bringing back concessionary contracts, the time has come to travel a road under which the membership chooses. The time has come to fight for what is worth fighting for and not allow the company to continue to “divide and conquer” our work group, which the TWU International has no problem continuing to allow to happen.
The AMP drive is close to bringing an election between the TWU (appointed, unaccountable and undemocratic) and AMP (elected, accountable and democratic). I urge those within the M&R to re-sign an AMP Authorization Card and bring control back to the membership where it belongs. For those who refuse to sign an AMP Authorization Card, I ask you why? This Fleet Service t/a is another reason why the twu is harmful to our craft & profession. For those who feel that the twu is a better union than AMP, then sign a card and allow the democratic process to function whereby the membership will be able to decide which union is better structured for the benefit of the membership. After all, if the twu is a better union they should not fear an election… they would win hands down. Right?
Before I end this correspondence I would like to ask one other question. The twu international lists seven international officers, all of whom you did not vote for to be in their current positions. Of these seven appointed international officers, (who earn roughly three times what you make in a year and never had the burden of our “shAAred sAAcrifice”), how many times have you seen them walk out on the shop and hangar floors talking with the membership? And if they do, can they say anything other than “you need to lower your expectations” in negotiations?
When you Google the twu, a link comes up that says “TWU – We Move America”. This is a very true statement. In regards to our craft and class the twu "moves" us backwards. Yet another reason to sign an AMP Authorization Card.
Ken MacTiernan
The T/A that we within Mechanics & Related (M&R) voted NO against, would have resulted in further concessions to be burdened by labor had it passed. Some like to argue that had that T/A been voted in, we would have seen pay raises, other increases and we’d be better off now. WRONG! In my opinion, Granted when you tell someone they will get a pay raise, say for example 3% o...n the face of it that sounds great. But in reality, that “pay raise” comes at a cost that would have seen job loss and further give backs. Selling yourself out for 30 pieces of silver is foolish. But we held to our principles of fighting for what we are worth and voted NO. This NO VOTE surprised the daylights out of the company, but even more so, for the twu because the international promoted that M&R "vote yes" campaign. The international looked rather obtuse and those at the Local level who voted to bring back that POS t/a looked even more foolish.
Now the twu represented Fleet Service Clerks face a similar T/A. This T/A was brought back for a vote much like our T/A was brought back, because Local Presidents that refuse to utilize their spine caved. Did the international’s bidding while selling out the membership? Point being, with M&R the twu international remains insulated and unaffected by any further concessions that the membership must endure, because those within the twu international do not live under the contracts that they negotiate.
The twu international officers, who we do not get an opportunity to vote for, have no binding ties to the membership whom they claim to represent. The twu international has proven that regardless of which work group they “represent”, they have no problem with bringing back concessionary tentative agreements. There is absolutely no urgency for the twu international to bring back something that will benefit the members fully because they are not the membership.
However, unlike Fleet Service we in M&R have an opportunity to remove the twu international from continuing to bring back a T/A that is beneficial only to the company. That being said, by removing the twu and electing AMP where all officers are elected by the membership and also live under the same contract. There is a direct connection between those who we elect to represent us and the membership. Under the AMP Constitution there is no place like the “TWU International” to hide in or behind.
Under the AMP Constitution, those who negotiate our contracts also live under the same contract agreement. With the twu international’s track record of bringing back concessionary contracts, the time has come to travel a road under which the membership chooses. The time has come to fight for what is worth fighting for and not allow the company to continue to “divide and conquer” our work group, which the TWU International has no problem continuing to allow to happen.
The AMP drive is close to bringing an election between the TWU (appointed, unaccountable and undemocratic) and AMP (elected, accountable and democratic). I urge those within the M&R to re-sign an AMP Authorization Card and bring control back to the membership where it belongs. For those who refuse to sign an AMP Authorization Card, I ask you why? This Fleet Service t/a is another reason why the twu is harmful to our craft & profession. For those who feel that the twu is a better union than AMP, then sign a card and allow the democratic process to function whereby the membership will be able to decide which union is better structured for the benefit of the membership. After all, if the twu is a better union they should not fear an election… they would win hands down. Right?
Before I end this correspondence I would like to ask one other question. The twu international lists seven international officers, all of whom you did not vote for to be in their current positions. Of these seven appointed international officers, (who earn roughly three times what you make in a year and never had the burden of our “shAAred sAAcrifice”), how many times have you seen them walk out on the shop and hangar floors talking with the membership? And if they do, can they say anything other than “you need to lower your expectations” in negotiations?
When you Google the twu, a link comes up that says “TWU – We Move America”. This is a very true statement. In regards to our craft and class the twu "moves" us backwards. Yet another reason to sign an AMP Authorization Card.
Ken MacTiernan