Mechanics at USAIR are being given a choice.
Do they stay with the IAM, and settle for more of the same they have recieved or do they vote for change?
I have tried to discuss what we as workers can do to make things better for workers with the main IAM spokesperson on this site, 700UW, but for some reason he keeps avoiding the discussion. Instead he throws out broad generalizations such as "the membership needs to step up", or "the whole system is broken". At times he has even admitted that the leadership is screwed up but he will not address the fact that the whole system is flawed, and then, at the first opportunity he jumps away from the discussion.
The system is flawed because the way it is set up it puts workers in a race to the bottom. The unions each have their own members, in no coherant pattern. Fleet serivce clerks will be IAM in one airline, TWU in another and IBT in yet another. The same goes for mechanics and other ground workers. The unions do not compete for members through elections and proving what they can do for the members, instead they compete by trying to put the employer where they have the most members in a competitive position to put rivals out of business.
There is only one way for workers to put a stop to this. Take away the incentive for the unions to take part in this race to the bottom. Since gaining "market share" of members is the driving force behind it what we need to do is all get in one union.
The IAM is still in the AFL-CIO, therefore they will not raid the TWU at AA.
The IBT is out of the AFL-CIO, there is nothing stoping them from raiding.
So if we want to get everyone in the same union the IBT is the only choice available at this time.
We know that what we have does not work. What is the IAM offering you? Are they offering you anything different from what has put us all in the place we are now? NO! Instead you see them blaming YOU for everything. They took your money and did nothing for you then blamed you for what they failed to do.
Look how many times 700UW has blamed the membership for voting in this contract. Well when the membership rejected it in 2002 what did the IAM do? They made all sorts of threats and made you vote again on the same contract!!!!!!
THEN THEY SAY "THE MEMBERSHIP VOTED IT IN,ITS THE MEMBERSHIPS FAULT!!!!!!!!!!!!
Such arrogaqnce stems from the fact that these leaders know that the opportunity to hold them accountable rarely if ever comes, well you guys have the opportunity now-its called a representation vote.
The fact is that if you stay with the IAM things will never get better. The IAM has no plan, no strategy and they have found a convienient scapegoat for their ineptnesss -YOU!!!!!
The IAM is saying not to go to the Teamsters for one reason only-they still want your dues. However they dont want them bad enough to even come up with a stategy to fix our broken careers.
So what is it going to be? More leadership that refuses to lead and blames you for their failures while collecting their dues from your pay or the first step towards uniting the workers of this industry in one union-the IBT?
Do they stay with the IAM, and settle for more of the same they have recieved or do they vote for change?
I have tried to discuss what we as workers can do to make things better for workers with the main IAM spokesperson on this site, 700UW, but for some reason he keeps avoiding the discussion. Instead he throws out broad generalizations such as "the membership needs to step up", or "the whole system is broken". At times he has even admitted that the leadership is screwed up but he will not address the fact that the whole system is flawed, and then, at the first opportunity he jumps away from the discussion.
The system is flawed because the way it is set up it puts workers in a race to the bottom. The unions each have their own members, in no coherant pattern. Fleet serivce clerks will be IAM in one airline, TWU in another and IBT in yet another. The same goes for mechanics and other ground workers. The unions do not compete for members through elections and proving what they can do for the members, instead they compete by trying to put the employer where they have the most members in a competitive position to put rivals out of business.
There is only one way for workers to put a stop to this. Take away the incentive for the unions to take part in this race to the bottom. Since gaining "market share" of members is the driving force behind it what we need to do is all get in one union.
The IAM is still in the AFL-CIO, therefore they will not raid the TWU at AA.
The IBT is out of the AFL-CIO, there is nothing stoping them from raiding.
So if we want to get everyone in the same union the IBT is the only choice available at this time.
We know that what we have does not work. What is the IAM offering you? Are they offering you anything different from what has put us all in the place we are now? NO! Instead you see them blaming YOU for everything. They took your money and did nothing for you then blamed you for what they failed to do.
Look how many times 700UW has blamed the membership for voting in this contract. Well when the membership rejected it in 2002 what did the IAM do? They made all sorts of threats and made you vote again on the same contract!!!!!!
THEN THEY SAY "THE MEMBERSHIP VOTED IT IN,ITS THE MEMBERSHIPS FAULT!!!!!!!!!!!!
Such arrogaqnce stems from the fact that these leaders know that the opportunity to hold them accountable rarely if ever comes, well you guys have the opportunity now-its called a representation vote.
The fact is that if you stay with the IAM things will never get better. The IAM has no plan, no strategy and they have found a convienient scapegoat for their ineptnesss -YOU!!!!!
The IAM is saying not to go to the Teamsters for one reason only-they still want your dues. However they dont want them bad enough to even come up with a stategy to fix our broken careers.
So what is it going to be? More leadership that refuses to lead and blames you for their failures while collecting their dues from your pay or the first step towards uniting the workers of this industry in one union-the IBT?
