Nothwest Airlines Mechanics Fund

[upsilon]

Joel Widzer, a travel columnist, recently wrote:

That brings us to a more obstinate problem: labor unions and their leadership. Let’s leave aside the union workers, a hearty group of individuals who just want to do a good job and earn living wages. Let’s look instead at union bosses, the Tammany Hall of the industry.

Union leaders are grossly inept. They live in a world of paranoia and greed. Do they really want the best for their workers? I think not.

Let me tell you about my recent experience with a union representing airline workers. It is dumbfounding but true, and it lays bare the arrogance and megalomania of the union leadership.

After having a dialogue with a number of hardworking members of this union, who are currently on strike and struggling to make ends meet, I set up a financial-assistance fund for the workers and solicited donations for them in a recent column.

Within days, the union’s national leadership called for me to shut down the fund. I was stunned. Is this how the union honors its hardworking members, by denying them relief?

I asked the union leadership that very question.

The union’s response: “Cease and desist.†They also threatened me with legal action.

I now find myself threatened by a large organization that can spend virtually unlimited resources on legal fees to get its way. This type of abusive power and manipulation of the legal system reminds me of how the American Civil Liberties Union intimidates its opponents.

Although this experience is only a microcosm of what happens every day, it leads me to believe that it’s not the airline executives who are the monsters in this drama. I contend that much of the current woe of the airline industry comes from these heavy-handed union bosses, who look out for their own interests at the expense of their members’ welfare.

After all, who’s losing here?

The little guy.

The union bosses are getting paid, and the union lawyers are getting paid - it’s only the union workers who aren’t getting paid. They’re out of work. Meanwhile, American consumers are paying higher prices.

I once read that an airline union called the demise of Eastern Airlines “a victory.†How can losing thousand of jobs be a victory? Will the mechanics’ union also dance on Northwest’s grave?

If you want the original url:
http://www.tripso.com/archives/2005/10/union.html

The cited column is:
http://www.tripso.com/archives/2005/09/second_thoughts.html


As I have posted in other threads and forums on this board, I am by inclination and past memberships reluctantly in favor of “skill†unions rather than “industry†unions. However it has been 45 years of having only an expired membership card.

But would one of you NW (not AA) AMFA members explain why an obvious sympathizer would have been treated this way!

 

[TheDog2004]

That's a great take and is exactly why the union movement is dead in this country. You have these meathead union bosses who are corrupt and use their membership as pawns.

 

[PlayTheOdds]

I am glad to see that there are other people out there that can see the reality of the situation. There are a lot of people here that are having a hard time understanding that unions are as bad as the companies.

 

[upsilon]

Interesting that in over two full days, not a single striking NW AMFA member has responded to this OP that IMO is a rather "damning" reflection on AMFA leadership.

Maybe in light of the most recent post by PTO, the AA AMFA supporters from AA who are the predominate posters on this NW forum, will now comment. Otherwise, heaven forbid, he will have had the last word!

 

[AMFAMAN]

Interesting that in over two full days, not a single striking NW AMFA member has responded to this OP that IMO is a rather "damning" reflection on AMFA leadership.

Actually didn't bother reading it until now. I don't know why, you could email AMFA National, I'm sure they will respond promptly. From looking at his other site, http://jetready.com/page/136x/Home.html
he appears to do everything for publicity. So who knows, could be just another publicity stunt. He might have written something in the past to piss off someone, so therefore they declined his help. I don't know and I doubt anyone on this board does know. If you really want to know, email them.

 

[Emil.Howes]

Actually didn't bother reading it until now. I don't know why, you could email AMFA National, I'm sure they will respond promptly. From looking at his other site, http://jetready.com/page/136x/Home.html
he appears to do everything for publicity. So who knows, could be just another publicity stunt. He might have written something in the past to piss off someone, so therefore they declined his help. I don't know and I doubt anyone on this board does know. If you really want to know, email them.

FYI,

The E-mail I sent to 'ALL' MEC, LEC and Seham.

We should 'ALL' ask this question as these infractions reflect on us 'ALL'!!!

Take Care Brother!!!
-Emil

Dear Delle,

By reading the columns by Joel Widzer, it appears that he was trying to do ‘The Right Thing’
(Which is pretty uncommon in today’s reality) in helping our NWA AMFA Strike Fund.

Joel states: http://www.airlineworkers.net/
*********************
Due to the request of the National Director of the AMFA and the threat of legal action this fund is no longer available to assist the striking mechanics of Northwest Airlines.
We send our best wishes to these hard working mechanics who are trying to feed their families, and hope that the AMFA serves their best interest.

For additional information contact the legal offices of Seham, Sehan, Meltz, & Petersen, LLP at 914-997-1346.

Thank you for your support
*********************
http://www.tripso.com/archives/2005/09/second_thoughts.html
http://www.tripso.com/archives/2005/10/union.html
*********************
If there is some rational as to why this occurred, then you need to inform the public (and maybe Joel) as to the details.

Looking forward to you reply.
In Solidarity,
Emil Howes
AMFA Local 9

 

[PlayTheOdds]

Actually didn't bother reading it until now. I don't know why, you could email AMFA National, I'm sure they will respond promptly. From looking at his other site, http://jetready.com/page/136x/Home.html
he appears to do everything for publicity. So who knows, could be just another publicity stunt. He might have written something in the past to piss off someone, so therefore they declined his help. I don't know and I doubt anyone on this board does know. If you really want to know, email them.

He's kind of a cheesy looking weasel in a used car salesman kind of way. He certainly isn't proAMFA and almost proNWA. proCompany for sure. If I were AMFA I wouldn't want his help either. From what I believe his personality to be I would say con-artist lurks just beneath. Just my opinion.

 

[will fix for food]

He's kind of a cheesy looking weasel in a used car salesman kind of way. He certainly isn't proAMFA and almost proNWA. proCompany for sure. If I were AMFA I wouldn't want his help either. From what I believe his personality to be I would say con-artist lurks just beneath. Just my opinion.

Ummm...I believe that's the mirror you are looking at.

 

[wouldbefa]

That's a great take and is exactly why the union movement is dead in this country. You have these meathead union bosses who are corrupt and use their membership as pawns.

Happened to my grandther with the steelworkers union,to my dad with his, and my uncles with theirs. Unois where good in their early days but now they are as corrupt as the companies they deal with. Still frightened as to the ways have turned in the USA , greed is number one from the president on down. this will one day, or immediately come back to bite all of us....

 

[PlayTheOdds]

Why don't you guys get rid of these unions you hate so much?

 

[local 12 proud]

Why don't you guys get rid of these unions you hate so much?

damn PTO I wished we would have thought of that :blink: your a freakin rocket scientist

 

[PlayTheOdds]

OK, Well why don't we act on it?