A recurring theme has crossed many diferent threads here, so I thought I would start a new one for just this debate, thereby freeing up some of the other threads on this board.
There has been much debate about what exactly the difference is between those of us who came here as replacements to the strikers, and those AMFA members who crossed. As most of you know, I have a long history of contracting, but very little experience with union procedures, customs, beliefs and traditions. While I can give very accurate information about the contract side of the house, I must admit whatever I can pass regarding unions is mostly opinion, and primarily based on experiences I have had since coming here to NWA. I welcome reasoned, well thought responses regardless of what side of the picket line your on. I would ask that you keep posts limited to facts as much as possible, and leave the the hyperbole and editorializing to the other threads. Finally, please try and keep it civil. Disagreement is fine, and in fact welcomed, but please act like an adult. Thanks.
Having said all that gobbly gook, I would like to address the premis of this thread, which is the difference between A contract replacement, and a (Former?)AMFA crosser.
First, I would like to dispell a few myths about who we are, exactly, and what our background is. While I dont speak for all of us, I do believe I speak for a plurality.
The number one myth is that we were all a bunch of crack smoking cessna mechanic who havent held our tickets more than a few months. I for one, have never even TRIED so much as one joint in my life. We in fact, probably have to remain more drug free than most union employees for the following reasons: First, we have NO protection if we are caught, second, as most of us travel to new contracts every 6 months or so, its MANDATORY to take a wizz quiz EVERY time we report to a new site. I have heard of directs that have gone years without ever taking a drug test, and when one does pop, instead of firing his druggy a$$ on the spot, they offer counseling and a second, third, or even fourth chance.
As to being a cessna wrench with only a few months experience, well, most of my crew worked in Dothan for years, on the very same NWA tail numbers we're working on now. With 10 years civilian aviation, mostly in heavy overhaul environment, I am one of the JUNIOR guys here.
Another myth is that we are all a bunch of toothless redneck uneducated southern carpetbaggers unable to hold down a job anywhere else. I, for one, was born and raised in Detroit and West Michigan, have a 145 IQ, and have all my teeth but one that shattered during an ascent from an underwater cave in Florida. Now I admit that there are a large number of southerners amongst us, but that is due primarily to the loss of jobs in Dothan created by labor issues both there and here at NWA. I chose to contract because I love the freedom and exitement of being on the go all the time. I guess its a holdover from my days in the Corps when I deployed six out of every 18 months. I have noticed that the bulk of contractors tend to be prior military...this might be one reason. Also, as a general rule, we contractors make considerably more money at a considerably lower tax rate.
There are several more mysths, misconceptions, and stereotypes of us out there, but I will address those as they are brought up. I will now turn to MY impression of the AMFA crossers. Again I re-iterate that these are just OPINIONS, based on observations of only a small sampling, with no control group to compare.
I have become more and more douptful of those former AMFA members here on site. While most seem to be decent enough personalities, I have found thier individual work ethics, over all A and P knowledge, and basic mechanical skills to be somewhat less than us replacement workers. It may be as the strikers claim that these are the lowest of the lot, skill and ethics wise, or they may be a fair representation of the union mentality as a whole. I lean more towards the latter, simply because what little union experience I do have coaberates this. I am, however, willing to give them the benifit of the doupt and assume that I have merely had the misfortune of only seing the worst 10 percent of unions, Crossers or otherwise.
I now turn this forum over to you, to either confirm, or rebutt this post. I will try and respond with all fairness and honesty to any question or comment raised in a fair, honest, and civil manner. Thank you, and I sincerely wish you all well in your endeavors.
There has been much debate about what exactly the difference is between those of us who came here as replacements to the strikers, and those AMFA members who crossed. As most of you know, I have a long history of contracting, but very little experience with union procedures, customs, beliefs and traditions. While I can give very accurate information about the contract side of the house, I must admit whatever I can pass regarding unions is mostly opinion, and primarily based on experiences I have had since coming here to NWA. I welcome reasoned, well thought responses regardless of what side of the picket line your on. I would ask that you keep posts limited to facts as much as possible, and leave the the hyperbole and editorializing to the other threads. Finally, please try and keep it civil. Disagreement is fine, and in fact welcomed, but please act like an adult. Thanks.
Having said all that gobbly gook, I would like to address the premis of this thread, which is the difference between A contract replacement, and a (Former?)AMFA crosser.
First, I would like to dispell a few myths about who we are, exactly, and what our background is. While I dont speak for all of us, I do believe I speak for a plurality.
The number one myth is that we were all a bunch of crack smoking cessna mechanic who havent held our tickets more than a few months. I for one, have never even TRIED so much as one joint in my life. We in fact, probably have to remain more drug free than most union employees for the following reasons: First, we have NO protection if we are caught, second, as most of us travel to new contracts every 6 months or so, its MANDATORY to take a wizz quiz EVERY time we report to a new site. I have heard of directs that have gone years without ever taking a drug test, and when one does pop, instead of firing his druggy a$$ on the spot, they offer counseling and a second, third, or even fourth chance.
As to being a cessna wrench with only a few months experience, well, most of my crew worked in Dothan for years, on the very same NWA tail numbers we're working on now. With 10 years civilian aviation, mostly in heavy overhaul environment, I am one of the JUNIOR guys here.
Another myth is that we are all a bunch of toothless redneck uneducated southern carpetbaggers unable to hold down a job anywhere else. I, for one, was born and raised in Detroit and West Michigan, have a 145 IQ, and have all my teeth but one that shattered during an ascent from an underwater cave in Florida. Now I admit that there are a large number of southerners amongst us, but that is due primarily to the loss of jobs in Dothan created by labor issues both there and here at NWA. I chose to contract because I love the freedom and exitement of being on the go all the time. I guess its a holdover from my days in the Corps when I deployed six out of every 18 months. I have noticed that the bulk of contractors tend to be prior military...this might be one reason. Also, as a general rule, we contractors make considerably more money at a considerably lower tax rate.
There are several more mysths, misconceptions, and stereotypes of us out there, but I will address those as they are brought up. I will now turn to MY impression of the AMFA crossers. Again I re-iterate that these are just OPINIONS, based on observations of only a small sampling, with no control group to compare.
I have become more and more douptful of those former AMFA members here on site. While most seem to be decent enough personalities, I have found thier individual work ethics, over all A and P knowledge, and basic mechanical skills to be somewhat less than us replacement workers. It may be as the strikers claim that these are the lowest of the lot, skill and ethics wise, or they may be a fair representation of the union mentality as a whole. I lean more towards the latter, simply because what little union experience I do have coaberates this. I am, however, willing to give them the benifit of the doupt and assume that I have merely had the misfortune of only seing the worst 10 percent of unions, Crossers or otherwise.
I now turn this forum over to you, to either confirm, or rebutt this post. I will try and respond with all fairness and honesty to any question or comment raised in a fair, honest, and civil manner. Thank you, and I sincerely wish you all well in your endeavors.
)
on both starting this, and trying to keep it civil.
