I am an ex NWA mechanic and kind of in the same boat as you guys are with the twu with all ground groups were represented by the iam for most of the time I worked there. I will only speak for myself but I never wanted to take anything away from the ramp but it was obvious when it came time for negotiations the company would divvy up a section of the pie when it came to work groups they would give one section of pie to the iam and basically said you decide how to divide it among your groups but this is all you get and we most definitely as AMT's got the worst of it. I remember when I started I made less than a topped out ramp guy for the first 4 years I worked there until the 5th year and then it was only a modest increase. I didn't go to school for 18 months to work midnights forever only to make ramp pay if I had known that I wouldn't have wasted my time. Sorry if this sounds elitist but again I didn't want to take anything from any other workgroup I and others felt we were not getting properly represented or compensated being part of an industrial union and we were a minority in our union as well. When the iam finally pushed us AMT's over the edge enough for us to start a card drive for AMFA it's funny mechanics at the time were doing a/c pushbacks all of a sudden when mechanics would do their walk arounds and set up the tug in advance for their gate when it came time to push we started noticing the steering bypass pins removed it happened to me as well. To say this is/was extremely dangerous is an understatement I wish I could have caught someone pulling the pins. It was obvious the ramp was not happy with us mechanics wanting to go it alone so my question is why is that? When we finally did get the iam out which by the way was no easy task we got our first AMFA contract negotiated I got a 13 dollar an hour raise and more than double the pension multiplier something the iam said could never happen. Then 9/11 happened and a lot of other things that I won't go into but even though AMFA had it's faults it proved one thing and that was we as a skilled group are better off going it alone. Industrial unions have done nothing to improve the AMT's situation in the 32 years I have been in this industry. The compensation AMT's make now would be no where near what they are if it were not for our AMFA contract in 2001 and that is a fact. The other non AMFA airlines pretty much had no choice but to bump up their mechanic pay and of course likes of the iam and twu took the credit even though they were riding AMFA's coattails. I am at non union FX our topped out ramp guys and fuelers are at around 26-27 an hour. Right now a topped out AMT is at 56.06 and again we are non union. It is pretty clear to me who benefits more from the iam/twu and it is not the mechanics. Sorry just calling it like I see it.
TWU WORRIED ABOUT AMP RAID!
- Thread starter MetalMover
- Start date
I am an ex NWA mechanic and kind of in the same boat as you guys are with the twu with all ground groups were represented by the iam for most of the time I worked there. I will only speak for myself but I never wanted to take anything away from the ramp but it was obvious when it came time for negotiations the company would divvy up a section of the pie when it came to work groups they would give one section of pie to the iam and basically said you decide how to divide it among your groups but this is all you get and we most definitely as AMT's got the worst of it. I remember when I started I made less than a topped out ramp guy for the first 4 years I worked there until the 5th year and then it was only a modest increase. I didn't go to school for 18 months to work midnights forever only to make ramp pay if I had known that I wouldn't have wasted my time. Sorry if this sounds elitist but again I didn't want to take anything from any other workgroup I and others felt we were not getting properly represented or compensated being part of an industrial union and we were a minority in our union as well. When the iam finally pushed us AMT's over the edge enough for us to start a card drive for AMFA it's funny mechanics at the time were doing a/c pushbacks all of a sudden when mechanics would do their walk arounds and set up the tug in advance for their gate when it came time to push we started noticing the steering bypass pins removed it happened to me as well. To say this is/was extremely dangerous is an understatement I wish I could have caught someone pulling the pins. It was obvious the ramp was not happy with us mechanics wanting to go it alone so my question is why is that? When we finally did get the iam out which by the way was no easy task we got our first AMFA contract negotiated I got a 13 dollar an hour raise and more than double the pension multiplier something the iam said could never happen. Then 9/11 happened and a lot of other things that I won't go into but even though AMFA had it's faults it proved one thing and that was we as a skilled group are better off going it alone. Industrial unions have done nothing to improve the AMT's situation in the 32 years I have been in this industry. The compensation AMT's make now would be no where near what they are if it were not for our AMFA contract in 2001 and that is a fact. The other non AMFA airlines pretty much had no choice but to bump up their mechanic pay and of course likes of the iam and twu took the credit even though they were riding AMFA's coattails. I am at non union FX our topped out ramp guys and fuelers are at around 26-27 an hour. Right now a topped out AMT is at 56.06 and again we are non union. It is pretty clear to me who benefits more from the iam/twu and it is not the mechanics. Sorry just calling it like I see it.
I do blame fleet, but not the membership, the leaders, the negotiators, the international, not you personally or anyone else, it's the union. You need to stop taking my post as a personal one on you, it's the fleet union, not individual members themselves. This is exactly why the mechs need to get out of this totally dysfunctional asso. and go with their own class and craft that will greatly more focus on the mechanics group and not the fleet, bus drivers, cooks, janitors, truckers, stores, material specialist, cleaners etc... I never have said that you are directly the cause of mechanics bennies being less than yours, I do blame the union for that and as it is this union is way over weighted by fleet members so of course they will get yes votes when the fleet guys are taking much less of a hit than the mechs are when they way outnumber them in votes. It's that simple. If you want to keep the blinders on about that then so be it. I have never spoke for you AANOTOK, not sure where you got that I was. If something I said sounded as such, I did not mean for it too, and apologize for that.
Never do I want you fleet guys or any other group out there to suffer just so the mechanics could flourish, I believe you are taking my post in the wrong way. The AA mechanics understand my post but they are reading them as mechanics and understand when I say fleet I mean the union and not individuals personally.
Like OldGuy stated, it's "ALL" about the union and it's time for the mechanics to get their own so the "mechanics" can rule the roost in numbers for a change when it comes to voting and making changes for the better for their group. They will never get that in this fleet union or any other unions like the teamsters truckers union.
Once again I apologize for some miscommunications, or my coming across wrong to you, most of my addressings are generalized with the fleet union, not individuals. Hope this clears it up somewhat, but I too think OldGuy summed it up very well in his postings as well as others that followed his post.
I must admit, I posted my response to AANOTOK before seeing and reading your post lineguy43.
Great post and explanation. It's the same at AA with the fleet union as it was with you guys and the rampers (IAM) and us with the truckers union before AMFA here.
Thanks to all who have taken the time to help explain to AANOTOK how it really is. Maybe now he will no longer read or take my post as a personal attack on him.
Now can we all focus on the AMP drive rather than the individuals? However, this is exactly the reason for this drive so it does help to discuss and bring out why this drive for AMP is so important to the mechanics and related.
WeAAsles
Veteran
- Oct 20, 2007
- 23,195
- 5,343
Job opening in Philadelphia for any industry AMT who isn’t happy at the Airline he works for and needs to be involved in the business of American Airlines.
https://jobs.aa.com/job/Philadelphia-Mechanic,-Line-Maintenance-PA-19019/497566500/
https://jobs.aa.com/job/Philadelphia-Mechanic,-Line-Maintenance-PA-19019/497566500/
Attachments
I know young mechanics need to get in the door, but I would recommend any station but Philadelphia. They treat the technicians like **** and teach them nothing. Not a good way to start off your aviation career!!!
I agree 100%. Screw starting at Philly for new job. Stay in the South for the weather.
WeAAsles
Veteran
- Oct 20, 2007
- 23,195
- 5,343
I’m sorry. I know you want desperately to work for AA but that was the only opening I saw that you might be able to get in.
I mean since you spend more time here than in your own threads it must be terrible working for SWA and being in that completely lousy Union you got over there.
Even the AA Mechanics have finally abandoned AMFA. How utterly sad.
Tim Nelson
Veteran
MX needs their own union. Makes no sense for them to be with us. Different interest.
AMP is an incredibly wise choice for mechanics but ignorance is bliss and much easier to believe the convenient lies that 700 and sito and GP put out that AMP will set negotiations back 5 years.
Unless and until mechanics get their own union, they will continue being hosed.
AMP is an incredibly wise choice for mechanics but ignorance is bliss and much easier to believe the convenient lies that 700 and sito and GP put out that AMP will set negotiations back 5 years.
Unless and until mechanics get their own union, they will continue being hosed.
I really hate to throw your own phrase back at ya, but;
Had enough yet?? LOL
I agree with the choice of AMP over AMFA. Reasons being due to the non participation from AMFA National to help as well as our past officers not wanting any other big airlines in AMFA as they would way outnumber us, but, that's just a stupid reason IMO. As I have said before, each airline could have a rep for each airline to be represented.
AMP will be a very AA oriented and dedicated mechanics union and will work the best for them. No AMP will not set them back 5 years on nego's as they are possibly headed that way anyway with sec 6 a possibility. They are just sending out scare tactics to try and tamper down the cards getting signed, any union would do this when they start to see a threat of being fired, and a good sign how well the card drive is going especially when they are always mentioned in the contract nego's updates. Keep it up guys...
WeAAsles
Veteran
- Oct 20, 2007
- 23,195
- 5,343
Let’s be real so I don’t waste my time on this thread today.
This new Drive like all the others and even more so is nothing but a BIG JOKE. It doesn’t have the support and word is it’s already puttered out. No one is signing any more cards and people aren’t donating any more money.
ANY attention paid to it by the three Maintenance Presidents or especially either Union only gives these goofballs more twigs in a fire pit that’s nothing but smoke.
The ONLY reasons I’m being mean about it is because of the SWA Troll AND when the liars and name callers pop in.
AMP is a Joke..... (And so is AMFA actually)
Have a nice day.
This new Drive like all the others and even more so is nothing but a BIG JOKE. It doesn’t have the support and word is it’s already puttered out. No one is signing any more cards and people aren’t donating any more money.
ANY attention paid to it by the three Maintenance Presidents or especially either Union only gives these goofballs more twigs in a fire pit that’s nothing but smoke.
The ONLY reasons I’m being mean about it is because of the SWA Troll AND when the liars and name callers pop in.
AMP is a Joke..... (And so is AMFA actually)
Have a nice day.
B737 driver
Veteran
- Jul 6, 2017
- 3,381
- 209
Well since you actually work for American, you should know. Hopefully you have a good weekend. On ours being a joke at SWA, I would tend to agree. Now do we ever try to do something about it, it only depends when people take the blinders off. However if ours passes that talk will fade too.
- Thread Starter
- #104
After today's update and conference, you guys are going to get decimated. You may want to look for new representation yourselves..
Oh I forgot...there is strength in numbers!
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You want to know what a real joke is? It's AA's AMTs current representation. As far as the AMP drive is going, every drive is a little different, but there usually is a little lull after the initial push. Nothing to worry about.
