It's a waiting game, the company knows no one will walk away from a job with our wages, and benefits, so they just wait till everyone gets pissed off, and then boom a deal gets done for AMFA survival!
That is the company's plan.
We have showed plenty of patience for the last 5 years and now is not the time to fall for the company's stall plan to divide us.
If we wanted to cave to the scope changes, we could have done it two years ago.
If it was worth keeping job protections at that time, it is even more important now.
Everyone has to realize that AMFA is all us mechanics. We run the union.
Its not like the IBT or TWU. We control everything.
I'm tired of hearing people on here talk like AMFA is some big disconnected union like the others.
Our elected leaders are mechanics, live under the same contract as us and care about our job protections.
The company is starting to feel the pressure of not getting to implement their new maintenance program on time. Now new voices suddenly start to appear trying to divide the union members.
Coincidence?
I don't think so.
Its time to stiffen our spines and back the negotiating team full force. They have been doing an excellent job of pushing back on the never ending demands for concessions from the other side.
Why the hell should we give one single concession to our contract this time?
Why should we be forced to accept less than full retro that just rewards the company for their stall tactics these years?
Why should we be forced to basically fund our own already earned pay raises, during the record profit years, with contract language concessions?
WE SHOULDN'T!
WE WONT!
If the company really wanted us to give them language from our contract, they should have offered us fair raises and full retro first. Then, and only then, offered to buy back (or trade) those hard fought for language items one at a time with more money or different acceptable job protections.
I wont vote yes on any deal without full retro.
Until then, I wont entertain any language buy backs or language modifications that give us different protections.
This next year is crunch time for the company. I encourage anyone who reads this and works under our contract, to stay informed, go to meetings and don't fall for the company divide and conquer tactics that we will see more and more of soon.