Recent content by Bagbelt

I agree. I worked for AA from 93-08 and worked for 2nd string outfits since 86. I only left to take the job with the transit authority because I was title 2 and the older guys with Eastern and Pan Am and TWA convinced me. I figured it would be my last shot at a pension. I'm 50 now and can get...

What is going to be will be but after over 35 years in the workforce I have yet to see a positive trend union or non union. The city I grew up in is completely one of haves now as the effective living wage without government assistance is $27 an hour. A dump apartment is $2,000-3000 a month. A...

I have always supported the idea of aircraft maintenance unionised as a trade like any other. Even where I work there is a maintenance delegate but we come under the drivers and operators. The electricians, tin knockers, painters etc. are treated as tradework and work out of a hall on a...

Listened to argument on c span. I think it's a done deal but who knows the fine print until June. I will say however that a lot depends on vesting rules in different states. Public unions are different than most here would realize. Retirees actually have thier own contracts and only in certain...

As I belong to the Boston carmens union we have already seen this as a done deal some time ago. I am sure there will be a loss of membership, however I do not see any doomsday senario. I firmly believe that the classic pension system will be phased out in time as the self created debt crisis...

I wasn't trying to go down a rabbit hole with what is only speculation. My point is that current labor relations law was written for a different point in our history and geared towards a different economy. I'm not covered by the NLRA or the railway labor act but Massachusetts law. I cannot...

We are installing gps encoders in our streetcars on top of an existing rfid system. At some point in the future I would imagine these things becoming reality. I read an MIT paper on it recently and the truth is nobody really knows how fast these things will progress. I can only say as far as...

Not trying to sound like I'm wearing a tin foil hat but I believe drastic changes are going to happen within a generation. I mentioned gig work but also what AI and advanced robotics can accomplish, such as driverless vehicles to begin with. I can remember when unions had enough density to make...

It has been a long time since I have posted as I left American 10 years ago. I work repairing subway cars for the transit system. I would be covered under the Janus decision. I have not read the whole thread but just wanted to make the point that the issue was because we negotiate directly with...

That's the best written post I've read in a long time...

That was my point. I don't mean to get in the middle of it, I left American to work for the transit authority fixing trains. Here trades are hired out of a local hall with apprenticeship programs etc. In a perfect world an AMT or title2 mech. would be part of a trade union and have his or her...

My point was if it was a choice between getting rid of the TWU and 20 grand I think most would say keep it.

I'm no longer there but I think a lot of people would gladly tell them to keep it. As an silly side note I collect lapel pins. I have 25 years worth of industry pins with AA service pins etc. I found an AMFA pin I got by donating money during the NW strike. I was one of the few Title 2 guys to...

I keep an eye on what's happening in the midwest. The latest thing in MI is the exclusivity clause and having to recertify every contract. Right to work is bad news enough. I live in NewHampshire now and the legislature flipped after they even went after cops and firemen. Sometimes I just wish...

That post was too windy, it's just we in the Northeast take powerful unions for granted. It's scary on the national level though. 400 Million dollars and hundereds of thousands of volunteers and still no card check...