"A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush."

[smorzando]

I'm sure you've heard this saying before. The lesson it imparts is that it's better to settle for what you have than risk everything in an attempt to gain more. That is the kind of thought process that has us all where we are today; wanting to fire the IAM for failing to actually act like a union, yet consistently capable of coming up with excuses for not actually taking action. Look at what we have allowed to happen:

* The second vote in September 2002.
* The second round of concessions just three months later; January 2003.
* The lack of job action when our CEO sent our Airbus work to Alabama.
* Spending a year declaring that “the concession stand is closedâ€￾ (2003 – 2004).
* Spending almost four months “not negotiatingâ€￾ $179 million dollars in concessions only to eventually walk away and allow the company to simply gut our contract to the tune of “potentially $500 million dollarsâ€￾ and topping that off by not telling the membership about this info prior to the actual vote.
* Crossing the AMFA picket line without any hesitation whatsoever and topping that off by actually organizing those scabs – which many of you continue to ignore.
* Manipulating a democratic election to ensure that we will continue to be represented by the exact same people who made all of the above possible.
* Bill Fryburger, Tony Giamarco, and Frank Schiffano will now earn $108,000.00 per year to continue to do more of the same..

"A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush?" For those of you who continue to wear your support for the IAM. You deserve every bit of what has happened to us, and you deserve to continue to be represented in the exact same manner.

CLT Teamster Organizing Committee

 

[700UW]

One the membership bombarded the company and the union wanting to revote, Dave Siegel said he would hold his own vote, the IAM HDQ made the decision to revote. I dont agree with that, but why did the members change their vote?

Dr Bonner has threatened liquidation in the NY Times, all unions gave concessions again to get US out of bankruptcy, once again it was the members who made the choice.

Robert Roach, the GLRs, GCs and other important IAM officers and officials went to every single US Maintenance Station. The members made it quite clear they were not going to strike over it. Hell unlicensed Utility did more job actions to slow things down then the AMTs. We even delayed flights Glass, Bronner, Siegel and others were on to make sure they were cleaned by procedures.

The members made the decision the concession stand was closed as it was right after the Airbus Outsourcing, we had just signed a concessionary contract they could not be trusted at all and there was no sense in negotiating until the arbitration was over.

I was at negoiations the company had no intention of ever reaching an agreement with us. They never moved off their position one time. The flow of information was slow and mostly inaccurate and had to be given back to them for the proper calculations. Our advisors worked with thiers for hours upon hours.

We gave the company a full comprehensive proposal that met their "ask" except we would not agree to the pension being terminated ( we all ready knew Judge Rubber Stamp would terminate it),it would have saved the majority of the jobs, only permit 757,767 and A330 outsourcing on a temporary basis and set up a crew chief system in the checks to ensure the checks done in-house would go out on time and it would have saved Utility at the eight largest flight activity stations. The company said no, we don't want to manage people. So the members ratified the final offer to get their severance instead of taking on US Airways, as is their right.

All unions crossed pickets lines at NWA, with all the bad blood between the IAM and AMFA would you expect the IAM to support AMFA? Plus the members can make their own choice and not be disciplined.

Manipulate an election, show us facts, file a charge with the DOL and see where it goes, sounds like sour grapes again.

And all the GCs took the same hits as the members, did you know the US Airways GCs when were were 141 and 141M had to take the same concessions as UA and lost their stock just like the UAL employees?

And you live the life of a GC and tell me if they are worth the compensation, I say yes, you live in hotels and out of a suitcase five days a week and be away from your family and see how it feels.

By the way, why didn't Albert G sign is name to one of his false fact filled ibt garbage again, Albert, what happened to you pimping AMFA, Del Femmine not taking your calls anymore?

 

[Awa Contract]

Well Mr. 700, looks like I am not the only one that was less than happy with thier IAM experience. Could this be a pattern?