A Letter from Jim Little

[SkydrolJunkie]

A Letter From James C. Little - Monday, April 03, 2006 at 11:47
Dear Sisters and Brothers,

As some of you have already read or heard our International President, Michael T. O’Brien is retiring for health reasons at the end of March and as the Executive Vice President I will be replacing Mike in the job of International President.

Since our 22nd International Convention I along with my Assistant Air Transport Division Director, Gary Yingst and our ATD staff have been working on some changes within the ATD. As Gary assumes the job of Air Transport Director I have all the confidence in him and the ATD staff to carry on with those changes that will improve our overall effectiveness within the Division. As always change is not easy, but I believe with the support of our Local Officers and members we will strengthen our movement.

I would like to take this chance to say thank you for the opportunity to serve the members of the TWU in my position as Director of the Air Transport Division. We have gone through some tumultuous times and I know it has not been easy, it is for these reasons that I appreciate more than ever the support and prayers that I have received during my time in the ATD. I would also like to acknowledge my detractors, those who have fostered a number of attacks both institutionally and personally, surprisingly I thank them also, your words and actions have taught me so much.

As I pack up my things in the ATD office I reflect on how fortunate I have been to be surrounded by a team of incredibly dedicated leaders within our Division. I have every confidence that they will continue to build on the improvements that have been made in being of service to our 55,000 ATD members and the Labor movement in general. My staff here at the ATD will always hold a special place in my thoughts, thank you for your dedication, support, friendship and laughs – you are definitely the best.

Sometimes the feelings and thoughts that go deepest are the most difficult to express. I can assure you as we move forward I will remember the meaningful moments in working with such a fine group of Union advocates within the Air Transport Division. Thank you and God bless you all.

Fraternally and in Solidarity,

James C. Little

Good Bye, and Good Riddance

Anybody know anything about his replacement, Gary Yingst?

 

[AMFAMAN]

Anybody know anything about his replacement, Gary Yingst?

Could possibly be the most useless lifeform to step outside of Tulsa, OK. Should make a fine ATD sellout director. :down:

 

[local 12 proud]

Could possibly be the most useless lifeform to step outside of Tulsa, OK. Should make a fine ATD sellout director. :down:

You forgot to mention a very loyal compAAny man. :down:

 

[Bob Owens]

Good Bye, and Good Riddance

Anybody know anything about his replacement, Gary Yingst?

Gary? Well think of Jim Little with a mouthful of tobacco and half a brain.



Gary made a big stink about the possibility that I would post his address on the Internet when everyone knows that they can get it from the DOL LM-30 forms he must file.

Gary has memorized the AA contracts, but that doesnt mean that he correctly interprets them.

For instance right after 9-11 AA had a massive layoff. As a result we had scores of mechanics bump into JFK. These mechanics had several guys under them in seniority that were at a higher "Flex Rate" than these guys were getting. Naturally I told these guys that since they were at JFK and guys with less seniority were at a higher "Flex Rate" that they too were entitled to that rate while working at JFK. Article 4(e).When I informed Robert Gless of the situation he, as usual, did not know what to do and said "call the International". I got Yingst, I informed him that the company was paying these senior employees a rate that was lower than more jumior employees at the same station. His response was "They can do that". At that point I went off on him. How could a union grant a company the right to raise and lower wages at will in the first place and how could they have it where a junior worker at the same station earns more per hour than a senior worker in the exact same classification?

I advised the members to file a grievance and then contacted our lawyer to get a head start on a possible DFR for those guys.

With Gary in charge we are if possible, worse off than with Jim Little.

Now for Littles letter;

"Since our 22nd International Convention I along with my Assistant Air Transport Division Director, Gary Yingst and our ATD staff have been working on some changes within the ATD. As Gary assumes the job of Air Transport Director I have all the confidence in him and the ATD staff to carry on with those changes that will improve our overall effectiveness within the Division. As always change is not easy, but I believe with the support of our Local Officers and members we will strengthen our movement."

And what might those changes involve?

Democracy?
Doubtful.

Accountability?
Not likely, seems like Jim is already making excuses "As always change is not easy, but I believe with the support of our Local Officers and members we will strengthen our movement"

I can hear it now "We wanted changes but the Local Officers would not allow it" the fact is that several court cases have already illustrated that Local officers have no power under the TWU Constitution.

Transparancy?
Never. Jim Little does not believe that the members should be able to choose their own leaders and demanded that AA union officials keep secrets from their members.

"I would like to take this chance to say thank you for the opportunity to serve the members of the TWU in my position as Director of the Air Transport Division."

Serve the members? Where we ever given the choice? The fact is that he served Sonny Hall as ATD director, not us. And as the unelected President of the TWU he will continue to not serve us.

"We have gone through some tumultuous times and I know it has not been easy, it is for these reasons that I appreciate more than ever the support and prayers that I have received during my time in the ATD."

WE?!! How much of a paycut did you take Jim?

"I have every confidence that they will continue to build on the improvements that have been made in being of service to our 55,000 ATD members and the Labor movement in general."

Massive industry leading concessions constitutes "improvements"?

During Jim Littles tenure he made all sorts of promises to make changes, he broke all of them. It was always somebody elses fault, if there is one thing that Little is good at its coming up with excuses.

"I would love to do that but we dont even have a budget and Sonny wont approve of it."

A month later he would say " I dont want a budget because then we would be limited and Sonny gives me whatever I want". Apparently forgetting his earlier excuse.


"We need to do something but the AFL-CIO wont let us."

I wrote to the AFL-CIO, they told me they work for the unions and do not dictate to the unions what they should do. Its up to the unions to make the move.

"None of the local leaders offered to help" -on why his monthly newsleter only lasted one edition.

"Democracy is not the best way to pick leaders"

To Ken MacTiernan on why the membership should not be able to elect International officers.

"I want change but the old guys in the International wont allow it."

Well Jim , you are the Top Dog now. What changes are you going to make? Whose fault will it be now? The Local officers, the members, the economy, terrorism, the Government, AMFA? I'm sure you will have some excuse, you always do.

A while back I posted my theory of diminishing ability as it relates to unionism. I theorized that the decline in the quality of union leadership stems from the fact that the very capable leaders that founded these organizations in a hostile enviornment were more concerned with protecting their power than the long term viability of the institution. Loyalty was rewarded over ability. Very able subordinates were a threat because they might make a succesful grab for power, so union leaders surrounded themselves with less able but loyal subordinates. These less able subordinates in turn fill the eventual vacancy at the top that death or indictment inevitably creates. These less able subordinates, now become the top dog and do the same thing,surrond themselves with even less able subordinates, once again, because retaining power is the primary objective. Un-Democratic structures only helped perpetuate the cycle. So while the TWU started out with the Dynamic Mike Quill in less than 40 years we end up with a Jim Little.

With his phony degrees and vanity Jim Little would make Mike Quill ill.

So lets look at what we have in the International now.

Bobby Gless. Bobby Gless informed me that the International was going to make a Rep from Line maintenance but that all the Line Local Presidents agreed that whoever gets the job would have to be someone who was re-elected, they didnt want to be another one of those rejected Presidents (Joe Gordon) who bails out into the International. However when not one single member of the Local 562 Executive Board would run on Gless's ticket Bobby reportedy begged for the position. When it was announced that Gless would be the Line rep the Local Presidents objected, they said they wanted Videtich. Little told them the decision was his, not theirs and Gless was his choice.

Gary Yingst, well enough was said already.

Jim Little, well we know enough to know we dont want him already.


Why would the International pick up these rejects and put them in positions over the elected leaders? Simple, because then they have someone who has no loyalty to the membership and complete loyalty to the International.

Repeat this cycle over and over and you have organization that is made up of people the members rejected at the Local level only to see promoted to an untouchable level out of reach of the memberships electoral power, these rejects are now also in a position to remove any elected official who does the right thing for the members. In fact the International maintains that Local officers are to put the International ahead of the members and failure to do so is a violation of the oath of office.So elected officials are to put rejected leaders who are bitter towards the members ahead of the members who elected them. This process guarantees a steady supply of rejected local leaderrs for recruitment into the International to the point that leaders are stepping over each other to suck up to the International.

The International picks rejects up and grants them benifits and salaries they would never see as a member,these people in turn detest the members because they know that the members did not and would not choose them, in turn they have absolute loyalty to the International that basically treats them as if they won the lottery and there you have it, the TWU.

 

[AMFAMAN]

Just wondering where my ballot is for the election of this position? :mf_boff:

 

[local 12 proud]

Just wondering where my ballot is for the election of this position? :mf_boff:

You mean yours did'nt arrive in the mail? :unsure:

 

[TIME FOR CHANGE]

The profession of the AMT is doomed so long as people like Jim Little are in charge. The concessions of the twu are proof enough.

 

[PRINCESS KIDAGAKASH]

Just wondering where my ballot is for the election of this position? :mf_boff:

I can't believe KIRK WELLS :wub: didn't win! That's who I voted for! :blink: :blink: :wacko: :wacko:

 

[NewHampshire Black Bears]

"Perish the thought"

Mabey Sonny Hall will wind up being a "better" union man than Jim little ?

NH/BB's

 

[Bob Owens]

"Perish the thought"

Mabey Sonny Hall will wind up being a "better" union man than Jim little ?

NH/BB's

That seems to be the trend. Little turned out to be worse than Koziatek.

 

[NewHampshire Black Bears]

That seems to be the trend. Little turned out to be worse than Koziatek.

==========================================================

Your right BOB, and In my wildest dreams, I NEVER thought "THAT" could EVER be POSSIBLE !!!

Just goes to show ya', "NEVER say NEVER"

NH/BB's

 

[scorpian]

A Letter From James C. Little - Monday, April 03, 2006 at 11:47
Dear Sisters and Brothers,

As some of you have already read or heard our International President, Michael T. O’Brien is retiring for health reasons at the end of March and as the Executive Vice President I will be replacing Mike in the job of International President.

Since our 22nd International Convention I along with my Assistant Air Transport Division Director, Gary Yingst and our ATD staff have been working on some changes within the ATD. As Gary assumes the job of Air Transport Director I have all the confidence in him and the ATD staff to carry on with those changes that will improve our overall effectiveness within the Division. As always change is not easy, but I believe with the support of our Local Officers and members we will strengthen our movement.

I would like to take this chance to say thank you for the opportunity to serve the members of the TWU in my position as Director of the Air Transport Division. We have gone through some tumultuous times and I know it has not been easy, it is for these reasons that I appreciate more than ever the support and prayers that I have received during my time in the ATD. I would also like to acknowledge my detractors, those who have fostered a number of attacks both institutionally and personally, surprisingly I thank them also, your words and actions have taught me so much.

As I pack up my things in the ATD office I reflect on how fortunate I have been to be surrounded by a team of incredibly dedicated leaders within our Division. I have every confidence that they will continue to build on the improvements that have been made in being of service to our 55,000 ATD members and the Labor movement in general. My staff here at the ATD will always hold a special place in my thoughts, thank you for your dedication, support, friendship and laughs – you are definitely the best.

Sometimes the feelings and thoughts that go deepest are the most difficult to express. I can assure you as we move forward I will remember the meaningful moments in working with such a fine group of Union advocates within the Air Transport Division. Thank you and God bless you all.

Fraternally and in Solidarity,

James C. Little

Good Bye, and Good Riddance

Anybody know anything about his replacement, Gary Yingst?

He was a freak of sorts here in tulsa. He worked as a machinist who dressed in turtle neck shirts had long hair which he tied in a pony tail and wore Buddy Hollie style black rimmed glasses.
The locals (Sand Springs Ok.)who went to high school with him say they never considered him a brainer,,,,, but were not talking about a job that requires accountability just loyalty to the club so his resume might not be as long as one might expect.

 

[AMFAMAN]

He was a freak of sorts here in tulsa. He worked as a machinist who dressed in turtle neck shirts had long hair which he tied in a pony tail and wore Buddy Hollie style black rimmed glasses.

They posted his picture under Directors Update, appears to have put on a few pounds like the rest of them.

 

[Bagbelt]

All I remember about Sonny was his flying out of BOS on an empty plane during the fa's strike.

 

[Ken MacTiernan]

I can't believe KIRK WELLS :wub: didn't win! That's who I voted for! :blink: :blink: :wacko: :wacko:

Now THAT'S funny!