CWA-AFA Merger OR Go It Alone
Statement of question: Should AFA merge with CWA and become AFA-CWA or
remain a single craft union?
Dear Members of Local 40:
The USA MEC met with the entire AFA Board of Directors In Boston, MA on
October 27-30, 2003 for their Annual meeting.
The statement above is before you, and a ballot will circulate to all the
members of AFA including US Airways AFA membership.
Last summer, during the 2002 restructuring proposals, I wrote in one of my
newsletters to you that with the deletion of our long standing “no
furlough” language in our contract, and under the threat of bankruptcy,
that we as a union would “cease to exist” if we conceded to this proposal as
there would be a “ domino effect” that would permeate across our industry
and further erode our ranks and our profession. US Airways was the first
airline to go into Bankruptcy in spite of Labor’s concessions claiming the
woes of 9/11, only to turn around again for round #2 two months later for
the winter restructuring agreement. Approximately 5,400 of our ranks have
been removed from our property and over 20,000 employees have lost their
jobs at US Airways of late. THIS IS THE “NEW RESTRUCTURING BUSINESS PLAN”, and we as a majority have
conceded to this plan for whatever excuses we can cite…it is what it is.
Labor has given this management billions in concessions, terminated pension
plans for pilots, egregious violations of our contracts, including
management’s attempt to “outsource” the IAM heavy maintenance work, and
violations that continue against all labor contracts in order for this
management to steal even more cost savings from employees. We have opened
“Pandora’s box” for the entire industry, and it is up to us to close it.
I stand before you NOT opposed to an AFA- CWA merger. Nor am I opposed to a
dues increase of $6 with incremental increases of 2% going forward every two
years. I am, however, opposed to the membership not having the choice to
choose which path our union should take. The ballot that will be coming out
from AFA International, represents that choice and will go to the entire
AFA membership of all airlines to vote on this monumental decision for our
union and our future.
You will have the CHOICE. I ask that you exercise your VOTE.
Management has hinted in the media and in Dave’s weekly hotline, that in
order for US Airways to compete against the Low Cost Carriers, we as labor would need
to continue sacrificing and giving concessions. Round #3 is before us and it
is only a little over 1 year that management was given billions, including 2
bailouts from the government in order to survive. We have emerged from
Bankruptcy and yet, are one of the few airlines that can’t stabilize or
make a profit. Management continues to beat that drum with the noise that
it is labor costs that are the problem and we can’t compete. What’s wrong
with this picture? Could the business plan be flawed?
They continue to hammer Pennsylvania Delegation for concessions for the
Pittsburgh Hub to ensure a Hub for the Poverty- wage airline Mid-Atlantic
Airways. War has been waged! The employees of U and all of labor in the
entire Industry are in battle to protect our rights as workers, our
benefits, and our wages. There is no show of retreat now. There is no show
of weakness now; there is no raising of a “white flag” of surrender now.
AND THERE WILL BE NO TRUCE WITH UNION BUSTERS WHO ARE STILL ON OUR PROPERTY AND GIVE LESSONS TO THE REST OF THE INDUSTRY THEIR STRATEGIES ON HOW TO BRING LABOR TO THEIR KNEES.
Your MEC sent out to you last month a ballot for an assessment of $10 PER
YEAR, for a STRIKE FUND that would ensure “fairness” come 2009 when we go to
negotiate from a position of strength. A Strike fund that if funded, would
cover Flight Pay Loss, for those who were targeted if a job action would be
necessary. The membership voted it down by 990 votes against. 4,000 never
bothered to vote. Do you have any idea what message that sent to management?
Management tells me that I, as your president, am the only one that is
dissatisfied with the status quo? Is this true? Management is coming back
to us for round #3. What is left is the work rules, folks, and our
flexibility; what little we have left of that in this “slave ship”.
I ask you…. do we fight? Or do we surrender? Perception is everything.
Management has already commented to me that we had very few members attend
the “sick” leafleting on June 5 at the airport, they commented once again
about the lack of support on the strike fund, they commented to me on the
few members we had that walked at the Labor Day Parade, they commented to me
of the lack of members that came to support the IAM at the Court House and
that I should mind my own AFA business. They commented to me on the lack of
attendance of the last two local union meetings. Management is watching and
they are paying attention! They believe that our members have not reached
their threshold for “pain” yet! I am your General in the front line saying
CHARGE, and I turn around to look behind me, and my troops have retreated.
I have written to you this before…tell me where you choose to go and I will
lead you there. But, folks, please have a plan.
CWA has 700,000 members strong. They have many more resources and money
than we do. They share our plight and our fight to endeavor for fairness and
balance for the working American in Corporate America! If you decide to vote
for a merger, there will be no union dues increases for 4 years, and there
is up to a 4 year “opt out” if we decide collectively that affiliation is
not for us. That is the terms of the agreement. CWA has promised that AFA
will maintain its same structure, constitution and autonomy.
The other viable option is the raising of union dues to $6 commencing
January 1, 2004. AFA had approved a contingency budget in case merger
ratification should fail. These dues will have cost incremental increases
commencing every two years by 2% starting in 2006. We will be able to
maintain our services and fight the fight solo, as we have done in the past.
Either vote will ensure your Union will survive this war, and we will
PREVAIL. If we do nothing, with no contingency plan, we will surely implode.
This vote is not just about USAirways, or United, but about all the carriers
that are under the AFA umbrella. We are all fighting that fight now, with
amendable contract dates in the same year for many of the carriers. We need
to plan ahead and be prepared. We must stop being reactive and begin being
proactive.
Ballot packets will be sent and polls open on November 6 at 10 am through December 1, 2003 at 12:00 pm Eastern Standard. Please read instructions carefully. If you have any problems, please call AFA International at 1-800-424-2401, prompt 0 and ask for membership. If you have any questions or comments regarding the question before you, please contact your Local Office at 412-262-3329.
I will not tell you how to vote, only that you vote! Both options are viable
options and will ensure that your union will stay strong and will meet the
challenges that lie ahead for all of us.
United we stand with you forever,
In Solidarity,
Teddy Xidas
Local Executive President PIT, PIW, MDA
Local 40 Officers
Statement of question: Should AFA merge with CWA and become AFA-CWA or
remain a single craft union?
Dear Members of Local 40:
The USA MEC met with the entire AFA Board of Directors In Boston, MA on
October 27-30, 2003 for their Annual meeting.
The statement above is before you, and a ballot will circulate to all the
members of AFA including US Airways AFA membership.
Last summer, during the 2002 restructuring proposals, I wrote in one of my
newsletters to you that with the deletion of our long standing “no
furlough” language in our contract, and under the threat of bankruptcy,
that we as a union would “cease to exist” if we conceded to this proposal as
there would be a “ domino effect” that would permeate across our industry
and further erode our ranks and our profession. US Airways was the first
airline to go into Bankruptcy in spite of Labor’s concessions claiming the
woes of 9/11, only to turn around again for round #2 two months later for
the winter restructuring agreement. Approximately 5,400 of our ranks have
been removed from our property and over 20,000 employees have lost their
jobs at US Airways of late. THIS IS THE “NEW RESTRUCTURING BUSINESS PLAN”, and we as a majority have
conceded to this plan for whatever excuses we can cite…it is what it is.
Labor has given this management billions in concessions, terminated pension
plans for pilots, egregious violations of our contracts, including
management’s attempt to “outsource” the IAM heavy maintenance work, and
violations that continue against all labor contracts in order for this
management to steal even more cost savings from employees. We have opened
“Pandora’s box” for the entire industry, and it is up to us to close it.
I stand before you NOT opposed to an AFA- CWA merger. Nor am I opposed to a
dues increase of $6 with incremental increases of 2% going forward every two
years. I am, however, opposed to the membership not having the choice to
choose which path our union should take. The ballot that will be coming out
from AFA International, represents that choice and will go to the entire
AFA membership of all airlines to vote on this monumental decision for our
union and our future.
You will have the CHOICE. I ask that you exercise your VOTE.
Management has hinted in the media and in Dave’s weekly hotline, that in
order for US Airways to compete against the Low Cost Carriers, we as labor would need
to continue sacrificing and giving concessions. Round #3 is before us and it
is only a little over 1 year that management was given billions, including 2
bailouts from the government in order to survive. We have emerged from
Bankruptcy and yet, are one of the few airlines that can’t stabilize or
make a profit. Management continues to beat that drum with the noise that
it is labor costs that are the problem and we can’t compete. What’s wrong
with this picture? Could the business plan be flawed?
They continue to hammer Pennsylvania Delegation for concessions for the
Pittsburgh Hub to ensure a Hub for the Poverty- wage airline Mid-Atlantic
Airways. War has been waged! The employees of U and all of labor in the
entire Industry are in battle to protect our rights as workers, our
benefits, and our wages. There is no show of retreat now. There is no show
of weakness now; there is no raising of a “white flag” of surrender now.
AND THERE WILL BE NO TRUCE WITH UNION BUSTERS WHO ARE STILL ON OUR PROPERTY AND GIVE LESSONS TO THE REST OF THE INDUSTRY THEIR STRATEGIES ON HOW TO BRING LABOR TO THEIR KNEES.
Your MEC sent out to you last month a ballot for an assessment of $10 PER
YEAR, for a STRIKE FUND that would ensure “fairness” come 2009 when we go to
negotiate from a position of strength. A Strike fund that if funded, would
cover Flight Pay Loss, for those who were targeted if a job action would be
necessary. The membership voted it down by 990 votes against. 4,000 never
bothered to vote. Do you have any idea what message that sent to management?
Management tells me that I, as your president, am the only one that is
dissatisfied with the status quo? Is this true? Management is coming back
to us for round #3. What is left is the work rules, folks, and our
flexibility; what little we have left of that in this “slave ship”.
I ask you…. do we fight? Or do we surrender? Perception is everything.
Management has already commented to me that we had very few members attend
the “sick” leafleting on June 5 at the airport, they commented once again
about the lack of support on the strike fund, they commented to me on the
few members we had that walked at the Labor Day Parade, they commented to me
of the lack of members that came to support the IAM at the Court House and
that I should mind my own AFA business. They commented to me on the lack of
attendance of the last two local union meetings. Management is watching and
they are paying attention! They believe that our members have not reached
their threshold for “pain” yet! I am your General in the front line saying
CHARGE, and I turn around to look behind me, and my troops have retreated.
I have written to you this before…tell me where you choose to go and I will
lead you there. But, folks, please have a plan.
CWA has 700,000 members strong. They have many more resources and money
than we do. They share our plight and our fight to endeavor for fairness and
balance for the working American in Corporate America! If you decide to vote
for a merger, there will be no union dues increases for 4 years, and there
is up to a 4 year “opt out” if we decide collectively that affiliation is
not for us. That is the terms of the agreement. CWA has promised that AFA
will maintain its same structure, constitution and autonomy.
The other viable option is the raising of union dues to $6 commencing
January 1, 2004. AFA had approved a contingency budget in case merger
ratification should fail. These dues will have cost incremental increases
commencing every two years by 2% starting in 2006. We will be able to
maintain our services and fight the fight solo, as we have done in the past.
Either vote will ensure your Union will survive this war, and we will
PREVAIL. If we do nothing, with no contingency plan, we will surely implode.
This vote is not just about USAirways, or United, but about all the carriers
that are under the AFA umbrella. We are all fighting that fight now, with
amendable contract dates in the same year for many of the carriers. We need
to plan ahead and be prepared. We must stop being reactive and begin being
proactive.
Ballot packets will be sent and polls open on November 6 at 10 am through December 1, 2003 at 12:00 pm Eastern Standard. Please read instructions carefully. If you have any problems, please call AFA International at 1-800-424-2401, prompt 0 and ask for membership. If you have any questions or comments regarding the question before you, please contact your Local Office at 412-262-3329.
I will not tell you how to vote, only that you vote! Both options are viable
options and will ensure that your union will stay strong and will meet the
challenges that lie ahead for all of us.
United we stand with you forever,
In Solidarity,
Teddy Xidas
Local Executive President PIT, PIW, MDA
Local 40 Officers
