AFA labor discussion (Work related)

[Itestwell]

Terry Graf could negotiate circles around the monkeys in there now.

Exactly.

And the difference? She (and her co- negotiators) gained respect from management first.

Flight attendants, you deserve better.

So much better.

 

[NYGiantsFan90]

You all need to have the AFA hire Teddy X as a consultant, she was the only Labor Leader on US property that management feared.

 

[Onestep2flt]

Listen, I am not in a position to really say any of the names that have been mentioned would be good or bad. From what my friends tell me that at least one of those names were the ones that were there when they had issues in philly and nobody returned phone calls or even acknowledge there existence. They had to call Pittsburgh to get it taken care of. I guess this is when the Philly office was in meltdown and they were busy trying the last recall. I was told this was a very ugly time and everyone involved looked very foolish. During a union meeting one person was called a derogatory name and another stormed out and said they would NEVER do union work again. I guess people can change but I think the musical chairs is one of the biggest enemies you guys have. Same people seem to regenerate themselves over and over again. I am told this was your previous administration prior to those you are having issues with now.

Again, I am not saying any of these people are necessarily bad people, they are just the same people. I am sure that most are good people. I am pretty confident that some might be your personal friends. You must look past that. Do not let personal allegiances get in the way of placing new people with fresh ideas in office that have not been tainted by all the politics yet. I don't want cause argument over what I am saying. I just want people to think outside the box. Some of these folks have had there moment in the spotlight, now is the time to place a new generation group in place to get the job done.

From what friends have said and from what I have read on this board Teddy was indeed feared by management. I do think she is probably the truest definition of a unionist you can get. One thing I have been told is that because of her methods she was not liked by some within the union. Why? Because she did not play politics very well. She new the political ropes but chose not to be a part of the Establishment. From what I gather, that includes some of those people that have risen to power in the last few years. Maybe Teddy would make a good consultant. I think better yet would be a contract attorney and labor lawyer would give you even more mileage.

 

[ganesha]

[
I think better yet would be a contract attorney and labor lawyer would give you even more mileage.
[/quote]

I agree. Would you rather have a certified nursing assistant do your back surgery, or a surgeon? Would you rather have a detective on a murder case or Mall Cop Bart? This is what we are dealing with. The company has pro's. Yep, labor Lawyers. There hasn't been many AFA leaders that have not worked for their own agenda. My prediction is the McCorkle will end up in politics. Republican. Yep. My prediction. Anyone want to take bet's?

Terri Graf is one of the few on property that could do a good job negotiating...

 

[skynews]

There are *plenty* of people that are qualified for the job, despite what Mike is telling people.

His continued defeatist comments such as, "the Company won't go for that", or "we will never get that back", or "it's just not going to happen, maybe in the next negotiations", and the latest (my favorite), "now that Delta voted out AFA, negotiations are going to be much tougher, but I'm going to stay the course..." are simply covers for his inability to negotiate back any of the concessions we coughed up in the last two Bankruptcy contracts.

I think everyone understands that we won't see the 2000 contract again, but most certainly didn't see this many concessions coming. (More cleaning, reserve, 100% sick with only 14 day sick calls (down from 21), Holiday touch replacing weekend touch, Pref Bid (hello! this alone is saving the company millions! where are our enhancements?), split from Pilots, etc...


It sounds as if Mike has you right where he wants you. Please, dare to think outside the box. You deserve better.

 

[skynews]

I am not sure where this information came from----"More cleaning, reserve, 100% sick with only 14 day sick calls (down from 21), Holiday touch replacing weekend touch, Pref Bid"---- but it is doubtful that I would vote yes on a contract that incorporates those items. It is time to get rid of "tidying" the cabin and turn that job back over to a/c cleaners. As far as the other items mentioned, this contract needs to improve our quality of life. NONE of those items mentioned are an improvement.

 

[VAflyGal]

I really wish some of our coworkers would get their heads out of where "the sun don't shine" and grow a set.

 

[MyrnaMinkoff]

I just read an e-mail from Flores and The Holding Company, "Reserve TA Q&A Pt. 2". I recall that in the "Q&A Pt. 1 " of a couple of weeks ago, the promised forthcoming Pt. 2 would elucidate and expand upon how only ignorant ingrates would fail to appreciate the heroic work selflessly undertaken by the JNC. In this one, the language was even more mealy-mouthed, and I'd like to know who is submitting these "questions," all milquetoast predictable and crafted to maximize spin potential. Instead of the previous "seniority is back for reserves," it's now " a more seniority based way that will allow reserves to earn a living..." Who didn't see that very kind of equivocation coming? I'm sure that even the least sentient among us who attempted to understand the convoluted hooey that was circulated as the "Reserve TA" immediately spotted the red flag, a tidbit of information that would hopefully be lost in the sh** cloud hovering over the text: that is, that forcing a reserve to work a four-day trip if the grouping is "closed" and the reserve is good for four days, is a blatant affront to seniority-driven trip awards. More aptly stated, seniority is back...kind of, sometimes. And, am I alone in detecting a decidedly more aggressively righteous tone and timbre in the content of Sr. Flores-generated e-mail? I've given it some thought, and I am still undecided about whether or not he is delusional enough to actually believe that we should gratefully accept the woefully inadequate terms the JNC has wasted five-plus years "negotiating". It's disturbing to think that he might be out-of-touch enough to think that he's done a good job, a hapless company marionette not in on the joke, but it's chilling to imagine that he is, of his own accord, serving the dark overlord of egomaniacal middle-aged shot-swilling ex-frat boys in charge everywhere. Either way it isn't good. For me, still doing time in The Man's reserve system-cum-labor-camp is becoming increasingly untenable, but if this is the best thing they have to offer, it's a very emphatic NO from me. I'll just continue to occasionally adjourn myself to the lavatory for an existential angst time-out to review the misguided life choices that led to me apologetically taking blame for everything from east coast weather patterns to TSA screening procedures.

 

[VAflyGal]

Best post EVER.

 

[KARL ROVER]

Best post EVER.

Ditto VAflyGal !!! It is becoming more and more evident that the spinmaster is being detected by the flight attendants. The only time a reserve's seniority is honored under this " Titanic-like" agreement is on the initial telephone call. Then everything is up to the "discretion of Crew Scheduling" as we have been seeing in many sections of this unacceptable document the JNC refers to as an agreement. But the blame doesn't totally fall on the shoulders of the JNC. The current MEC SHOULD be directing the JNC however due to their lack of experience they have become MIA. In all of my 21 years as a flight attendant I cannot remember a less effective and experienced MEC as those sitting on this MEC. These are the enablers who have allowed these negotiations to get out of hand. Shame on them!!! I am hearing through the grapevine there is a huge push for damage control going on among the Local Councils. Some are even calling flight attendants to interrogate them as to why they have signed the petitions that are circulating. Sound like INTIMIDATION to anyone or am I the only one? We have a right to voice our opinion for our representation and should not be called on the carpet for doing so. If anyone feels they are being harassed or intimidated by any Union officer there are procedures to cease these actions. Our representatives should not be sharing our names that have signed any petition. There again, it is nothing more than showing their inexperience in dealing with their flight attendants , just another reason they need to step down or be removed.

Kudos to MyrnaMink

 

[PHLfa88]

Of course I know you will not comment further, but perhaps since you took the time to show up here you can give a message to the joint negotiating committee. YOUR FLIGHT ATTENDANTS ARE BEING IGNORED IN THIS PROCESS YOU ARE CALLING NEGOTIATIONS! I am only a customer that has flown many miles on US and I can even get it. I am not sure what planet your negotiators are sequestered to, but it is quite obvious there are problems at mission control. I have not heard this much discontent since the days of Wolfe. Please do not try to tell me it is just on the east, because although not as vocal I have been on west aircraft and talked with some of the wonderful flight attendants you have there. Although they do not seem as outspoken as their east counterparts they do show the same discontent for the process.

Please remind your Joint Negotiators that they are just that. Jointly representing ALL US flight attendants. I believe you have an obligation to check out any claims of impropriety whether east or west. Your east MEC seems to believe that only "One unelectable" person is making trouble for them. Sounds to me from what friends have said that it is quite a bit more than one person. I have not flown any segments recently so I am only stating what I have heard from friends.

If you have the time to clarify the pay proposal I believe you can find the time to clarify an even bigger issue of flight attendants being ignored in your negotiations. There are some very valid questions left unanswered and I would call on you to make clarification on them.

Thanks for your time.

If You or anyone else does not like the contract when it is presented to the membership...Vote NO..Period..That in itself will speak Louder than all the Cat Fighting going on here!!

 

[PHLfa88]

YEP....sure do. Not that John or Ann would 'vote' her in but Terry Graf could negotiate circles around the monkeys in there now. Disagree?

Why has Terry Never been elected to any office? Because the Majority did not want her in office..!!

 

[2clippedwings]

If You or anyone else does not like the contract when it is presented to the membership...Vote NO..Period..That in itself will speak Louder than all the Cat Fighting going on here!!

Because the membership sees the direction the negotiations are going and it is clear that the negotiating committee is not representing our interests. The time to voice these concerns is NOW. Not after a T/A is put out. I don't see any cat fighting here. I see informed and vocal members voicing their opinions-as they should be.

 

[Onestep2flt]

MyrnaMinkoff,

Welcome to the board. Don't know how you were steered in this direction, but I think your first post is one everyone should be able to comprehend.

PHLfa88: I would say that I am happy to report that I will not have to live under any agreement that is put in place. That is not quite true though. It is hard for me to spend money at a business where even the union that is responsible for negotiating a fair contract for ALL flight attendants is driving certain groups under the bus. When confronted with this truth the bus driver Mr. Flores say this he only does what the MEC directs him to. It is not totally clear what his motivations are besides he wants in the end the pat on the back that he got something passed at the expense of one or more groups. I guess he is padding the resume for a rainy day. Look at me I got a contract passed! So, I personally do not have to live under any new agreement but I do (or my company) has to spend money on tickets to ride on your aircraft. I will continue to do so but I would not be of good conscience if I did not take a stand along with my friends that will have to work under a new agreement. I have many friends at US and not all are flight attendants. Some are the great reservations folks that put up with me, some are at the pointy end of the plane, and some even ensure the aircraft you work on are safe you and I to be on. I have posted on every board to show support for my many friends at US. The flight attendant board is different from all the others in the fact that the fight for a fair contract is from within your ranks. Most are dealing with something your management would like to impose not something your union "leaders" are trying to sell you!

Just voting no is irrelevant if the same people will be tweaking anything that fails. Eventually they will get enough for a yes vote and still leave everyone else out. Just look at the opportunity that just presented itself.. Your company just announced the hiring of up to 500 crew member with most of them being flight attendants. Do you think this is totally coincidence. Mr. Flores just has to convince you that if you vote yes you will never have to live under the reserve system anyway. This is one thing I do hate about unions. Eventually it comes down to the eating of ones young. Funny thing is that for better or worse there will be enough reserves to buy that argument and vote for someone else to live under the very same agreement that they complain of now. I do hope to be wrong but it seems to be a classic theme that works every time for some reason. Not saying everyone will fall for it, but I think enough will in the end.

As far as Miss Graff is concerned. I may be wrong and will have to verify with my friend that knows for sure, but I do believe she was in the Philly LEC previous to the folks that were in place now. Again, I could be wrong but I believe she was one the the leaders that stormed out of a union meeting saying she would not be back. I do know folks on here do seem to place trust with her, but as I have stated before I do hope the same people do not end up in some of these positions should you guys actually be successful in removing the dictators in office now. Don't let your personal friendships and personal emotion get in the way of putting someone with fresh ideas in office. I want to make this very clear. I am not saying Miss Graff is a bad person or that she does not have her heart in the right place. This is not for the position for Miss Congeniality though. You are trying to get a new contract that EVERY flight attendant can live under. I just hope you guys consider writing a new chapter. I am positive that there are very qualified individuals outside this campfire. I think bringing the same folks back over and over is part of the problem.

 

[Glucose Intolerant]

Why has Terry Never been elected to any office? Because the Majority did not want her in office..!!

When she was in office - she was asked to step down....and not all that long ago. Someone that was asked to step down? Really?

Nice lady but .....seriously bizarre posts. Can we please move forward?