I attended the recall meeting as well. The pro-Lisa & Jeff recallers were the rudest bunch of people I've seen in a long time. We all sat patiently and quietly listened to them attack the MEC, but when those members who were against the recall came up to speak they were heckled and belittled and told they needed to "sit down". One pro-recaller even jumped up, grabbed the mike and stated it was time to stop the question and answer period and go for a vote. This was after 8-10 pro-recallers had just had their say and it was the turn of someone who was against the recall. Even Kevin C. from International told him he was out of line. Lisa and Jeff very calmly and openly answered each and every one of the "questions" thrown at them, while when Dorene was asked a question, she would turn and glare at the person asking the question and speak to them in the most condescending voice possible.
The recall was originally started by some of our more junior workforce who are fed up with the bad working conditions and pay for the reserves. Contrary to the popular belief amongst our reserves, most of the west f/a's, no matter how junior or senior, agree the reserves are treated badly and want that to change. I have heard some of the reserves say all they want right now is a raise. I have also heard them say they don't care about giving up our 5th week of vacation if it gets them a raise now. There are two problems with that concept. Number one, is that it isn't a raise....it's shuffling. The second problems with this idea is that you never, ever give up something good in a contract to get a "raise". Someday they will be eligible for that 5th vacation week. And with that vacation week comes the option of working through it for the extra money...something you won't have by giving it up for a raise right now. With that being said, some of the old members of the MEC and their allies have jumped on the bandwagon and joined in on the recall. These are the same people who did nothing to help in the transition when the new MEC took office. These are the same people who had no idea what the reserves were talking about when they were asked questions about reserve scheduling, hours, etc. It was not a priority to the old MEC. Even the idea of having them back in office leaves me cold.
I, like most of the west f/a workforce, am frustrated by the fact we do not have a new contract. But to "blame" our current MEC is ridiculous. They have made some progress, but it has been a slow progress to be sure. Dealing with our management is like talking to a stone wall. It seems the pro-recallers have forgotten about this. You can't "force" management to accept our proposals. And for those that say no grievances have been filed or settled...if you were at the recall meeting you would have heard from the Grievance Chair herself about each and every one of the grievances that have been filed and settled this year....as well as information regarding the 7 west f/a's that have gotten their jobs back after being wrongfully terminated.
And for Cactusflyer who is spreading the rumors about our Sec/Treas and one of the Chairs.....shame, shame, shame on you. You have no idea what you are talking about. You are being fed and and are spreading bad information. And as for that Chair helping out with some of the extra work in the office....it's called teamwork....a concept you obviously have forgotten about.
