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Insurgent AA union falls short
By D.R. STEWART World Staff Writer
6/17/2004
A National Mediation Board official says not enough cards were signed.
A federal investigator has determined that an insurgent mechanics union at American Airlines has fallen short in its bid to call for a union representation election aimed at unseating the Transport Workers Union.
In a ruling Wednesday, National Mediation Board investigator Eileen Hennessey determined that 18,661 American Airlines employees are classified as mechanics and are eligible to vote in a union representation election.
Hennessey's ruling means the insurgent Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association, which has mounted a drive to unseat the TWU over the past year, has not shown adequate interest to call for an election. AMFA needed signed authorization cards from 50 percent plus one -- or 9,331 -- mechanics to hold an election.
AMFA officials said they submitted 9,274 signed cards to the National Mediation Board -- 57 cards short of
the requirement based on Hennessey's number. But AMFA supporters said Hennessey's list was inflated.
Hennessey could not be reached for comment. The board does not disclose how many authorization cards were found to be valid.
Don Rodgers, AMFA co-chairman in Tulsa, said AMFA will appeal Hennessey's ruling. The union has until June 30 to appeal to the National Mediation Board, and the TWU would have until July 8 to file a rebuttal, Rodgers said.
"No matter what happens on appeal, this doesn't change anything," Rodgers said. "We will keep driving on, and eventually we will win. It's only a matter of time.
"If this ruling holds up, we will start another card drive right away."
Jim Little, director of the TWU's air transport division, said he appreciated the diligence of the National Mediation Board.
"We are very proud of our members who supported TWU, and we extend our hand to those who supported AMFA," Little said. "It's time for all of us to come together and build a strong union that will fight for our future."
AMFA supporters, however, said they will not mend fences with the TWU, which has represented mechanics at American since 1946.
"My response is: No vote, no peace," said Dave Stewart, AMFA co-chairman in Tulsa. "We're going to spool up the card drive and go at them again.
"Nobody I know is going to retreat back to the TWU. To deprive us of a vote leaves us completely divided.
"Had there been a vote and the TWU won, I would have taken off my AMFA shirt and supported the TWU. But to deprive us of a vote because of an inflated eligibility list is not acceptable to me."
AMFA submitted to the board a list of 16,014 mechanics eligible to vote in a representation election. The TWU's list had 18,400 mechanics eligible to vote, and American's list contains 18,600 names, officials said.
AMFA supporters accuse the TWU and the company of inflating the eligibility list to dilute AMFA support.
"On April 10, 2001, when TWA and American merged, the National Mediation Board declared that the class and craft of mechanics at American totaled 16,501," Stewart said. "In the last three years -- during the worst downturn in aviation history -- the board says we added 2,000 employees.
"That says to me that tomorrow we will start signing cards."
The AMFA challenge gained strength after the TWU gave up pay and benefits totaling close to 25 percent to keep American from filing for bankruptcy in April 2003.
Mechanics, pilots and flight attendants agreed to wage and benefit cuts of $1.8 billion over five years as part of $4 billion in cuts that American made to stay in business.
I think Amfa has inflated their valid cards by including Management to the list. In this decission the board will not disclose the valid cards from Amfa. It's in their hands. They can Inflate all they want! We will only know that their was insufficient Interest! Even if Amfa is successful at reducing the 18,661 they very well may fall short. Dont be fooled by the Amfa inflated list they claimed to have! After all their the ones who originally claimed to have over 9600 cards to start with. Just remember lies get you know where!
By D.R. STEWART World Staff Writer
6/17/2004
A National Mediation Board official says not enough cards were signed.
A federal investigator has determined that an insurgent mechanics union at American Airlines has fallen short in its bid to call for a union representation election aimed at unseating the Transport Workers Union.
In a ruling Wednesday, National Mediation Board investigator Eileen Hennessey determined that 18,661 American Airlines employees are classified as mechanics and are eligible to vote in a union representation election.
Hennessey's ruling means the insurgent Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association, which has mounted a drive to unseat the TWU over the past year, has not shown adequate interest to call for an election. AMFA needed signed authorization cards from 50 percent plus one -- or 9,331 -- mechanics to hold an election.
AMFA officials said they submitted 9,274 signed cards to the National Mediation Board -- 57 cards short of
the requirement based on Hennessey's number. But AMFA supporters said Hennessey's list was inflated.
Hennessey could not be reached for comment. The board does not disclose how many authorization cards were found to be valid.
Don Rodgers, AMFA co-chairman in Tulsa, said AMFA will appeal Hennessey's ruling. The union has until June 30 to appeal to the National Mediation Board, and the TWU would have until July 8 to file a rebuttal, Rodgers said.
"No matter what happens on appeal, this doesn't change anything," Rodgers said. "We will keep driving on, and eventually we will win. It's only a matter of time.
"If this ruling holds up, we will start another card drive right away."
Jim Little, director of the TWU's air transport division, said he appreciated the diligence of the National Mediation Board.
"We are very proud of our members who supported TWU, and we extend our hand to those who supported AMFA," Little said. "It's time for all of us to come together and build a strong union that will fight for our future."
AMFA supporters, however, said they will not mend fences with the TWU, which has represented mechanics at American since 1946.
"My response is: No vote, no peace," said Dave Stewart, AMFA co-chairman in Tulsa. "We're going to spool up the card drive and go at them again.
"Nobody I know is going to retreat back to the TWU. To deprive us of a vote leaves us completely divided.
"Had there been a vote and the TWU won, I would have taken off my AMFA shirt and supported the TWU. But to deprive us of a vote because of an inflated eligibility list is not acceptable to me."
AMFA submitted to the board a list of 16,014 mechanics eligible to vote in a representation election. The TWU's list had 18,400 mechanics eligible to vote, and American's list contains 18,600 names, officials said.
AMFA supporters accuse the TWU and the company of inflating the eligibility list to dilute AMFA support.
"On April 10, 2001, when TWA and American merged, the National Mediation Board declared that the class and craft of mechanics at American totaled 16,501," Stewart said. "In the last three years -- during the worst downturn in aviation history -- the board says we added 2,000 employees.
"That says to me that tomorrow we will start signing cards."
The AMFA challenge gained strength after the TWU gave up pay and benefits totaling close to 25 percent to keep American from filing for bankruptcy in April 2003.
Mechanics, pilots and flight attendants agreed to wage and benefit cuts of $1.8 billion over five years as part of $4 billion in cuts that American made to stay in business.
I think Amfa has inflated their valid cards by including Management to the list. In this decission the board will not disclose the valid cards from Amfa. It's in their hands. They can Inflate all they want! We will only know that their was insufficient Interest! Even if Amfa is successful at reducing the 18,661 they very well may fall short. Dont be fooled by the Amfa inflated list they claimed to have! After all their the ones who originally claimed to have over 9600 cards to start with. Just remember lies get you know where!
