Nightwatch said:
Your thinking the members will shut down the TWU has already been proven to be false, or we would be having an election. I believe the floor's voice has been heard and AMFA should be sent packing.
Even with the aid of a concessionary package tendered by the Company ,and the TWU ,AMFA was still unable to attain the card count necessary. Does AMFA predict another industry catastophe to assist in their upcoming drive? The reason I ask is due to the fact that AMFA promotes AMFA through statements against the TWU's history, not on the assests and prowness of AMFA.
Time to assist the TWU in making our workplace a more "user friendly" enviroment. Time to assist in building the TWU, not eradicating it. Time to show the Company that the floor is united, not divided due to a raiding entity.
The greatest catastrophy the workers of this industry have endured is the TWU.
What drove the card drive and election at NWA?
How about at the former TWU represented Horizon?
Alaska ?
And what about SWA? The Teamsters had just brought back an "Industry Leading Contract" yet the mechanics at SWA voted them out in favor of AMFA.
Your claim simply does not hold water.
The TWU has brought back concessionary contracts for 20 years and they have worked hand in hand with the company to fight AMFA. They have not only inflated lists but fired organizers.
Some times it takes time but it seems that Tulsa is finally seeing the truth.
I'm confident that we can get cards from those added to the list. I know that when I hand these same people AGW cards they fill them out. They want to get rid of the TWU too.
You blame division on AMFA. Did AMFA create all the different classifications that have divided up the workforce? Did AMFA push for taking work away from one work group and giving to another? Did AMFA push to cut shift and line pay to give guys in overhaul more paid holidays? The fact is the TWU has kept us divided, divided as a union and along with the IAM and other unions divided as an industry.
One of the reasons why fixing the TWU is such a hopeless proposition is that its leaders still think they they are doing everything right and that its always either the members, the AFL-CIO or AMFA thats at fault. Your statement here only reinforces that.
As far as your claim that AMFA supporters only cite the TWUs faults and do not push AMFA virtues you obviously only see what you want. AMFA supporters frequently cite AMFA Industry Leading contract at NWA which was considerbly more than the IAM had brought back just prior to getting replaced by AMFA. They frequently cite the democratic principles of recall and direct elections. They frequently cite the goal of AMFA to unite all the mechanics in one union. The fact is they lay it out for you but apparently you need to be spoon fed.