jersey777
Veteran
- May 24, 2006
- 627
- 73
Even though as a junior f/a I tend to get zero assistance on any subject from the APFA, I am not in the "they haven't done anything for me; so I'm not going to give them an increase in dues" camp. I'm not voting for a dues increase because I have not been given an explanation for the need for a dues increase.
"We are in negotiations; so, we need this dues increase." This is more of a non sequitur than an explanation. It makes about as much sense as "The sun rose this morning; so, we need a dues increase."
What do they intend to do with the increased revenue? Print more useless signs and start up meaningless, totally ineffective campaigns? (See also, Decline/Resign.)
I find it interesting that they (the APFA) want to move the negotiations out of DFW area "to avoid distractions." Where do they want to move them? Puerto Vallarta? Palm Springs? Mid-town Manhattan? What "distractions"?
Call me paranoid and suspicious, but I have a feeling that the dues increase has more to do with paying for expensive hotels in resort areas for the negotiations than anything else? Right now, the negotiators can stay at home at night or in reasonably priced hotels in the DFW area. Why should we increase the cost of the negotiations by moving them to some high-priced locale?
I would be willing to bet that if the company said, "Ok, we'll move the negotiations site to avoid distractions? How about the Holiday Inn-Airport in Birmingham, AL?", the APFA's response would be underwhelming.(BTW, that Holiday Inn is very nice. I just stayed there last weekend. I'm just making a point.)
I think you are right to challenge any dues increase. We should never write a blank check to any entity. With that said, there are many many added expenses with negotiations. Now I have no firsthand knowledge on the exact details but they would start with a huge increase in lawyer and consulatant fees. Add to that trip removals and expenses for all the negotiators. Then you have to consider the very likelihood of inforallys and strike preparations. . Drag this out over a 3 year period...which is very likely and the cost can be staggering.
As far as moving negotiations, this has been done in the past. If I am correct, in the past they have used a hotel near ORD. Yes, suburban Chicago.
On the issue of bagtags, etc....in 1992 and 1993 the union started a pins and wings campaign. Before that time hardly anyone wore their union pin. In fact, we were thought of as the "weak union". But all of a sudden it bacame a real sign of unity that no really felt before. Then the union started a bag tag campaign with the theme of "ready, willing, and able". In unison, the membership changed their bag tags to reflect the changing intensity of the negotiations. If your bag tag was not correct people told you to"turn it around". Now what did all this do? It created a huge sense of comraderie and sign a unity...something we had not really felt before. It not only was a visible sign to the company but was a visible sign to each other. I believe it led directly to the success rate of flight attendants going out on strike in 1993. Since that time, there have been an overabundance of bag tags (decline and resign). However, as things heat up it is my hope that a single and focused sign of unity be proposed by the union.