Decision 2004 said:
So the,
Allied Pilots ASSOCIATION (AA Pilots)
and the
ASSOCIATION of Professional Flight Attendants (AA Flight Attendants)
they have it all wrong, and should join the TWU and give you some of their pay and benefits? That's BS, their existence a track record prove that craft UNION philosophy is superior to industrial unionism. The Flight Attendants of AA used to be TWU, they left and I dont see them begging to return to give you a better deal. Both of these groups have either struck or attempted to strike AA in ther recent past while the TWU has given away the farm.
Feel free to start a card drive to get them to join your worthless union, there is NO PROHIBITION from those craft or classes joining the TWU, the NMB just wont let you vote on the issue of them joining.
The International Association of Machinist, Fraternal Order of Police, International Brotherhood of Electricians, and so on, should join the TWU and give up their skill and worth to save your sorry ass from capitalism? Get a freakin clue!
You are total disgrace to the Machinist skil and are nothing more than a boat anchor to Machinist that work as Aircraft Maintenance Technicians holding close tolerances and strict manual requiements. Why don't you go work for a sweat-shop where you belong working on oil rig equipment?
I think if HSS checked the makeup of the AFL-CIO he would find that more "labor organizations" call themselves something other than "union".
NEA, IBT,AFSCME,IAM,IBEW,AFT,United Steelworkers of America,United Brotherhoood of Carpenters, CWA,NALC,United Association of Journeytmen of the Plumbing and Pipe Industry. IAFF, UNITE,AFGE,AACSE, UMW, BCTW are all labor organizations, unions in other words, who do not have the word Union in their titles but are all larger than the TWU.
Collectively these organizations represent over 7 million union members.
However is seems that according to HSS none of these people are "union members ".
I do think however there is confusion as to the political beliefs of our leaders. They may be totalitarian, they may even spew some leftish rhetoric, but they are strictly bottom line. $$$$$$$$$. As far as they are concerned the members are a commodity used to provide them with wealth much the same way a corporation is there to provide the shareholders wealth.
With the TWU all the talk of "membership" is pure rhetoric. The "membership" has no control over the organization. They can not choose the top representatives where all the power of the union lies. The TWU often makes claims and lies to the members to hide the truth about the organization. I'll go though a few of the lies that the TWU puts forth.
LIE # 1.
"The members have the right to vote on contracts, its written in the Constitution."
Despite the language we do not have this right. The TWU argued in court, citing other cases where Unions were allowed to impose contracts without a vote, that the language guaranteeing our right to vote is open to interpretation by the International. The TWU testified that that language only applies to completely new contracts, not amended contracts. Since under the RLA contracts are only amendable under most conditions then as long as the members who were on payroll back in the 1940s got to vote on the first "completely new" contract, the TWU has satified that Constitutional right to "the members".
LIE #2
"You dont need to vote for the International Officers who represent the TWU to the company because the Presidents council has control over everything they do."
The fact is that the Presidents council has no Constitutional, enforcable decision making powers. Basically its a fascade, it exists to make the members, and many Presidents, feel that they really have some input. Over the years the International has gotten very good at ensuring that the council eventually comes to the conclusion that the International desires. However back in 1999 the International did not get its way. The International wanted seperate Locals. The Presidents could not be swayed, so Sonny imposed it on them. I'm told that ORD President Joy Calloway cursed out Sonny Hall. In retaliation Sonny Hall illegally interfered in the next election at ORD and may have had a hand in the termination of another ORD Local union official. They sued, and both reportedly walked away with out of court settlements.
Sonnys vindicive heavy handedness has cost Union members money. Depite losing lawsuits, being convicted of violating members rights and costly out of court settlements Sonny has not changed his ways. He is being sued for various transgressions against the former militant Local 501 board. Some of whom were terminated during an election in what appears to be a case of company-union collusion to rid Sonny Hall of rivals. Several of those victimized by this apparent conspiracy ran against Sonny Hall in the last Convention. I nominated one of thoose officers, Jack Sullivan to run against John Kerrigan who also had a part in my removal.
Faced with the examples of Joy Calloway, Local 234(where Sonny interfered with elections), the officers of Local 501, and the officers of Local 562, all vocal opponents of Sonny Hall, who were subsequently removed by Sonny Hall, any President who opposes Sonny does so at the risk of at the very least removal from office, a significant pay cut and possible termination from the company.
The fact is the Presidents have no power. According to the International, their oath dictates that all local officers must put the Internationals interests ahead of the members. This was clearly stated by the International in the document they sent to me describing their reasons for removing me from office.
LIE #3
"The Locals are autonomous."
While they may be "on their own" they most certainly are not self governing or independant of the laws of another. The laws of the local, in other words the bylaws are subject to the approval of the International. If you can not make your own rules, if another body determines what rules you can have, then you are not autonomous.
Several of the previuos examples, Joy Calloway, Local 501 and Local 562 all reveal how "autonomous" the locals are. Once again, this brings us back to Sonny Halls interpretation of the Oath of office.An oath that according to the International pledges Loyalty to the International ahead of the members.
I think thats enough for now. Anyone care to challenge with facts and examples anything I've said so far? Be back in a couple of days.
35 PM
