CWA as a Union

[Doc]

Sorry if this is a topic that has been beaten to death before on this forum.

Are there any agents represented by the CWA here that would care to comment on how CWA is a representing them?

Any input would be appreciated and feel free to send a private PM if you don't want to post.

Thanks bunches!
WNP

Take a look at their news letter that comes out. There is never anything about U.
Gave away our snap back for 1 dollar negotiated pay changes without a vote. I could go on but what does it matter.

 

[john john]

I hate the fact that CWA bargain away scope with the small and medium station (two jets a day, 4 jets a day newly opened cities, unlimited seasonally flights not to exceed 4 months of continuous flying in a year. And now we are going to be harm by CWA giving up the ticket lift position to the flight attendants. I hope CWA represents the small and medium station and not sell them out for the good of protecting as many select jobs as possible.

 

[Hello Newman]

HEY JOHN JOHN.....
ANSWER ME THIS...THE IAM LEADERSHIP AT LEAST INCLUDED FLEET SERVICE IN THEIR UNION PENSION PLAN SO AT LEAST THE MEMBERSHIP HAD SOMETHING FOR THE FUTURE. SO WHAY HASNT THE CWA DONE THE SAME? LETS GO BACK TO THAT CLASSIC TV SHOW OF THE LATE 60'S HOGANS HEROES. REMEMBER WHEN GEN BURKHALTER WOULD SHOW UP AT STALAG 13 AND COL KLINK WOULD TURN INTO A CRINGING COWARD, AND BURKHALTER WOULD REPLY "SHUT UP KLINK". WELL THATS HOW I VISUALIZE THE CWA VS US MGMNT. WITH THE CWA OF COURSE BEING COL KLINK. LIKE MY PARISH PRIEST SAID TO ME "TOO BAD YOU DON'T HAVE A UNION"

 

[john john]

HEY JOHN JOHN.....
ANSWER ME THIS...THE IAM LEADERSHIP AT LEAST INCLUDED FLEET SERVICE IN THEIR UNION PENSION PLAN . SO WHAY HASNT THE CWA DONE THE SAME?

That is easy because the IAM is not in your station working the ramp. Every negotiated article has a price. The price that allows express stations to have mainline employees and the price to not outsource small and medium station.HOGANS HEROES never watch that show much.

 

[WingNaPrayer]

We Are the Union, The Union is NOT a 3rd Party....etc.

Obviously there are some issues. I've read the propaganda you cross posted from their website. Those postings were put up in May, and it was the first time in over two years that the CWA even bothered to touch the website for 6001.

AA Agents desperately need representation, but the CWA is doing nothing to bolster membership. . . nothing. This seems to be why agents are complaining. I personally spoke with one of the guys at the ticket counter that was behind that recent surge in membership, and he reports that he has had 38 requests in the past couple of weeks asking how to stop union dues from being taken out of their bank accounts.

I realize that the Union itself (CWA) can't do a damn thing without the Agents. The Agents themselves have to do for themselves. But, in the very least, the union (CWA) should be actively pushing these people for membership, so a hundred agents in MIA don't feel like they are paying to run the show.

There are AA Agents in Chicago (most of them in fact) who have no clue who the CWA is, or that there is even an active union/drive.

Here is a direct email quote for you John:

"I tried to reach the union office in Texas 6 times this week. When I finally got someone to answer, he apologized saying he had been tied up at Comcast hearings. I give up. I am not paying union dues so our rep can spend his time on Comcast business."

So obviously not everyone is happy. CWA would be better than nothing right now if they would just get out there and sign people up, but they don't seem to be doing anything with membership.

There is an informal get-together next week of some of the MIA Agents who are members, and expecting answers, and although I can't get up there to attend, I intend to recommend that they all read this board.

 

[REACC1]

Please realize that the european model for unions is the only way to go these days. ONE UNION covers ALL airport functions.
It is not just for YOU. IT IS FOR THE BENIFIT FOR ALL.
It's not just Me and them. It is everyone in the industry.
Not ramp and cs, or mtc, it covers everyone.
Strength in numbers. Every one togather is strength. Apart, it is where we are weak. They know this.

 

[WingNaPrayer]

Please realize that the european model for unions is the only way to go these days. ONE UNION covers ALL airport functions.

I like that! I also agree. Too often a handful of unions in the same company end up battling each other instead of standing for each other. AA has a definite weakness when it comes to being team players. Sometimes it seems like they all hate each other - just the way corporate like it.

Animosity - the key to divide & conquer!

I kind of get the feeling things aren't much different at US

 

[Hello Newman]

I'M SURE THE CWA MUST HAVE A PENSION PLAN FOR THEIR MEMBERSHIP...SO WHY ARENT WE IN IT?

 

[john john]

Obviously there are some issues.

AA Agents desperately need representation,

American Airlines Agents Come Close in Union Vote, CWA to File Objections Over Management Tactics
December 15, 1998

The Communications Workers of America will immediately file objections with the National Mediation Board over the illegal actions American Airlines management carried out during the drive by agents to win union representation.

Despite falling short this time in the election balloting, AA employees are determined to continue their fight for a real voice at their airline and the right to join their colleagues at the bargaining table. Nearly 5,800 agents voted for union representation.

"For more than year, we've worked hard to build a strong nationwide organization and to demonstrate to our co-workers that we can win the respect we deserve from our employer. As agents, and the only non-union group at AA, we know the only way we'll get that respect is through representation. We came closer this time than ever before, and I know that with CWA, we'll reach our goal," said XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, a Miami agent.

The vote count indicated that about 41 percent of the agents voted for union representation. Under the Railway Labor Act, more than a majority of the workers in the unit must cast votes in order for the election to be valid; anyone not returning a ballot- for any reason- is counted as a "no" vote. The number of agents at American Airlines eligible to vote in this election was 14,177.

Under the labor laws that govern most private industry workers, AA employees would have won their seat at the bargaining table, said Larry Cohen, CWA executive vice president and organizing director. The RLA also requires a standard for election that, if used in our national political elections, would mean that very few officials, including our president, could be voted into office, he noted.

American Airlines ran an aggressive, anti-union campaign, orchestrated by one of the nation's leading union-busting law firms. CWA said that the airline committed numerous illegal actions during the campaign, and will be filing formal objections with the NMB. "We believe that agents should have the opportunity to cast their votes in a fair election and we'll be with them all the way," Cohen said.
CWA Will Continue Helping American Airlines Passenger Service Agents Win Union Representation: Workers and Union Disappointed at Denial of Rerun Vote
August 12, 1999

The Communications Workers of America will continue assisting American Airlines passenger service agents in their drive to unionize despite today's ruling by the National Mediation Board denying CWA's request for an immediate rerun election based on abuses by airline management during a previous representation election late last year.

We're going to stand with these thousands of passenger agents and over the next year help them build an even stronger organization to represent their interests and to eventually prevail in a representation vote," stated CWA President Morton Bahr.

CWA had petitioned for an expedited rerun of an election tallied last December 15, charging that American Airlines management engaged in coercion and intimidation of workers, denial of union access to traditional employee forums, and other violations of the Railway Labor Act, which governs the transportation industry.

About 41 percent of the agents, or nearly 5,800 employees, voted for union representation, however under the Railway Labor Act, more than 50 percent of all employees in the bargaining unit must cast ballots in order for an election to be valid. (For private sector workers under the National Labor Relations Act, by contrast, only
a majority of those voting must cast ballots for the union in order to win representation.)

The board's decision today is "a big disappointment to CWA and to all the activists at American who are determined to have a voice at the airline just like all the other employee groups," said CWA Executive Vice President Larry Cohen, who directs CWA's organizing program. "It's a travesty to let airline management get off scot free after violating the workers' rights and subjecting them to a virulent anti-union propaganda campaign," he said. "This ruling will make our activist core more committed than ever to building a union at American."
American Eagle Agents To Vote on Joining CWA
CWA Calls for New Election at American; Filing Cites Interference, Harassment of Supporters

February 1, 1999

Coercion, intimidation of CWA supporters and "virulent anti-union propaganda" were just some of the illegal tactics American Airlines used to counter the drive by agents to win CWA representation. CWA has outlined objections to management's actions to the National Mediation Board. The NMB now is reviewing the evidence and will determine what penalties should be assessed.

American Airlines ran an aggressive, anti-union campaign, orchestrated by one of the nation's leading union-busting law firms. Despite harassment and hostility, union supporters are continuing to fight for representation and for a seat at the bargaining table with the other major employee groups.

The Dec. 15 vote count showed that about 41 percent of the agents, or nearly 5,800 employees, voted for union representation. But under the Railway Labor Act - the law covering workers in airlines, railroads and other transportation industries - more than a majority of the workers in the unit must vote in order for the election to be valid; anyone not returning a ballot - for any reason - is counted as a "no" vote. Unlike the labor law governing most private sector workers, union supporters aren't able to freely communicate with workers and don't have access to home addresses.

"AA management violated the Board's rules by launching a fierce and systematic campaign designed to thwart its employees' organization efforts," CWA told the NMB, citing several serious violations of labor law. These included surveillance and harassment of CWA supporters; staging of anti-union events and distribution of anti-union materials while union supporters were denied access and told to remove pro-union materials; and knowing and repeated misrepresentations of fact. AA supervisors and the actors in the company's videotape even recommended that workers "tear their ballots up," an action the NMB objected to in an earlier organizing campaign at US Airways. Among the charges:



Reservations agents who contributed their opinions to the CWA Agent newsletter were interrogated and intimidated by an AA consultant.


Agents who were seen talking with CWA organizers during their breaks or off-duty hours were approached, warned and monitored by supervisors.


AA management told employees it was closely monitoring pro-union employees and that the carrier 'will know who voted for the union.'


Distribution of anti-CWA materials by AA management, and discriminatory enforcement of the "no solicitation" rule.

AA employees are determined to continue their fight for representation, despite falling short this time in the election balloting, union supporters insist. The other major employee groups at American - pilots, flight attendants and fleet service workers - and their unions have enthusiastically backed agents' efforts to win a CWA voice. "We know that agents should have the opportunity to cast their votes in a fair election and we'll be with them all the way," said Larry Cohen, CWA executive vice president and organizing director.

"AA employees would have won their seat at the bargaining table under the labor laws that govern most private industry workers," Cohen said, adding, "the RLA requires a standard for election that, if used in our national political elections, would mean that very few officials, including our President, could be voted into office."

August 1, 2001

American Eagle airline agents have the chance to vote this month for CWA representation in an election set by the National Mediation Board.
A majority of the 3,200 passenger services agents petitioned the NMB for an election. Ballots will be mailed Aug. 10 and counted Sept 12.

Under the Railway Labor Act and NMB rules, which govern labor relations in the transportation industries, slightly more than half the unit must cast ballots for CWA for the election to be valid. Anyone not voting is counted as a “noâ€￾ vote.

CWA organizers are working with the Eagle organizing committee to build support at airports nationwide and in Puerto Rico, CWA Executive Vice President Larry Cohen said.

Major issues for Eagle agents include:

A fair pay system, with built-in pay progression steps, based on seniority.

Consistent policies and work rules that are applied fairly and equally to all.

An end to second class treatment in health care, 401(k) plan and other benefits.

Career flexibility and opportunity for advancement, especially for openings at the parent company, American Airlines.
Agents are the only employee group at Eagle without union representation. Eligible to vote in the election are passenger service, lead, station and baggage service agents; ramp escorts; bus drivers; support reps and employees in operations planning.

In a national survey of American Eagle agents in May, 92 percent said Eagle agents should be treated more fairly and be giventhe same benefits as their counterparts at American Airlines, who work for the same corporation.

In a separate campaign at American Airlines, support is building for CWA, with thousands signing authorization cards.

CWA President Morton Bahr is urging members to stop by American Eagle and American Airlines operations when traveling over the summer season, and let agents know CWA is the right choice for customer service professionals.

Vote Count at Eagle Falls Short

October 1, 2001

American Eagle agents fell short of winning CWA representation in their first election conducted by the National Mediation Board. Voting for CWA representation were 1,106 agents out of a unit of 2,962 eligible employees. Votes were counted at NMB headquarters Sept. 12, in Washington, D.C.
Under NMB rules, more than a majority of workers in the unit must cast votes for the election to be valid.

Workers who don’t vote are counted as a “no.â€￾

“This first vote generated a lot of support and was built around the real issues agents are seeking to address at Eagle. We’re very proud of the work so many Eagle agents put into this campaign for a voice at their airline,â€￾ CWA Executive Vice President Larry Cohen said. CWA will continue to work with and support agents in their bid for union representation.

 

[john john]

I'M SURE THE CWA MUST HAVE A PENSION PLAN FOR THEIR MEMBERSHIP...SO WHY ARENT WE IN IT?

http://www.usaviation.com/forums/index.php...AM+pension+fund
Here is ten pages of why and why not

Over here at NW, the current contract offer on the table contains a proviso to freeze our defined pension benefits (for which the multiplier currently is $51/Mo.), and replace it looking forward with the IAM NPP. I was told by a member of the negociating (sp?) committee for this latest contract offer that the multiplier for the NPP will be "roughly $42 a month."

I've said it before on many threads/forums, but I'll say it again; I'll take a 401k match anyday over a DBP.

Someone sent me a PM and asked me to respond to the topic, as a retired US "east' employee. I retired as an F/S agent. I am over 60, not yet 65 yrs old.
I had:
1. Piedmont Pension plan, which was frozen by US and 401k plan started. This plan was turned over to PBGC and I now receive a monthly check from PBGC, luckly in the same amount that it was going to be thru the original Piedmont plan (which indicates that it is not a high amount, as no penalties were applied by the PBGC)
2. US basically froze my 401k plan. That money (the amount I had contributed and the amount US matched), so I have been told, is not available to US as the plan is managed by private company. Not having a 401k plan saves US money by not matching or having to administer the plan(the real question is can you believe what you are told)
3. I became a part of the IAM plan and was in it 2 yrs before retiring. I receive a check from them each month for approx $120. (I think the $ amount in a previous post is about correct for both full time and part time.... you can do the math for yourself)
.
I was asked which I would perfer. My choice would be 401k, because the employee decides where to invest his/her money...especially if there is any company match. (you can make $ or lose $....monitor quarterly reports you receive and change to something else if your stock/etc is habitually losing $). BUT for a 401k to produce any $ at all....THE EMPLOYEE MUST CONTRIBUTE TO IT. If you don't, you have no retirement. At low wages, I fear that people have no extra cash they think they can put aside for the future, as it takes all you make to get ends to met now. If memory serves me corr, participation in IAM plan is not optional...nor do you have a choice how the money is invested. However; at least with it not being an optional contribution, employees are forced to set aside some money that hopefully will be there for the employee at retirement. I have no idea what happens if IAM is booted out and you are still an active employee, nor do I know what happens if the union itself should cease to exist.




The CWA/ITU Negotiated Pension Plan(NPP) is a large,
attractive pension plan that is available to any bargaining
unit of CWA looking for a good pension program.
It is a multi-employer, defined benefit plan which offers
rich pension, death, disability and withdrawal benefits,
along with tax advantages and security. Being a defined
benefit plan, the NPP offers a lifetime pension - this is
extremely important because it means pensioners do not
outlive their retirement savings.
http://www.cwaitu.com/
Here is the information call your local
ANSWER ME THIS
how many mainline do you have at your station

 

[WingNaPrayer]

American Airlines Agents Come Close in Union Vote, CWA to File Objections Over Management Tactics
December 15, 1998

So it's been what, nine years since anything has been done? They loose and they whine to NMB AFTER the fact, instead of while it's happening.

Your cut/paste of CWAs website news articles kind of shows that they are just sitting back on their bruised egos and doing nothing more. In the meantime, they have lost more than half of their membership, much more.

Instead of sitting back and waiting for new members to come looking for them, they should be actively pursuing membership, but they aren't. It appears that they are sitting back, waiting for the rules to change (which is in the process, and I hope they do).

 

[john john]

Organizing cost due paying members a lot of money. Why didn’t the original vote pass? And what would make any difference now? Organizing under the NBM/railway labor act is a long and difficult process it took USAirway passenger service agents 10 years. It took fleet service 10 years as well. Have you ever been involved in an airline union organizing campaign from start to finishes? Organizing is one of CWA leadership top priorities. AA has had to major union votes in the passengers group each time the agents did not have enough votes.

 

[deltawatch]

Does the Chinese labor force have unions .... need I say more. Do you want to work for half what you're worth. That's what will happen with out them. Out-law unions and see where the money flows ..... won't be to you.

Unionized work groups at one carrier are why non-unionized works at another make what they do.

 

[tadjr]

And now we are going to be harm by CWA giving up the ticket lift position to the flight attendants.

How is this going to happen with all flights at minimum staffing to begin with? No flight attendant is going to be able to be off the plane while boarding pulling tickets. This isnt like the old days with the "extra" FA onboard so one could pull tickets and there'd still be the minimum required for boarding on the plane. I dont think the company is going to overstaff the crews just so they can replace an agent with a FA for boarding.

 

[Kev3188]

http://www.usaviation.com/forums/index.php...AM+pension+fund
Here is ten pages of why and why not

Over here at NW, the current contract offer on the table contains a proviso to freeze our defined pension benefits (for which the multiplier currently is $51/Mo.), and replace it looking forward with the IAM NPP. I was told by a member of the negociating (sp?) committee for this latest contract offer that the multiplier for the NPP will be "roughly $42 a month."

I've said it before on many threads/forums, but I'll say it again; I'll take a 401k match anyday over a DBP.

I'm pretty sure it was me that made the above quoted statement...FWIW, Ramp and Customer service agents at NWA will be getting $36.94/monthly from the IAM NPP. The "months of service" ( regardless of when you hired on) started in June of this year.