- Sep 30, 2003
- 3,997
- 898
On 12/20/04, a Dallas Morning News article titled "Airline Industry's Rough Ride May Have Toppled Labor Groups" quoted Do-little in his legendary and infamous twu fog.
You must register and pay for articles, so I have no link to the whole article.
Here is some exerps of the twu ATD leaders delusions along with some so called experts:
Jim little, head of the air transport division for the Transport Workers Union, which represents 30,000 ground workers at American Airlines Inc., disputed the notion of airline labor in an industrywide crisis.
"We're all in different positions because each carrier is in a different place," he said. "But I don't think even Nostradomus could tell what the industry's going to look like even a few months from now."
"The good times are over," said Neil N. Bernstein, a law professor and airline labor expert at Washington University in St. Louis. "They are not coming back."
"What's surprising about this is that it's taken so long to play out." said Alan Bender, and associate professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
In fact, with airline jobs being stripped of perks, pay and prestige, the carriers and their unions may find themselves with a whole new problem: Attrition.
"There are proposals being floated under the table now for mechanic wages that would make them better off at a Chevy dealership than at US Airways," said Robert Mann, as consultant who has worked with Americans pilots.
"These airlines could be looking at a situation where people are going to be resigning faster that they can be replaced," he said.
Since deregulation, labor unions have enjoyed the benifits of "pattern bargaining."
One union would reach a new contract at one airline, which would then become the minimum wage and benefit level for the next contract at subsequent airlines, a strategy called "jacking up the house".
Now the house is falling down, and fast. Each concession deal sets a new lower wage and benefit target for the next airline.
"Its never been more bleak than it is right now," said Mr. Bender of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
The Transport Workers Union has a team working on new approaches to collective bargaining and continues to explore pension alternatives in concert with other American unions.
Mr. Little of the TWU said he's seen some encouraging results in how American has created a new collaborative relationship with its unions, the he remains cautious about the approach.
The new relationship with labor at American "is a very fragile commodity," Mr. Hunter said. "The analogy I use is walking out on thin ice together." "The ice is thinner in some spots than others."
Low cost, low fare carriers such as Jetblue Airways Inc. present a golden opportunity to organize new members for large unions that are seeing
declining dues revenue at traditional airlines.
"Its just a matter of timing," said Mr. Little, adding that representation drives are active at low cost carriers.
The relatively small Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association has quickly become a force among major airline mechanics, but its not affiliated with the broader AFL-CIO umbrella.
Instead, its poaching mechanics from big AFL-CIO unions, and nearly won an election for mechanics at American this year.
The new flight attendants union at Northwest is also unaffiliated, and the rise of non-AFL-CIO unions may weaken the labor coalition.
The barrage of concessions has made many unions vulnerable to membership raids.
"They just have to take the time ot convince their people that what they did had to be done," Mr. Bernstein said. "Thats not easy."
At American, labor leaders continue to work with management and discuss what's happening at other airlines. So far, the airline hasn't begun talks about more concessions or changes to employee pension plans.
"I think everybody's a little worried," Mr. Little said. We have to try to protect their investments they made when they took the jobs, which is where the airline promised longevity and security."
Apparently Do-little isn't worried about the crisis the twu membership finds itself in, the industry leading concessions did not affect him, his $200,000 salary, or his permenant job for life in the twu International. If Nostradomus where here to make a prediction about the twu, I think he would be quite correct in saying the twu will sellout again as long as the dues flow continues, like they have since 1983. Concessions are nothing new to the twu, and as long as the twu International has unaccountable leaders in bed with AA management, the membership will continue to suffer.
In the article, the Dallas News writer uses the word "poach" when refering to the fact that the twu, iam, ibt have lost mechanics to AMFA. He must have been coached by Do-little or the afl-cio to state this falsehood. Any mechanic not blinded or intimidated by the afl-cio unions will dispute for the record the AMFA movement has no paid organizers, this is the memberships only way of change in the dictatorships that describe the afl-cio unions. Those in the AMFA drive at AA and other carriers have spent countless hours, and their own money promoting AMFA because it is the only hope we have to save this profession that has been dumbed down by the industrial "catch all" unions, In addition, if the twu, iam, ibt did the job they are paid for and listened to the dues paying members, most likely the AMFA would not exist, let alone be as strong as it has become. The rise of non-afl-cio unions will not weaken the labor coalition, they have been weak for years in the case of the twu. This is one reason the AA flight attendants left the twu. The case of the flight attendants at NWA is a perfect example of how the afl-cio will do anything it can to suppress change. The industrail unions fail to see this as a major reason they are being ousted. NWA mechanics and now F/A's have a non-afl-cio unions. Intimidation and threats don't work anymore. Get it?
Do-little then states: "I think everybody's a little worried." Well, no kidding jim, everybody but you that is. Such a profound statement this is jim. When your in control of our future, yes we are very worried. Laughably, Do-little then says "representation drives are active at low cost carriers." Please jim, stop fooling yourself, there are no card drives for the twu that will go anywhere. There is no one in their right mind that would have the twu as a bargaining agent. Everyone thats still breathing in the aircraft mechanic profession has witnessed the twu's distruction of the profession first hand. Are you saying you have the twu International organizer/felon kirk wells giving a presentation to Jetblue Airways mechanics on the benefits of the twu? Please stop, I have soda coming out my nose from the laughter. Face it Do-little, your reign as the "Twu Aircraft Mechanic Sellout Kings" is over. Your union is dying and you can't stop it. Face it....BELIEVE IT.....its finished, for the twu and the Aircraft Mechanic Profession.
You must register and pay for articles, so I have no link to the whole article.
Here is some exerps of the twu ATD leaders delusions along with some so called experts:
Jim little, head of the air transport division for the Transport Workers Union, which represents 30,000 ground workers at American Airlines Inc., disputed the notion of airline labor in an industrywide crisis.
"We're all in different positions because each carrier is in a different place," he said. "But I don't think even Nostradomus could tell what the industry's going to look like even a few months from now."
"The good times are over," said Neil N. Bernstein, a law professor and airline labor expert at Washington University in St. Louis. "They are not coming back."
"What's surprising about this is that it's taken so long to play out." said Alan Bender, and associate professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
In fact, with airline jobs being stripped of perks, pay and prestige, the carriers and their unions may find themselves with a whole new problem: Attrition.
"There are proposals being floated under the table now for mechanic wages that would make them better off at a Chevy dealership than at US Airways," said Robert Mann, as consultant who has worked with Americans pilots.
"These airlines could be looking at a situation where people are going to be resigning faster that they can be replaced," he said.
Since deregulation, labor unions have enjoyed the benifits of "pattern bargaining."
One union would reach a new contract at one airline, which would then become the minimum wage and benefit level for the next contract at subsequent airlines, a strategy called "jacking up the house".
Now the house is falling down, and fast. Each concession deal sets a new lower wage and benefit target for the next airline.
"Its never been more bleak than it is right now," said Mr. Bender of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
The Transport Workers Union has a team working on new approaches to collective bargaining and continues to explore pension alternatives in concert with other American unions.
Mr. Little of the TWU said he's seen some encouraging results in how American has created a new collaborative relationship with its unions, the he remains cautious about the approach.
The new relationship with labor at American "is a very fragile commodity," Mr. Hunter said. "The analogy I use is walking out on thin ice together." "The ice is thinner in some spots than others."
Low cost, low fare carriers such as Jetblue Airways Inc. present a golden opportunity to organize new members for large unions that are seeing
declining dues revenue at traditional airlines.
"Its just a matter of timing," said Mr. Little, adding that representation drives are active at low cost carriers.
The relatively small Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association has quickly become a force among major airline mechanics, but its not affiliated with the broader AFL-CIO umbrella.
Instead, its poaching mechanics from big AFL-CIO unions, and nearly won an election for mechanics at American this year.
The new flight attendants union at Northwest is also unaffiliated, and the rise of non-AFL-CIO unions may weaken the labor coalition.
The barrage of concessions has made many unions vulnerable to membership raids.
"They just have to take the time ot convince their people that what they did had to be done," Mr. Bernstein said. "Thats not easy."
At American, labor leaders continue to work with management and discuss what's happening at other airlines. So far, the airline hasn't begun talks about more concessions or changes to employee pension plans.
"I think everybody's a little worried," Mr. Little said. We have to try to protect their investments they made when they took the jobs, which is where the airline promised longevity and security."
Apparently Do-little isn't worried about the crisis the twu membership finds itself in, the industry leading concessions did not affect him, his $200,000 salary, or his permenant job for life in the twu International. If Nostradomus where here to make a prediction about the twu, I think he would be quite correct in saying the twu will sellout again as long as the dues flow continues, like they have since 1983. Concessions are nothing new to the twu, and as long as the twu International has unaccountable leaders in bed with AA management, the membership will continue to suffer.
In the article, the Dallas News writer uses the word "poach" when refering to the fact that the twu, iam, ibt have lost mechanics to AMFA. He must have been coached by Do-little or the afl-cio to state this falsehood. Any mechanic not blinded or intimidated by the afl-cio unions will dispute for the record the AMFA movement has no paid organizers, this is the memberships only way of change in the dictatorships that describe the afl-cio unions. Those in the AMFA drive at AA and other carriers have spent countless hours, and their own money promoting AMFA because it is the only hope we have to save this profession that has been dumbed down by the industrial "catch all" unions, In addition, if the twu, iam, ibt did the job they are paid for and listened to the dues paying members, most likely the AMFA would not exist, let alone be as strong as it has become. The rise of non-afl-cio unions will not weaken the labor coalition, they have been weak for years in the case of the twu. This is one reason the AA flight attendants left the twu. The case of the flight attendants at NWA is a perfect example of how the afl-cio will do anything it can to suppress change. The industrail unions fail to see this as a major reason they are being ousted. NWA mechanics and now F/A's have a non-afl-cio unions. Intimidation and threats don't work anymore. Get it?
Do-little then states: "I think everybody's a little worried." Well, no kidding jim, everybody but you that is. Such a profound statement this is jim. When your in control of our future, yes we are very worried. Laughably, Do-little then says "representation drives are active at low cost carriers." Please jim, stop fooling yourself, there are no card drives for the twu that will go anywhere. There is no one in their right mind that would have the twu as a bargaining agent. Everyone thats still breathing in the aircraft mechanic profession has witnessed the twu's distruction of the profession first hand. Are you saying you have the twu International organizer/felon kirk wells giving a presentation to Jetblue Airways mechanics on the benefits of the twu? Please stop, I have soda coming out my nose from the laughter. Face it Do-little, your reign as the "Twu Aircraft Mechanic Sellout Kings" is over. Your union is dying and you can't stop it. Face it....BELIEVE IT.....its finished, for the twu and the Aircraft Mechanic Profession.
