Expect to give back more...............not less

[Barfbag]

Just heard from one of my friends working at the IAM ( international ), that he's among 80 people slated to be canned, next week.

Less member dues coming in = more layoffs = less leverage at negotiations

How's the TWU and others at AA doing?

 

[Rogallo]

Once the new concessionary contract is signed, they will probably award themselves with a bonus and payraise.

 

[The Goose]

Just heard from one of my friends working at the IAM ( international ), that he's among 80 people slated to be canned, next week.

Less member dues coming in = more layoffs = less leverage at negotiations

How's the TWU and others at AA doing?

The TWU is working overtime in hopes of selling out their membership again - keep employment high via give-backs to the company and keeping the dues coming in so the International needn't do any belt tightening.

What "leverage" might you be referring to? Thankfully, many who believed in the TWU for years are now seeing the SOBs for what they really are - even some I never thought would cross the aisle.

As a group of workers, I believe we'd be better off without them.

 

[Bob Owens]

The TWU is working overtime in hopes of selling out their membership again - keep employment high via give-backs to the company and keeping the dues coming in so the International needn't do any belt tightening.

What "leverage" might you be referring to? Thankfully, many who believed in the TWU for years are now seeing the SOBs for what they really are - even some I never thought would cross the aisle.

As a group of workers, I believe we'd be better off without them.

I have to admit when you consider that AA,s non-union employees enjoy more holidays, paid vacation and sick time it makes debating that much harder.

 

[FA Mikey]

Less member dues coming in = more layoffs = less leverage at negotiations

Size isnt everything. Small independent unions have negotiated and won good contracts for there members.

 

[Hopeful]

Size isnt everything. Small independent unions have negotiated and won good contracts for there members.

You could not have said it better. Look at the TWU and their "strength in numbers" philosophy.

They gave us the Industry Losing Contract of the century.

 

[The Goose]

You could not have said it better. Look at the TWU and their "strength in numbers" philosophy.

They gave us the Industry Losing Contract of the century.

"Strength in Numbers" is a fine philosophy, having been proven effective many times over many years, but - in order for it to work, the "leadership" of said numbers can't be on the take and in bed with the enemy as is the TWU International.

A certain amount of character is also required to resist the "offers" and outright threats no doubt coming from the International level to local officers getting them to fall into lockstep and betraying the trust of the membership that elected them.

 

[enough already]

I wish they would just go ahead and tell us what deal they've already cut so the sheep in Tulsa can blindly pass it and we can go on with our lives and our 2 other jobs..... 😱

 

[FWAAA]

Here's a union rejecting more concessions despite the union management campaigning for them:

The Louisville local is so important that UAW President Ron Gettelfinger campaigned for the agreement there last weekend. He started his career at the local, which represents workers at the Kentucky Truck and Louisville Assembly plants. Both plants have received assurances of future work from the company.

<snip>

Gettelfinger has said that the deal saves 7,000 union jobs with new product commitments at several assembly plants that also will help factories that make auto components.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Two-more-UAW...set=&ccode=

 

[Boomer]

Here's a union rejecting more concessions despite the union management campaigning for them:

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Two-more-UAW...set=&ccode=

"...At meetings held to explain the deal, workers objected to a limit on the right to strike and questioned why Ford was seeking further changes now when the union already changed the contract once in February, Comito said. Workers also approved a new contract with concessions in 2007, and made health care concessions in 2005..."

The M&R TWU Union Workforce made the concessions in 2003 that only now are being asked of the UAW Ford Employees. Given the losses in employment and the announced reductions in staffing and closure of overhaul bases: why would the TWU NOT seek restoration of the terms and conditions in our contracts.

 

[Bob Owens]

"...At meetings held to explain the deal, workers objected to a limit on the right to strike and questioned why Ford was seeking further changes now when the union already changed the contract once in February, Comito said. Workers also approved a new contract with concessions in 2007, and made health care concessions in 2005..."

The M&R TWU Union Workforce made the concessions in 2003 that only now are being asked of the UAW Ford Employees. Given the losses in employment and the announced reductions in staffing and closure of overhaul bases: why would the TWU NOT seek restoration of the terms and conditions in our contracts.

We each took a 20% paycut, thats grown to around 40% today with inflation and medical increases, the workforce has shrunk by over one third, (exceeding capacity reduction) and revenue has increased by as much as 25%.

Theres a lot more coming in, in fact the revenue this year, while less than it was in 2008 is still historically high. The airline and its proponents like to cite how many employees the company had when they only had 600 airplanes, I'd like to see what their revenue was when they only had 600 airplanes and compare that to what they are bringing now, at the height of a recession!

The fact is the big players, other large corporations, financial institutions and governments have been gorging themselves off the revenue our labor creates and they arent leaving anything left for us. Like lions on a kill we have to be willing to fight for our share. Standing on the sidelines, "Taking the high road" isnt going to get us anywhere. International leaders can afford to take the position of being apologists for the company because they are getting six figure salaries from the union.

 

[JFK Fleet Service]

What was it they told us in '03?

"Concessions or Jobs?"


Fast forward to 2009, they got their concessions and they haven't stopped taking jobs.

5 consecutive quarters of RIF's in the NY1 station and amazingly enough with the November 7th RIF still ongoing there is already talk of the January RIF and one in the Spring as well.


Eventually it will blow up in their faces but we (as always) will be the ones stuck with the butchers bill while they skate off with bankruptcy proof pensions and employment 'agreements'.

 

[Boomer]

Ford Reports $1 Billion Dollar 3Q Profit

Unlike the TWU, the UAW actually conducted a democratic vote by the membership and for the membership.

Unlike the TWU, the UAW was disappointed in the outcome but held to the wishes of the membership.

Unlike the TWU, the UAW observed the democratic norms and has now been vindicated by not forcing concessions on their membership.

This is a repeat of the 1995 contract fiasco: the TWU should simply represent the wishes of the membership to management and let the voters decide. In the meantime, actually make the contractual language on the articles agreed to better than what I obtain when I buy my son a toy from WalMart.

...and, just so you know, I've never owned a Ford vehicle but I am more inclined to buy a new Ford F-150 Crew Cab 4WD to replace my current Dodge Quad-Cab. I will certainly not buy a vehicle from any US Manufacturer that took US Bailouts and then wiped out that investment through bankruptcy unless they make the US taxpayer whole.