We need to keep our sense of humor during this campaign and one of the biggest jokes I've heard over the past six months is that AMFA reduced outsourcing at Northwest Airlines by 62% because it negotiated contract language that gives NWA the green light to outsource 38% of their work. AMFA's delusional theory is that NWA had the potential to farm-out all of its work under the IAM contract (even though NWA didn't). By cutting NWA's theoretical ability to outsource from 100% to 38%, SHAZAMM, AMFA claims to have cut outsourcing by 62%!
What's truely amazing is that AMFA doesn't seem embarrassed by the stupidity of this argument. Here are the facts:
In January 2004, under AMFA, NWA was outsourcing 8 out of 12 "C" Checks, much of it going overseas. This represents a dramatic increase in outsourcing that reflects the shut down of NWA's Atlanta Overhaul base, and job loss for nearly 50% of AMFA's members.
In contrast, under TWU at American Airlines, 100% of the "C" Checks are being done in-house by TWU members. By keeping all three of our maintenance bases open, we have saved thousands of jobs directly at the bases. At the line stations we averting the massive lay offs that would have occurred through bumping if a base had been closed.
Moreover, the TWU is the only union in the industry to win a settlement that states that our SCOPE clause ensures that all "A" Checks, "B" Checks and "C" Checks will be done on U.S. soil by our members with the exception of aircraft that require "A" Checks overseas to safely return home.
Our members aren't stupid. We don't want AMFA's theoretical outsourcing protections that end up putting us on the unemployment line. We want real protections that the TWU has won to secure our jobs.
BTW, I personally don't think AMFA will file with 50% plus 1 cards, but if AMFA squeaks out 50%, our members will stick with the TWU and send AMFA packing.
What's truely amazing is that AMFA doesn't seem embarrassed by the stupidity of this argument. Here are the facts:
In January 2004, under AMFA, NWA was outsourcing 8 out of 12 "C" Checks, much of it going overseas. This represents a dramatic increase in outsourcing that reflects the shut down of NWA's Atlanta Overhaul base, and job loss for nearly 50% of AMFA's members.
In contrast, under TWU at American Airlines, 100% of the "C" Checks are being done in-house by TWU members. By keeping all three of our maintenance bases open, we have saved thousands of jobs directly at the bases. At the line stations we averting the massive lay offs that would have occurred through bumping if a base had been closed.
Moreover, the TWU is the only union in the industry to win a settlement that states that our SCOPE clause ensures that all "A" Checks, "B" Checks and "C" Checks will be done on U.S. soil by our members with the exception of aircraft that require "A" Checks overseas to safely return home.
Our members aren't stupid. We don't want AMFA's theoretical outsourcing protections that end up putting us on the unemployment line. We want real protections that the TWU has won to secure our jobs.
BTW, I personally don't think AMFA will file with 50% plus 1 cards, but if AMFA squeaks out 50%, our members will stick with the TWU and send AMFA packing.
