Jester,
Apathy, or the lack of passion, for the union has been central to our inherent lack of solidarity. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Until we learn from history we are destined to repeat it. We need to find a resolution that moves all of us forward. A concept, that has not been achieved, for the past 15 years. Until all of us can "get on the same page" as to what is best for the membership we, as a group, will ultimately fail.
I couldn't have said it any better. But it's not a horizontal problem with the members, it's a vertical problem with the leadership. Horizontal apathy is just a symptom of the vertical problem.
The main reason for apathy and disinterest in the union is that the Collective bargaining agent has treated US AIRWAYS fleet as second best and there is NO RELATIONSHIP that cultivates any interest. That is intended by the Collective bargaining agent to keep everyone in the dark and divided and scattered. If the masses are muzzled, blindfolded, not given any knowledge and are fenced in, then the present apathy is the exact sorta thing we would expect. The result of that problem is that in about 4 or 5 more years the masses will get a 'take it or leave it' contract, and the contract will be sold with fear and 'gloom and doom'. That's how it goes.
Our members, i.e., the ones that have stayed involved, have to carefully review how the New Direction has screwed over HAL, and UAL, and just screwed over BUF by supporting the continual lockout up there.
Most significantly, is for our members to become aware of how the New Direction screwed over UA ramp in the UA/CO merger. To be sure, all of YOUR AGC"s have supported each action and do NOT have the backs of their members on these decisions that affect all of you.
Delaney insisted that he would finish a UA ramp contract first, like the IBT did for the UAL MX, before he agreed with management to enter transition talks. Less than 30 days after the IAM/IBT election, he abolished those talks, lied to the members, and went into transitions where management proceeded to offer even less. The same approach at US AIRWAYS, presuming a AMR merger, would mean no pay raises for several years [after the little 2% raise in July]. All the while, dues goes up and up again as the airlines make millions and billions of dollars but no raise for IAM members!
Management is management, but it isn't going to just hand over a fair contract. A fair contract has to be taken by the members and that is NOT going to happen with how the union does business with its members. The only possible solution is the Occupy 141 platform which incorporates how other unions do business and is also incorporates socialization techniques from the academic side that have been incredibly successful for labor. Management has all of you in lower middle class right now and the Collective bargaining agent has no problem keeping the status quo as long as it can keep upping the dues and not taking care of you and your families.
It's a lot more than having 'big balls'. Until then, there will be nothing to stop management from just doing what it wants to do and saying "Can't do this" "Wont do that". NOTHING. Bottom line. What the hell juice is there at a wooden table if the leaders of this union haven't engaged the masses and did the sorta things that are spelled out in the Occupy 141 platform? It's a mouse's wheel where incompetence goes around and around. And there are a few Local Chairman and good ole boys who don't seem to grasp that fairly simple concept. The fate of a leading contract will be in the balance of
www.occupyiam141.com