Sounds as if we need a new leader not a house cleaning. Tim Nelson put together the last group of AGC's. Tim's track record for selections is horrible. I think that our biggest problem over the last 4 years is that the ND took over the District and left no Canale people in place. There were no knowlegeable people left which hurt us right off the bat until the ND learned how to deal with the company and to come up with a strategy. Tim wants to start all over again and that is going to hurt the membership once more while these guys learn the ropes. The Occupy 141 movement will hurt the membership IMO. We need some new leadership and new strategies and from there we can build upon this Union.
Fleet Service apathy
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Sounds as if we need a new leader not a house cleaning. Tim Nelson put together the last group of AGC's. Tim's track record for selections is horrible. I think that our biggest problem over the last 4 years is that the ND took over the District and left no Canale people in place. There were no knowlegeable people left which hurt us right off the bat until the ND learned how to deal with the company and to come up with a strategy. Tim wants to start all over again and that is going to hurt the membership once more while these guys learn the ropes. The Occupy 141 movement will hurt the membership IMO. We need some new leadership and new strategies and from there we can build upon this Union.
ograc
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Starting over, a complete house cleaning, from ground zero seems to have put us, the membership, in neutral for 4 years. There is a price to pay, with the company, when the membership demonstrates a divided and undecisive show of support for their leadership. The lack of solidarity and support of our elected leadership continues to cost us. It's time to change course in the upcoming election. Experienced and knowledgeable candidates should be given serious consideration going forward into the next election.
Tim Nelson
Veteran
The AGC's were fully informed. They rolled on their own.
WHen the INTL wanted me to roll on my people at airtran, I didn't, I fought and moved the INTL's position. Same with the UA ramp campaign. Delaney rolled, and the district was initially left out of the UA ramp campaign but myself and the S/T had to make complete arses out of ourselves with the INTL [in negotiations form] to get the District some responsibility and authority in the campaign. We did this because the INTL is a terrible organizing machine and we didn't want to sit by Delaney and allow our union to blow another group. The INTL should have won the NW/DL ramp vote and the CO/UA stew vote but blew both of those bigtime. We couldn't allow that to happen to our people.
The AGC's knew about the arbitration and what Delaney consulted them on. Bottom line is that they rolled. I know it, that's how it is over there.
At any rate, yes Delaney's action is inherently wrong. Both morally and ethically.
regards,
Tim Nelson
Veteran
I recommended some AGC's in 08 and one or two in '10. The last tickets were not my tickets, they were delaney's. That said, I'm not saying all the AGC's suck real bad. What basically happens is that somewhere between the first $9,000 monthly check and the second $9,000 monthly check they think they are Gods and they become all knowing and quite frankly they change. Money corrupts people and I don't place myself above that as I try to address that with the Occupy 141 platform.
But this current team is a losing team in last place and can't even get out of the first inning because the head coach sucks. I've seen teams go from last place to first place just by changing the head coach but in this case, it's more than that. The occupy 141 platform insist not just on changing out names but also changing out the whole structure. Change it out and put in the masses. PJ is still a ND guy so if you use him as the model ND supporter you will come to the realization that the ND does not support any of the Occupy 141 platform and the ND will put an excuse behind every bush. So, it's much more than just changing the head coach or the players. We need people with a different mindset that understand that the occupy 141 platform brings professionalism in the union and recognizes all the things that are members have been asking for in a union but never received. But I need players who commit to the Occupy platform that gives the masses the opportunity to take over. And I'm thankful that those from the masse stepped forward and responded and committed to the platform.
Again, the problem is to completely smash the structure and those who support the good ole boys, and fill it up with empowering the members. We can change out names all day and we would only get a 'mouse's wheel' spinning. Abolish the structure and empower the masses with the Occupy 141 platform. That's the vision and that's where the strength is. Even if Tim Nelson becomes president, I will not be able to do a thing under the current broken system UNLESS we abolish this paternal cycle and bring in transparency and release the knowledge with the masses. It's revolutionalizing the way IAM 141 should think and takes the power from the top and brings it to the masses. This union and, IMO, all airline unions like the TWU and IBT, are not keeping up with the times and are basically becoming irrelevant and if we are going to continue paying dues then we need to bring things into this century AND that is NOT going to happen without the Occupy 141 platform. Bottom line. The previous regime and the current regime don't subscribe to any of the Occupy 141 platform. There is a reason why IAM 141 members at United and US AIRWAYS haven't received pay raises as their companys make record profits. There is a reason why our members are now in lower middle class and no contracts anywhere in sight.
regards,
Tim,
You are living in fantasy land. I think a change of leadership seems to be in order but changing out everybody will be just like when the ND took over. Nobody will know what they're doing. Also, I don't have any faith in your leadership ability if you can't teach anyone other than your ticket how things should be. You just want to pay these guys back as would any other person who got axed. I personally see some of what you say as good stuff but you lose me with the narcism and need to throw everyone out. You are hurting our membership more by attacking and exposing things that you don't have the complete story on.
Tim Nelson
Veteran
I don't want to pay anyone back. I'm not upset that I got axed, why would I be? I didn't ask to be fired but I was a bit annoyed it took a couple months for Delaney to do it. If you followed facebook or saw my text to delaney or other AGC's telling them that I could no longer support Delaney, you would know that I initiated my firing. Like I said, I didn't ask to be fired but I fully apprehended that I would have to sacrifice the job and that delaney would whack me when I told him I was running against him. Cripes, I cleaned out my office two months earlier and was surprised it took delaney so long to finally pull the trigger. A weight was lifted off of my shoulders when I got fired, and I am really excited about abolishing the accepted structure and incorporating the Occupy 141 platform.
As far as my leadership, I will let the scoreboard of how I led organizing teams and their success rate serve as my response. Although I could lead the present team and do much better than Delaney, and I have nothing personal against any of them, they don't subscribe to the occupy 141 platform, and that's where the power is and that's where my interest is. I would still be left with 5 AGC's doing double work. Sorta like putting an offense out on the field with 5 playing against 11. Makes no sense. Without the empowering changes for the masses that go along with a new President, it wouldn't matter if it were Delaney, Canale, or Nelson....management would just continue to kick our butts. I would have just stayed in a cushy union job if that was the case.
Again, there would still be a backlog of grievances if only 5 AGC's handled all the grievances at US AIRWAYS. So, inherently, things are currently broke. And, in this aspect, only the occupy 141 ticket addresses that, as it has 8 US AIRWAYS AGC's. And, FWIW, I have texted some of the current AGC's but they don't respond.
Most importantly, US AIRWAYS fleet doesn't need to be horse traded by a UA president who has never treated US AIRWAYS as first best. The TWU horse traded the America West ramp, and IAM 142 is fixing to do some horse trading on IAM 141 turf with United it seems. And, I can guarantee that there will be an attempt at horse trading fleet service for MX as a possibility in any AMR merger. Screw the TWU. The IAM wanted to do some horse trading in regards to Airtran but I stopped it cold in its tracks. There were witnesses to that when I went nose to nose with Roach. I'll give Roach credit for backing down and putting trust in me when I told him "I got this". And there won't be any need to horsetrade fleet service and hose them on seniority in any TWU/AMR trading. Screw the TWU and I'll get the election. I know all the guys for AMR in ORD and some in DFW and we will attain enough cards for an election. It's what I do. We can talk all day about everything under the sun but seniority and attaining an election is going to be essential to protecting the seniority of the US AIRWAYS ramper. THe INTL will have full confidence in me because they realize they can be confident in me delivering.
regards,
ChockJockey
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This thread might be emblematic of the problem of apathy. Getting involved in the union means becoming familiar with a whole other realm of politics.
Tim,
It is is easy to see that you have an axe to grind with the ND and that will cause our group some major pain. The current ND folks won't talk to you now because you will take anything they say and twist it to your liking. I'm sure that most people who get into office want to do the membership right. The good people need to be in office. You seem to be professing that the only way the Union would be better would be to vote your ticket. How many of your guys have any experience. Are they proven or are they in it for the money, power, greed, etc.? People who want the money can sure sound convincing can't they Tim. Your ND ticket you set up. Are you telling me that every single Occupy guy is better and more experienced than any ND or other ticket person? Get real man.
ograc
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Unfortunately, getting involved and being informed, is inclusive of monitoring the politics involved in the process of deciding who will best serve the membership. The challenge is to seek the truth and seperate it from the campaign chatter. If we're able to do that, we as a membership, are able to arrive at a decision of who would best serve the membership. Wheather you are at UA or US we are all members of the same union and district.
Dog Wonder
Veteran
The campaign chatter here seems to be one person talking to himself.
Hope he gets his issues worked out.
Hope he gets his issues worked out.
Tim Nelson
Veteran
Why do you presume that I don't talk to all of them? I said some. I do stay in communications with some ND folks. Just not the ones you must be referring to. The ones you must be referring to are the ones who support a man, Delaney, and are loyal to him, over the membership, even when he agrees to support the continual lockout of those 5 stations. Sorry, I'm not supporting someone who is a blowhard on TV but then rolls on his own blood. Nobody was more surprised than myself.
As far as who is on the Occupy 141 ticket, I am focused on many things like experience dealing with the district, education, commitment to the members in local elections, and district delegations, life experiences, etc.
For instance, my S/T is a well respected member at ORD United airlines ramp named Dave Pazerekas who was a 6 year marine, former ramp and store committeeman, district delegate, graduate with a Bachelor degree from the labor college, and a doggedly determination for justice. And I have others from United, and much support within the Continental ramp group. IMO, alot more support than Delaney or the other two tickets have.
As far as US AIRWAYS, I have mentioned Timmy Nestler the Local Chairman of FLL, Billy Kline, Local shop steward, district organizer, district delegate. George Austin, Local Chairman, PHL, negotiattions committee, district delegate, district sargeant at arms, etc. Rick Anderson, recording secretary PHL, Gus Gamboa, Godfather of PHX, former teacher, educated, former shop steward [different union], Dave Lolly, former Local President, former District organizer, former Teamster steward, current Local Chairman CLP.
And the list at United also includes committee persons, local chairman, local officers, etc.
To qualify, they must sign the committment letter that supports the Occupy 141 platform.
At any rate, we have had the pain of inept second best treatment for my entire 14 years in this district. Delaney was just traveling his United system again, did he make a stop in CLT? Or will he only come there for elections??? Sure, he supports you, NOT, if he supported you, why doesn't he show up? Why is his per diems only $6,000??? He is a 9-5 ofifice guy with little to no energy or passion and has only spent per diems on conventions and some INTL summoning. A president has to be engaged and traveling to reach out with the membership almost always. The S/T and other national positions have a per diem of $30,000 because they have to be gone all the time. Delaney's is only $6,000 because when he's not in his office, he is in the back of the District office on his putting green. And I am 100% convinced that the insanity will continue with piss clam representation unless we change out the structure and have someone in there that is actually passionate and energetic.
And, I'm not saying any AGC is better than any other one, what I'm saying is that it doesn't matter at all if we still approach management in a non academic caveman way that is most certainly non transparent and non informative. If I wanted that, I would have stayed in my cushy union job. But I owed it to myself and the membership to make things more fair for our US AIRWAYS members and to incorporate the essential things in the Occupy 141 platform that the ND candidates see as not essential at all. The contrasts are incredibly sharp and time will tell if the members want to continue the well paved path of the last 15 years with UA presidents and unprofessional representation, or finally take charge of their union.
I suppose some of our current AGC's would be better under the occupy 141 platform since I would be supporting them by hiring a labor attorney to help assist them. So let's not kid ourselves, neither myself, my AGC's, or Delaney or his AGC's are remotely experienced with the legal language to say we are adequate for the membership in a battle of wits at negotiations WITHOUT legal representation. There is a reason why 2% is not really 2%. There is a reason why there is so much gray in your contract that you can paint a USS battleship with it.
I have a Masters education but that only makes me more aware that I need to surround myself with professionals IN THE NEGOTIATIONS AND ARBITRATIONS. It's not a matter of just "My agc's are bigger and better than your AGC"s", it's a matter of reallocating resources and cleaning up the house by making it more professional. Cripes, is that so hard for you to understand that our members are paying dues and having their dues increased with no pay raises....isn't the least we can do is take their millions of dollars and hire professionals? Does any of this make sense? And FWIW: hiring our own attorney will save us about $50,000 a year in attorney cost. I know that sounds odd but that's how much we have to streamline our district, when we can actually hire an attorney and save thousands of dollars, then you know something is wrong. Will there be some things that will have to be cut? Yes, like the sports tickets, executive suites, limo rides and other officer perks for having a high priced outside law firm.
regards,
Just a though about inhouse legal; it might not save as much as you think. I'm not sure you'll find a lawyer willing to do ALL the work him or herself. S/He will need a small staff, maybe just a paralegal, maybe two or one and an assistant of some sort. That's a benefit of an outside firm. On the flip side, I do agree that the benefits may outweigh the costs. I just don't know.
Tim,
You make sense in some ways and I commend you for wanting the best for our membership. The problem I have is that the Canale team probably had some good people, the ND may have good people, Occupy may have good people and the other tickets may have good people. This it's got to be my ticket is going to cause pain for our membership. Let's try a novel concept here in DL 141 for a change and elect the best people for the various positions. It isn't hard to figure out who some of the good people are because they are continually involved in leadership positions. The people who haven't been involved are not right for our Union. Somebody make a list of the various leaders across our system and how long they've been involved, how many elections they've won etc. This includes UA, CO and US. I don't want the yes Tim, Delaney, or other ticket leaders (what I really mean is I want the big money) people. I want the people who have been involved for years with knowledge and experience and a proven track record.
