With all the misinformation being posted on this thread, and others, I certainly hope the AA/US members take the time to educate themselves on this alliance and the NMB election process.
Understand what it is you'll be voting on.
The AA/US membership WILL NOT be voting on the formation of the IAM-TWU Alliance. The IAM & TWU already agreed to this without the memberships consent. The NMB has nothing to do with this process.
The AA/US membership WILL be voting on representation by the IAM-TWU Alliance. The NMB will oversee the vote for the purpose of representation NOT formation.
If you do not wish to be represented by the IAM-TWU alliance, then collect cards for your representative of choice. When single transportation system is declared on AA/US you'll have a window to file. As this is an election due to a merger, there can be no repeat of the AA/ibt debacle.
In the end its up to the AA-US mechanics to choose your representatives. If you don't want the IAM/TWU, then throw them out.
The NMB will oversee the vote for the purpose of representation NOT formation.
Not sure what you mean by "oversee" in this quote from you. I know that the NMB will have to cert who ever does get voted in. However, below I have provided the emails between the NMB and myself, and they flat out say they will have no jurisdiction of an "election" between them. And, my email the issue after the formation of the alliance where the membership is voting in the representational part of it. If Mr West is thinking this entire time that I was only speaking about the "formation" of the alliance than he and I were not on the same page. I am clearly speaking about voting on the "election" of the alliance and not the formation. I will get this clarified Mon morn. BTW here the emails I sent, and all this can be followed in this thread starting at post number #52, including these emails listed in post #89:-
'700UW', on 30 Aug 2013 - 4:58 PM, said:
I talked to the man that wrote the alliance for the IAM, they are going to have the NMB run the election. And other will be speak in.
Also the certification will be transferred from the IAM and TWU to the alliance, only the NMB can do that.
OK 700, here it is yet again. Only this time I sent e-mail in order to have it in writing from the NMB to post for ALL to see. The only items left out of the e-mails between Don West and myself are my name and the Q and A from the TWU/IAM alliance web site. You know if I were any of you guys at US or AA I would no longer trust what they are telling you guys. Get involved yourselves and e-mail the NMB for your answers, DO NOT trust what the union that is trying to force it's members into this so called "Alliance". Now 700, take particular attention to the very first para where he answers rather the NMB will be handling the election or not, as I told you before, and you now have it from the NMB, and I quote; "the NMB has no jurisdiction over the alliance or merger of unions and DOES NOT CONDUCT SUCH ELECTIONS."
Here's the emails, starting with Don West answering my e-mail, happy reading:-
RE your Question: My main issue with this "Alliance" vote is, who will run it?
Just how a union chooses to represent its members is an internal-union matter, not under the jurisdiction of the National Mediation Board. The NMB has no jurisdiction over the alliance or merger of unions and does not conduct such elections.
RE your Question: Another question; How long does the NMB normally take when a union files an appeal to protest against the one year limitation term of filing again at a carrier where another union has pulled out of a representational election? Just curious to a possible time frame of the outcome.
I'm not sure I understand this question, but if you are talking about a Representation case, it seems you may be asking about Time limits on applications. If so, you may want to see Section 1206.4 of NMB Rules at
http://www.nmb.gov/d...brules1099.html
RE your Question: Question #5 is the way they are now saying they will ask for the NMB to run the election:
We cannot address hypothetical applications. Applications actually received by the NMB for the Investigation of Representation Disputes are handled on a case-by-case basis.
My original e-mail below:
Don West,
As we have been discussing about the TWU and IAM combining, yes some things have changed on their side since we last spoke. My main issue with this "Alliance" vote is, who will run it? And what options will the mechanic and related have to choose from, and what results would be obtained from voting on each option?
We are being told that the NMB will run the election. We are also being told that there will only be 2 options on the ballot for this "Alliance" vote; 1- Yes, for the Association and 2- No which would be a vote for no-union or non-union. Then after I informed them that I was contacting the NMB to get answers we were told that there would be a third option of "other", with no explanation of what "other" meant. I suggested to them that the "other" option (with the NMB running the election) generally means "write-in" or "speak-in" option where the one could "write-in" or "speak-in" any choice of union they wish. It took constant pressure and inquiries but they finally admitted (after 2 weeks) that the "other" option does mean a "speak-in" option. Here is what I suggested the options would be with the NMB running such an election: 1- Yes, for the Alliance (Association) 2- No, against the Alliance (Association) 3- "Write-in" or "speak-in" 4- No union or Non-union. Then we were all told that this is a different type of an election than a regular card collection and vote for representation, therefore the options I listed above will not be the same. Mr. West can you please indicate what will happen? And what the options will be? And this is even if the NMB will run the election. As we have spoke before, you mentioned that the NMB wouldn't conduct an election unless you were asked to by the unions, well as #5 Q&A states below, both associations will be filing with the NMB to conduct the election. If this is all true, would you be so kind to provide the options on the ballots that the members will receive for this type of an election?
Another question; How long does the NMB normally take when a union files an appeal to protest against the one year limitation term of filing again at a carrier where another union has pulled out of a representational election? Just curious to a possible time frame of the outcome.
Again Mr. West thanks so much for time and patients with me. It seems a lot of my previous information has changed due to the IAM/TWU Alliance has changed some of their information after some of us have proven them wrong. I just cannot see 2 unions coming together with a vote that forces you to vote for the Alliance or vote No and be non-union. It sounds to me like the members actually don't have a choice.
Here is the TWU and IAM Q&A. Question #5 is the way they are now saying they will ask for the NMB to run the election:
Sincerely, Very concerned mechanic
Attached was the Q&A from the TWU/IAM alliance web page. Did not want to bore you with that as we all know what it says.
Again guys, PER THE NMB, they will not conduct such an election for the new alliance, combination or merger of the TWU and IAM. You guys are soon to be screwed by your own union as they (unions) will control what options are on the ballots as it will be handled internally. You guys better hope AMFA gets another chance and put a stop to this ridiculous controlling unions.
