TWU informer
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To Leading Edge,
The Concept of “Craft or Classâ€
This a Federal Government Concept that places work groups under the Railway Labor Act into craft or class designations based on mutuality of interest in work preformed.
Thus, the Pilots vote with Pilots and the Flight Attendants are prohibited as a matter of law from voting with the Pilots. And the Mechanic and Related work group is entitled by law to vote amongst themselves for representation based on work scope and mutuality of interest of work preformed.
The Craft Union of the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association is the only choice that restricts itself constitutionally to representing the Mechanic and Related Craft or Class. AMFA will not represent baggage handlers, flight attendants, or passenger service clerks.
The idea or philosophy if you will of the AMFA is to place all workers that according to Federal Government share a mutuality of interest at the both the bargaining table and the political arena into one union, under one governing umbrella, thus focusing on and advancing the mechanic profession. AMFA will spend money only on mechanic and related issues and organizing campaigns attempting to advance the profession and this philosophy.
In contrast, the TWU is an industrial union that believes all workers should unite into one union regardless of the Federal Government mutuality of interest decisions. The belief is that “strength in numbers†has merit and the loaf of bread cost the same for everyone so all workers should be paid close to the same pay.
The debate between craft unionism versus industrial unionism goes back to the late 1800’s. We are not pioneers to this argument. Socialism is a valid form of Government Representation, most Americans reject this idea in favor of a Capitalist Society. So too is Industrial Unionism a valid form of Union Representation, I just happen to believe that the Mechanic and Related work group or “the profession†is not going to be best served by inclusion into a large union, made up of many work classes, when the union is supposed to be a “majority rule†democratically functioning body of union representatives.
Since the Federal Government designates “craft or classes†based on mutuality of interest, and does not include baggage handlers, stores clerks, passenger service clerks, bus drivers, railroad workers, (ect). It is therefore, hard for me to fathom how it is in the mechanic profession’s best interest to belong to a union made up of and dominated by the non-craft or class workers.
I am no longer interested in subsidizing the loaf of bread for non-craft or class work groups. Maybe in a Regulated Airline Industry, this philosophy was sound and successful for those represented by the TWU, and therefore all of TWU’s history representing the mechanic workforce is not all bad. But recent history has shown that in a de-regulated industry, the mechanic profession is suffering from industrial union representation.
Please Leading Edge, vote as you wish, but Non-Union is a most dangerous path to take based on frustrations that you have not had your questions answered. A little research and attendance at both AMFA and TWU meetings in the upcoming months will clearly spell out the differences. However, when one organization is basing their complete campaign of fear and intimidation, and the hardships of the other related to 9/11, then this is not true to the craft versus industrial union debate. Seek information relating to the AFL and the CIO prior to merger in the 1950’s. That is where you find the clear cut understanding of the two choices in union philosophies. I believe that since the merger of the AFL-CIO into one organization, the craft unionist beliefs and philosophies have been eroded in the majortiy rule group. And thus, advancements in organized labor ceased at that time, and we need a return to craft union ideas before organized labor goes the way of the dinosaurs.
In short the answer to your question is simple:
Why wouldn't a mechanic want to be in a mechanic's union.
What purpose is the profession served by inclusion into a union of non-mechanic issues and needs?
Even when placing this decision into the simplest terms, the arguement in favor of craft unionism is sure to be pro-mechanic, pro-profession, because you are the union and you are a mechanic, and your profession will be the majority of the union once and for all.
Thank You
The Concept of “Craft or Classâ€
This a Federal Government Concept that places work groups under the Railway Labor Act into craft or class designations based on mutuality of interest in work preformed.
Thus, the Pilots vote with Pilots and the Flight Attendants are prohibited as a matter of law from voting with the Pilots. And the Mechanic and Related work group is entitled by law to vote amongst themselves for representation based on work scope and mutuality of interest of work preformed.
The Craft Union of the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association is the only choice that restricts itself constitutionally to representing the Mechanic and Related Craft or Class. AMFA will not represent baggage handlers, flight attendants, or passenger service clerks.
The idea or philosophy if you will of the AMFA is to place all workers that according to Federal Government share a mutuality of interest at the both the bargaining table and the political arena into one union, under one governing umbrella, thus focusing on and advancing the mechanic profession. AMFA will spend money only on mechanic and related issues and organizing campaigns attempting to advance the profession and this philosophy.
In contrast, the TWU is an industrial union that believes all workers should unite into one union regardless of the Federal Government mutuality of interest decisions. The belief is that “strength in numbers†has merit and the loaf of bread cost the same for everyone so all workers should be paid close to the same pay.
The debate between craft unionism versus industrial unionism goes back to the late 1800’s. We are not pioneers to this argument. Socialism is a valid form of Government Representation, most Americans reject this idea in favor of a Capitalist Society. So too is Industrial Unionism a valid form of Union Representation, I just happen to believe that the Mechanic and Related work group or “the profession†is not going to be best served by inclusion into a large union, made up of many work classes, when the union is supposed to be a “majority rule†democratically functioning body of union representatives.
Since the Federal Government designates “craft or classes†based on mutuality of interest, and does not include baggage handlers, stores clerks, passenger service clerks, bus drivers, railroad workers, (ect). It is therefore, hard for me to fathom how it is in the mechanic profession’s best interest to belong to a union made up of and dominated by the non-craft or class workers.
I am no longer interested in subsidizing the loaf of bread for non-craft or class work groups. Maybe in a Regulated Airline Industry, this philosophy was sound and successful for those represented by the TWU, and therefore all of TWU’s history representing the mechanic workforce is not all bad. But recent history has shown that in a de-regulated industry, the mechanic profession is suffering from industrial union representation.
Please Leading Edge, vote as you wish, but Non-Union is a most dangerous path to take based on frustrations that you have not had your questions answered. A little research and attendance at both AMFA and TWU meetings in the upcoming months will clearly spell out the differences. However, when one organization is basing their complete campaign of fear and intimidation, and the hardships of the other related to 9/11, then this is not true to the craft versus industrial union debate. Seek information relating to the AFL and the CIO prior to merger in the 1950’s. That is where you find the clear cut understanding of the two choices in union philosophies. I believe that since the merger of the AFL-CIO into one organization, the craft unionist beliefs and philosophies have been eroded in the majortiy rule group. And thus, advancements in organized labor ceased at that time, and we need a return to craft union ideas before organized labor goes the way of the dinosaurs.
In short the answer to your question is simple:
Why wouldn't a mechanic want to be in a mechanic's union.
What purpose is the profession served by inclusion into a union of non-mechanic issues and needs?
Even when placing this decision into the simplest terms, the arguement in favor of craft unionism is sure to be pro-mechanic, pro-profession, because you are the union and you are a mechanic, and your profession will be the majority of the union once and for all.
Thank You
