Insight Into The Iam

[diogenes]

All true, and I have not claimed otherwise.

At one time, 2444 included AVL, ROA, MEM, GSO, RDU, ILM, FAY, and CHS (try attending the lodge meeting in INT from some of those places )

I find it amazing that, during a 5 year run, NONE of those stations had a case the district deemed arbitration-worthy.

While at the same time, the same district arbitrated other local's grievances.

I am well aware, during the time frame in discussion, CLT, PHL and PIT were arbitrating cases.

I know somes of the grievances were apples-to-apples, too.

 

[calibrator]

What you have here is the story of the blind men and the elephant. What part your hands are on is your 'truth'.

Dude, I have no doubt, that if you are a senior mech, or a fleet agent in PHL, CLT, BOS, LGA or DCA, you can 'live' with the concessions.

Utility and the senior agents in the out stations have a different reality.
======================================================


I have read a lot of your posts over the years and most are well thought out and well written, but this one goes against the grain of common sense. With all of your wit and obvious intelligence you should realize that we all make our own reality. Slamming the IAM might make you feel good and provide you some therapy, but it does nothing else.

If you really believe the IAM is the cause of your troubles with their evil self serving over paid goons, then the sensible thing to do would be become part of the party or move on to where you are happy and content.

We live in a imperfect world filled with imperfect humans and in all of history pointing fingers and screaming at each other has only started never ending wars and sorrows for many other innocents not involved directly but paid the death penalty for just being there.

Getting on here banging the keyboard screaming at the IAM will not change your life but only waste your time and energy, energy you could be spending on ways to improve your life far and away from the very troubled airline industry and it's malignancy.

Just my thoughts and best of luck Dio, luck that we all make for ourselves.

 

[marco90821]

Point is, the IAM is a bunch of rednecks, "this is my job and full pay til last day" sort of schmucks.

 

[delldude]

What you have here is the story of the blind men and the elephant. What part your hands are on is your 'truth'.

Dude, I have no doubt, that if you are a senior mech, or a fleet agent in PHL, CLT, BOS, LGA or DCA, you can 'live' with the concessions.

Utility and the senior agents in the out stations have a different reality.


For management, it's like shooting fish in a barrel.

[post="265438"][/post]​

i have to disagree somewhat.......i said until recently... like back to the last negotiated contract in the late 90's.....after that it all went to hell...prior to that you didn't have the out station terror and pension crapola either.....sure we conceeded in neg's somewhat on wages but it wasn't quite that bad then ....now it is a totally different story.....its like the aftermath of a great hurricane or flood...people have been ravaged...do i like it ? not at all....its whats on our plate at the moment.....either deal with it or move on..the choice is ours.... i see no other outcome......in fact i see bad juju for U in the future too....like if i were a mechanic type,i'd be counting my daze..... 😉

 

[700UW]

Point is, the IAM is a bunch of rednecks, "this is my job and full pay til last day" sort of schmucks.

[post="265678"][/post]​

A bunch of rednecks? That is an insult, I am from the north. You need a trip to the cornfield.

 

[delldude]

Point is, the IAM is a bunch of rednecks, "this is my job and full pay til last day" sort of schmucks.

[post="265678"][/post]​

apparently 'yall doan know whoze 'yall be messin' widd there jethro.......

hey now:

 

[calibrator]

i have to disagree somewhat.......i said until recently... like back to the last negotiated contract in the late 90's.....after that it all went to hell...prior to that you didn't have the out station terror and pension crapola either.....sure we conceeded in neg's somewhat on wages but it wasn't quite that bad then ....now it is a totally different story.....its like the aftermath of a great hurricane or flood...people have been ravaged...do i like it ? not at all....its whats on our plate at the moment.....either deal with it or move on..the choice is ours.... i see no other outcome......in fact i see bad juju for U in the future too....like if i were a mechanic type,i'd be counting my daze..... 😉

[post="265679"][/post]​

Dio:

Dude here is a perfect example: This guy I know personally, we worked in the same building. He had a great job, what was called a premium job with responsibility over others. He still gets out of bed and gets on here now and again postings funnies. You don't see him on here blasting the IAM and it's short comings when he would be justified going from what he had to a completely different reality, a reality that I personally would be not happy with. He plugs away with pictures and jokes ignoring the real woes that have come his way. He made a choice, one that will let him sleep at night and go forward without a bitter stomach. He is one of many mechanics/employees who were caught up in the emotional turbulence working in this industry provided everyone of us. When times where good the IAM shined bright, but since bad times have come the IAM has become a scapegoat, a favorite target for suffering employees to vent their justified rage.

 

[aerosmith]

i don't like it either but i paid for one heckuva lot of things including my home.and it was from good wages from IAM negotiated contracts.
I agree Dell without UsAir I wouldn't have my lifestyle, nice house and family. Like U or not the Co. definitely established me.

 

[diogenes]

Dude and Cal,

I never expect institutions to be perfect; they are full of people. Look at a few of the priests in the Church. Remember the two Jim's - Baker and Swaggart?

Enron and Arthur Anderson, anyone?

I fully understand the concept of a union. I believe the need for them has never been greater since the 30's.

Moreover, I put my time and energy where my mouth is.

I knew NOTHING about the union (except they won the Civil War) until my airline career started. What a wake-up call after the mergers! When the drive to organize began in the 90's, I was there. When they asked for people to stand as stewards, for the 4 years prior to ratification, I was there. When you had to drive 4 hours one-way to attend the lodge meeting, at your own expense, I was there.

There are many things right with the IAM.

There are many things wrong, as well.

I fear the wrongs will relegate the IAM to obscurity at just the time they are needed. That would be a disaster.

From my experience, the IAM is too top-down, too hierarchical, too inside-baseball, and too many secrets. Amazingly, the same behavior they correctly accuse the company of.

They do not involve the membership nearly enough. For example, they have their legislative committees. Do they ever poll the membership, and seek out their views on legislative matters? They do not. And I can tell you from first hand experience - sitting on a legislative committee does not give you a voice. The agenda comes down from the international as marching orders. Period.

The membership needs to control the entire election process, not the district. The 'slate' needs to be relegated to the dustbin. "We hate run-off elections (that is when the 'slate' is challenged) because they are expensive. If the AGC's weren't doing their job, the chairman would get rid of them." That is a direct quote from one of the the senior district types.

I have worked within the system, to no avail. I am certainly on the sh*&list - I did that with eyes wide open.

From my view, there were three options.

Go along, and try to land a cushy job.

Remain mute.

Speak up, and hope improvement occurs.

You'd be amazed at the folks within the IAM hierarchy who realize change is needed, but they are afraid to speak up.

If I can be a catalyst, I will consider that a job well done.

Now if your experience has been satisfactory, good on you.

You can rest assured there are hundreds of agents who feel otherwise.

 

[delldude]

Dude and Cal,

I never expect institutions to be perfect; they are full of people. Look at a few of the priests in the Church. Remember the two Jim's - Baker and Swaggart?

Enron and Arthur Anderson, anyone?

I fully understand the concept of a union. I believe the need for them has never been greater since the 30's.

Moreover, I put my time and energy where my mouth is.

I knew NOTHING about the union (except they won the Civil War) until my airline career started. What a wake-up call after the mergers! When the drive to organize began in the 90's, I was there. When they asked for people to stand as stewards, for the 4 years prior to ratification, I was there. When you had to drive 4 hours one-way to attend the lodge meeting, at your own expense, I was there.

There are many things right with the IAM.

There are many things wrong, as well.

I fear the wrongs will relegate the IAM to obscurity at just the time they are needed. That would be a disaster.

From my experience, the IAM is too top-down, too hierarchical, too inside-baseball, and too many secrets. Amazingly, the same behavior they correctly accuse the company of.

They do not involve the membership nearly enough. For example, they have their legislative committees. Do they ever poll the membership, and seek out their views on legislative matters? They do not. And I can tell you from first hand experience - sitting on a legislative committee does not give you a voice. The agenda comes down from the international as marching orders. Period.

The membership needs to control the entire election process, not the district. The 'slate' needs to be relegated to the dustbin. "We hate run-off elections (that is when the 'slate' is challenged) because they are expensive. If the AGC's weren't doing their job, the chairman would get rid of them." That is a direct quote from one of the the senior district types.

I have worked within the system, to no avail. I am certainly on the sh*&list - I did that with eyes wide open.

From my view, there were three options.

Go along, and try to land a cushy job.

Remain mute.

Speak up, and hope improvement occurs.

You'd be amazed at the folks within the IAM hierarchy who realize change is needed, but they are afraid to speak up.

If I can be a catalyst, I will consider that a job well done.

Now if your experience has been satisfactory, good on you.

You can rest assured there are hundreds of agents who feel otherwise.

[post="265757"][/post]​

thanks,dio...
but i fear if you looked long and hard across the afl-cio you might see the same.not every union mind you but its more common these things you mention .for the most part the union and its true meaning have been thrown along the wayside for quite sometime in the good ole usa.i hope you read some of the fine books out on labor history and what our forefathers went through to get us what we have or had now.i think they'd cry if they saw what has been done to what they started.the things they put up with and fought and died for in the home and workplace are now quickly coming around again....a little here a little there and suddnely its all over you....seems to me like noone wants to learn from history both in th egovernment and the union....

 

[calibrator]

Dude and Cal,

I never expect institutions to be perfect; they are full of people. Look at a few of the priests in the Church. Remember the two Jim's - Baker and Swaggart?

Enron and Arthur Anderson, anyone?

I fully understand the concept of a union. I believe the need for them has never been greater since the 30's.
ory, good on you.

You can rest assured there are hundreds of agents who feel otherwise.

[post="265757"][/post]​

This time last year I was at DWF talking to an agent with 25 years service who was worried about everything including losing his job. He was very troubled and looked like the perfect example for the face of dejection. We talked while I was waiting for my ride for a good half hour. Upon leaving I gave him some free advice saying that I too feel his pain and why I was changing directions and walking away from the airline industry, and within six months I was officially gone. Looking back at the close to fifteen years of my life of basically a emotional roller coaster I wonder now why I waited so damn long to take action and move on. Life goes by so fast! My son is graduating college next week with his masters which took over 5 years and I remember the day when he went to first grade. Fast forward and here we are!! Some things are worth fighting for others are not. My opinion is that fighting all of the woes and sorrows the airline industry brings “downâ€￾ on you is just not worth the effort and wasted energy and emotional torture when there are other and easier paths to follow if you just stop and look around yourself, you will surely see them. You are a smart man, that’s obvious therefore changing directions is not the hard part, deciding to make the commitment is the hard part. All the Best Dio, really!!

 

[diogenes]

Dude, I totally concur with your last post.

The gist of what you say really frustrates me. Many fine people have been jailed, and many have died, in the name of the working man.

How sad that we do no honor their sacrifices, by holding the ground they gained, and moving forward.

And it is REALLY sad when those within the union are out for themselves, instead of the membership. They know better.

Although I never had the pleasure of meeting her, the union spirit of Teddy X is why I hold her in high regard. She is the 'X' factor unions need. Did I agree with all of her policy decisions? No. Was her head and heart in the right place? Yes, and I would have charged he// with a bucket of water with her.

Cal, I've read your posts and know where you're coming from. I appreciate the kind words.


My time is drawing nigh, Cal, and then I will undertake the journey you are speaking of.

Sadly, management has made this place so miserable, I am looking forward to leaving. My preference would have been to stay, but I am not chasing this job from town to town.

 

[calibrator]

Cal, I've read your posts and know where you're coming from. I appreciate the kind words.
My time is drawing nigh, Cal, and then I will undertake the journey you are speaking of.

[post="265975"][/post]​

Your comments on Teddy are right on. I know her personally, we communicated a lot when I still believed U had a flicker of hope. Although I no longer have contact with Teddy, knowing her and knowing she is leaving is a very powerful signal to those looking for miracles. She knows the inside like most don’t, knows what labor is up against and even stated in one of her posts that one of her main reasons for leaving was basically an evil vile management team, not those words but essentially the case.

The world is changing faster than than labor can possibly regroup with outsourcing and plant closing, opened boarders etc. I heard a favorite talk show host of mine say we should outsource congress, and short of that we as labor are screwed.

I know exactly what you’re talking about. My Grandfather was one of the originals of the once extremely powerful local 249 teamsters in Pittsburgh. I heard all the stories from him and my late father. Times are a changing and I personally no longer have the youth or the energy to do other than what I did, move on, and why I suggested you do the same. I believe that is one of the reasons Teddy is moving on, so it doesn’t put her in the ground any faster than it will happen by nature. Dealing with powerful corrupt corporate America who only looks at the bottom line following policy that discounts the human factor completely unconcerned of the consequences of corporate greed with outsourcing, on and on takes it’s toll.

The latest thing which is buried by the mainstream news media is to bring in alien computer programmers three miles off the coast on cruise ships to beat the labor laws and pay them twenty grand a year instead of paying of smart young generation the sixty grand they are commanding right now, saving corporate America forty grand and casting thousands out of work in the name of bigger back accounts for executives who already have astronomically high amounts of cash to begin with.

The rich, the poor, the slave the elitist. We don’t need a few people pissed off, we need a national total and complete revolution and short of that, it’s over. I chose the peaceful path as are others while we still have some life left to live in freedom and have a few pennies in our pockets.

 

[diogenes]

Just curious Randy, why didn't D141 take such action at U?


May 16, 2005

Urgent Strike Preparations Underway at UAL

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

The historic courtroom battle to defend IAM contracts at United Airlines continues in Chicago this week while District 141 negotiators meet separately with UAL executives in hopes of reaching a new agreement that protects our families and provides United with the means to exit bankruptcy.

We want to reach a settlement with United Airlines, but we must be fully prepared for immediate action if the judge rules to terminate our collective bargaining agreements. Such a ruling could come as early as Tuesday, May 17.

If the judge rules against us on United's motion to terminate our collective bargaining agreements, we will immediately strike United Airlines. If United did not want to face the prospect of a work stoppage, they should not have bypassed traditional negotiations and sought refuge in the greatly accelerated process under bankruptcy law.

IAM members at United should immediately begin removing personal items of value from the workplace to ensure such items would be available to them in the event the carrier were shut down and access to the workplace was denied.

District 141 representatives have been dispatched to all major United Airlines locations to provide additional instructions and answer members’ questions regarding preparations for a strike at United Airlines.

Breaking news and additional updates will be provided as they happen on the District 141 website, www.iam141.org.

Sincerely and fraternally,

S.R. (Randy) Canale
President & Directing
General Chairman

 

[DR.EVIL]

Hey 700, how about the IAM Clt president starting a 3rd party maint shop(GALLY CARTS) to screw the guys that voted him in. just checking.