John Kerringan out and Joe Gordon in.

[ch53D]

I heard today that the TWU was hoping someone would start-up an organizing card drive of some sorts. Seems the TWU needs a good excuse before negotiations begin that someone is "disrupting negotiations" or that the dissidents are "dividing the membership", they are actually quite scared that there is no available excuse for not coming back with a contract that leads the industry in pay, benefits, and scope language.

I was drinking in some coffee when I was told this, shortly after, I was wearing the coffee as it spewed from my nose when I laughed so hard. I told this fine information clerk wearing his TWU garb from head to toe that it is "always someone else's fault" with the TWU and to not be concerned, they will find an excuse, because they always do.

I think the ball is in the TWU’s court this time with no gun to there head. The next possible card drive would start when the TA comes out.

 

[TWU-GOTTA-GO]

I think the ball is in the TWU’s court this time with no gun to there head. The next possible card drive would start when the TA comes out.

Yeah, all excuses are gone this time, just gonna sit back and watch this fiasco.

 

[Bob Owens]

Yeah, all excuses are gone this time, just gonna sit back and watch this fiasco.

They already have their excuse. "YOU VOTED FOR IT"

As Ken brought up as long as we are all split up into small weak locals we are screwed.

Look at what the International has been doing.

First they had these JLT committee meetings, keeping the officers tied up in useless, pointless meetings that accomplish absolutely nothing other than to wear down the officers and keep them too busy to attack the real problems we face in this union.

These meetings rolled into "Negotiations training" with such great sources of disinformation as Eclat (the guys who missed the executive bonuses) and the ATA.

How long does it take to say "Everything we lost and MORE"?

Jim Little has already agreed to our contract.

Here it is.

An adjustment in pay that doesnt even make up for what we lost through inflation. (In the hopes of stemming employee attrition)

6 year term (because the company wants to lock in concessions for as long as possible)

Restoration of some sick time.( Because sick calls are costing the company more than ever)

Restoration of vacation, (how can the company get anybody when they only offer one weeks vaction for the first five years?).

Variable compensation plan."Shared Gain". Pay based upon performance of the company. The company union will sell this based upon unrealistic projections of how much we could possibly earn but would never see, much like the "ME Too clause" of 1996, and of course the "Early Openers" and pot sweetening "Profit Sharing" of 2003. This way the company can basically cut our pay whenever they want without any hassles of sweating out a membership vote, and the International can say "You voted for it".

Elimination of seniority based promotions, the company will pick crew chiefs like the pick TCCs.

Retention of the bankrupt pension in leiu of making the company put away real dollars to provide for our retirement.


We need to get accountability, if we cant get rid of the TWU then we have to get the contract away from the International. We have to remove avenues of excuses by having someone chosen by the people who work under the agreement in control of those who control the agreement. One local for each contract group would be a way to get control of the contracts.

 

[Bob Owens]

Variable compensation plan."Shared Gain". Pay based upon performance of the company. The company union will sell this based upon unrealistic projections of how much we could possibly earn but would never see, much like the "ME Too clause" of 1996, and of course the "Early Openers" and pot sweetening "Profit Sharing" of 2003. This way the company can basically cut our pay whenever they want without any hassles of sweating out a membership vote, and the International can say "You voted for it".

Hmmm, "Non Traditional Compensation"

When Little signed in the present "agreement" into place he claimed that we would be getting profit sharing and that we would get everything back with the "Early openers", these were the "sweeteners" that the TWU spoke of to the Judge and the Judge bought off on it. As usual we got neither profit sharing and the only workers that had their contract opened and pay restored were a very small group of Title II workers in New York that got a double digit increase in pay.