Moveon said:
So here is a challenge:
No matter what organization represents our members, we still need to address these divisions. Therefore, put aside the issue of TWU vs. AMFA for a minute. What concrete steps can we take to build greater unity between line stations and bases?
So now comes the great TWU supporter seeking an alliance with the line stations. You cannot just cast aside the AMFA vs. TWU issue, which is what brought you to the point of finallly understanding and recognizing the need for unification. For years the Tulsa TWU Presidents have concealed the division from the Local 514 Membership and even propagated further division using the structure of the TWU to stomp on the line mechanics needs and desires. And now you come here looking for unity? The only reason you see the issue now is becuase of the fear AMFA has generated within the TWU Leadership of the changes sought by skilled professionals. AMFA supporters are not creating the division you speak of, we have all been living the division for twenty plus years, and AMFA is the answer!
You want a concrete foundation to build unity? Start at the Constitution and work your way to the Local level. Better yet, simply vote for change.
Number One - For years the line has been signing AMFA cards wanting a craft union, and Tulsa until late has always stood against this idea. Even today, the majority in Tulsa fears a democratic vote of the membership. Want to form an alliance with the line? Then give them AMFA. Give them open and honest communication from a craft union, instead of one-sided industrial union BS. Just look at the Tulsa World advertisements purchased by the line to educate you about the truth if you doubt this to be true. Want to give the line mechanic the ultimate? Demonstrate the willingness to fight for a cause, instead of cowering in fear everytime a challenge comes your way.
Number Two - Line Mechanics have financially, and in other ways been very supportive of Tulsa Based AMFA Organizers. How do you think these drives are funded? AMFA has not funded these campaigns for change, it is funded by grassroots out-of-pocket collections, and that financial support has always been mostly from the line.
Number Three - The TWU as recent as 1999-2000 attempted their failed version of unification and pacification by implementing "Self Determination" and "Seperate Negotiations". This simply led to the TWU Dictators removing elected officials from TWU office or demanding letters of allegiance from the elected Local Officers. This was done because these ideas of hybrid unionism (AMFA-Lite) that Jim Little championed also failed the line mechanics. Some TWU Officers signed the letters without true allegiance (lied) to maintain internal power of the TWU and they are now paying the price politically with other line mechanics for those actions, while others refused to sign and were removed from TWU elected office. The line mechanics have no reason to ever accept another offer of "unification" or "change from within", because all TWU attempts have turned into more lies, more failure, and much less democracy than was in place before the offer. Jim Little is the largest liar, and the main reason for this failure, but there is a deeper reason why this didn't work. (see below)
Number Four - It is impossible to attempt to force craft union philosophies into an industrial union structure. This is an oxy-moron and will lead to further disaster. Thus AMFA-Lite has never worked and will not work in the future. The IAM attempted the same tactics, and they also failed miserably. There is no such thing as a hybird form of unionism, that is why the AFL-CIO is failing, because it is also a failed experiment in this hybrid form of unionism. Since the merger of the AFL craft unionist with the CIO industrial unionist, the hybrid idea has nearly destroyed organized labor, by reducing organized workers to less than 12%of the national workforce, and most of that is Government workforce, not private sector workers. Forget the hybird idea, it is a proven failure. Either embrace craft unionism and choose AMFA, or embrace industrial unionism and choose the TWU. And more importantly, embrace the idea of an NMB ballot to allow the majority to choose which union philosophy the group will embrace as a whole.
Finally - If you really want to re-unite your AMT membership, vote for AMFA, bringing the fight of the mechanic, for the mechanic, by the mechanic, to American Airlines, is the only way to begin the long road of re-unification. Remember, the idea is not only to unite overhaul and line mechanics at American, the idea is to unite ALL MECHANICS of the industry, including third part overhaul technicians into one union. Making half-witted copy cat attempts to appear pro-mechanic by trying to champion a cause like the Charles Taylor awards and recognition of early industry mechanics like the TWU has recently done, is doing nothing but inflaming the situation. Everyone knows that Ken McTiernan and other line professionals are the pioneers of this idea. Remember the picture of the TWU Local Presidents with O.V. Delle-Femine that stirred the retaliation by the TWU? That picture was taken at a Charles Taylor FAA award ceremony. And who was the largest witch hunter to seek punishment of those in the picture? TWU Local 514 Officers, that's who! And now Jim Little and the ATD of the TWU attempt to run with this idea as if they are the champions of advancing the profession. What a weak farce the TWU has become. The line mechanics will only be as supportive of overhaul as overhaul is supportive of them. If you want to reach out with an olive branch to the line then advocate an NMB Election and Vote for AMFA. Attempting to stifle democracy by utilization of company resources, while both AA and the TWU fraudulently inflate the eligibility list with deceased, retired, resigned, while at the same time acting as though there is hope for unity, is nothing more than stupidity and disrespect for the democractic process. In addition, this conduct does NOT demonstrate one ounce of seriousness that the TWU will ever be the right choice for the professional Aircraft Maintenance Technician. It reaks of more "without further ratification" leadership, only this appears to be "without further voting", the TWU will remain your union of choice. The attempts to prevent the election is a clear indication of what is wrong with the TWU. And this activity is very disrespectful to the intelligence of these individuals. The AMT does not need AA nor the TWU to save them from themsleves by attempting to deny an election. These grown men and women are fully capable of debating the issues and casting democratic votes for the representation of their choice.
And if you have the time, read this and think about what it means to your future and your profession.
The Concept of “Craft or Classâ€
This is Federal Legal concept “Craft or Classâ€
In accordance with the Railway Labor Act, the Federal Government has decided that certain work groups have a mutuality of interest at the bargaining table and in advancing worker related issues, and that groups outside of that particular craft or class should have no participation in how the union is run or at least in the initial decision as to who represents that work group. And so Pilots vote with Pilots, and Flight Attendants as matter of law are prohibited from voting with the Pilots. And in turn, the Pilots are prohibited by law from voting with the Flight Attendants because they are considered to be in different Craft or Classes by the National Mediation Board. And Mechanic and Related Workers within the Airline Industry are entitled by law to vote just amongst themselves.
Supporters of the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) believe that it comprises our mission to remain associated within a union structure with other crafts or classes that according to Federal Government do NOT share our mutuality of interest. The mission is further compromised when we remain associated with other crafts or classes within the union structure of “majority rule†and our particular craft or class is the minority in size. The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) is the only union in this current debate at American Airlines that says “We will forbid ourselvesâ€, it will be unconstitutional for us to go and represent baggage handlers, flight attendants, or passenger service clerks, and we will not let ourselves do that because this would compromise our mission. We wish the baggage handlers and other crafts or classes on the property the very best, but they cannot pick our pockets, we wish them to get the very best on their own, but they should no longer be allowed to ride on our backs. In other words, it is time for the airline industry to decouple the mechanic vs. baggage handler pay and benefit structure. It is suffice to say that since deregulation of the airline industry which since enactment has created enormous competition and pressure on airline ticket pricing, and that has resulted in the craft or class of mechanic and related workers suffering in economic buying power, and especially when compared to the Pilots and Flight Attendants who at American belong to craft specific unions. In the mid 1970’s, the Flight Attendants of American Airlines were also represented by the Transport Workers Union of American (TWU), and just as the mechanics today seek a change to a craft specific union, they also left the TWU in favor of the independent Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) The craft or class of Mechanic and Related at American Airlines can no longer afford to remain in an organization that advocates a linking of different work groups that according to law do not share a mutuality of interest.
Regardless of good or bad economic times, and regardless of whether the union is negotiating concessions to prevent a bankruptcy filing or negotiating from economic growth with corporate profits, the formula by which the economic pie is divided amongst the union membership is a union decision. The recent concession are a clear case in point, because American Airlines was demanding $620 Million in concessions from the TWU, but how those give backs were divided up was a union decision, not a company decision. And the facts are clear, that the craft or class of Mechanic and Related at American took more than our fair share of that amount, and it is also clear this was a union decision.
AMFA IS THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR SKILLED TECHNICIANS
What a man you are!!!!!
