Mechanics Beware!

[Buck]

I will not speak of the IAM, but of the TWU and industrial unionism. If the IAM is guilty of industrial unionism then so be it.

Rampers of the TWU are compensated very well in comparison to the mechanics, in their craft. I believe the latest figures show that our rampers are number three on AA's negotiation web page and mechanics are last or next to last.

Are the Rampers or Mechanics compensated at their market rate?

 

[Realityck]

The AMFA wasn't successful at NW only because your union, the IAM, scabbed them:



NWA – AMFA Strategy in Action

Most unions considered the strike ill conceived from the very beginning. AMFA had no strike fund and, reflecting its separatist philosophy of mechanics acting alone, went on strike while the Pilots, Flight Attendants and Machinists' Union were still negotiating under pressures of bankruptcy court proceedings. AMFA bolted ahead of all the other unions, characteristic of their often-stated mantra that "strength in numbers doesn't necessarily mean strength. " This was the wisdom offered by AMFA Assistant National Director Steve MacFarlane on the eve of the August 2005 strike. He couldn't have been more wrong.

Underestimating solidarity with other unions on the property was only one of AMFA's strategic mistakes. Extremely damaging to unity with other unions was AMFA's negotiating proposal that NWA take more concessions from IAM members and less from AMFA members.

On concession bargaining for example, AMFA members were never given an opportunity to vote on the 'Final and Best Offer' by NWA before the strike was called in August 2005 and 'rank and file observers' were barred from the recent negotiations with NWA on the tentative agreement.

 

[aapitbull]

I think if there was a merger the AA mechanics would vote for the IAM over the TWU in a heartbeat.

You have no dog in this fight yet you remain here making enemys, it would seem better to stay neutral in case of a merger but go ahead and do what you want. Before they showed up I had no fight with the IBT but do not believe we will forget this little scam in the future go ahead and the IAM to that list.

 

[aapitbull]

The AMFA wasn't successful at NW only because your union, the IAM, scabbed them:



NWA – AMFA Strategy in Action

Most unions considered the strike ill conceived from the very beginning. AMFA had no strike fund and, reflecting its separatist philosophy of mechanics acting alone, went on strike while the Pilots, Flight Attendants and Machinists' Union were still negotiating under pressures of bankruptcy court proceedings. AMFA bolted ahead of all the other unions, characteristic of their often-stated mantra that "strength in numbers doesn't necessarily mean strength. " This was the wisdom offered by AMFA Assistant National Director Steve MacFarlane on the eve of the August 2005 strike. He couldn't have been more wrong.

Underestimating solidarity with other unions on the property was only one of AMFA's strategic mistakes. Extremely damaging to unity with other unions was AMFA's negotiating proposal that NWA take more concessions from IAM members and less from AMFA members.

On concession bargaining for example, AMFA members were never given an opportunity to vote on the 'Final and Best Offer' by NWA before the strike was called in August 2005 and 'rank and file observers' were barred from the recent negotiations with NWA on the tentative agreement.

So the strike failed what happened at Eastern, Pan AM & TWA all were losses but the only one you remember is NWA and most of that was caused by the Force Majure declared post 9/11 but pull out two paragraphs of a article and say your right.

And by the way it was not just the IAM that voluntered to do work they did not have to do the TWU ran job fairs at Kansas City to help hire the SCABS and IBT Flight Crew flew chartered Champion air flights to help NWA stay flying. I do not believe AMFA thought you would honor their lines but they did not think you guys would eagerly help management break a strike, well your right under those conditions it probably was ill concieved.Score another victory for the Industrial Unions they got management what they needed par for the course.

 

[Tex-Mech]

The AMFA wasn't successful at NW only because your union, the IAM, scabbed them:

In fairness, in addition to the IAM scabbing the work, the TWU helped NWA prepare for the strike by having scab fairs at the MCI base. Endorsed as a job fair, the TWU and there KC local was helping recruit scabs from there own ranks.

 

[700UW]

The IAM didnt volunteer to do the work, the work of receipt and dispatch and ancillary duties were all ready in the CBA.

And once again, explain how that broke AMFA when AMFA only did this at 30 or maybe even less stations.

No IAM member fixed a plane nor overhauled it, so explain how the IAM made the AMFA strike fail?

And funny how everyone of you ignore the facts.

 

[aapitbull]

The IAM didnt volunteer to do the work, the work of receipt and dispatch and ancillary duties were all ready in the CBA.

And once again, explain how that broke AMFA when AMFA only did this at 30 or maybe even less stations.

No IAM member fixed a plane nor overhauled it, so explain how the IAM made the AMFA strike fail?

And funny how everyone of you ignore the facts.

Read my post the IAM/TWU/IBT where more than eager to help NWA break the Mechanic's strike to stop the Mechanic's industry wide from leaving their unions. but that day is still coming and like I said we at AA have no fight with the IAM but keep getting involved in our affairs like the IBT and that will change.

I did not say the IAM was completely to blame on that they are partially culpable for what happened as is AMFA. There are many of us that suggest not striking and going with Chaos instead but that is not what was decided and as a AA mechanic it was not my call.

But the IAM does not have clean hands and that is a fact!

 

[Hackman]

I think if there was a merger the AA mechanics would vote for the IAM over the TWU in a heartbeat.

Here is the Ex-IAM NWA president Don Golofski, who was apparently one of the first to cross the AMFA picket line as a NWA SCAB. I would rather be non-union than have the Iam scab union, not a chance in hell.

 

[Anomaly]

I think the AA mechanics and related are sick and tired of industrial union deceit. I think any way AA decides to go, the AA people are going AMFA. They realize there is no difference between all 3 industrial unions. Why get rid of the TWU,to get iam,ibt that are proven liars and SCABS???????

BS Flag whoop whoop,

You work at UNITED by way of Continental and you are a TEAMSTER! How the hell do you know what AA M&R are truly feeling? Even I am not brazen enough to make such a bold statement about a company I do not work at.

 

[Vortilon]

BS Flag whoop whoop,

You work at UNITED by way of Continental and you are a TEAMSTER! How the hell do you know what AA M&R are truly feeling? Even I am not brazen enough to make such a bold statement about a company I do not work at.

Actually, he is right. As a member of AA M&R - that is exaactly how I feel.

 

[700UW]

If an individual member crosses a picket line, it doesnt make a whole union scabs, and when he crossed he was an AMFA member, not IAM.

I am still waiting how doing receipt and dispatch and air starts broke AMFA? Considering the IAM FSAs did that at more stations than AMFA represented employees before the strike?

NWA broke AMFA by outsourcing heavy and hiring a 1,000 plus mechanics.

 

[737823]

Here is the Ex-IAM NWA president Don Golofski, who was apparently one of the first to cross the AMFA picket line as a NWA SCAB. I would rather be non-union than have the Iam scab union, not a chance in hell.

For once we can agree! The IAM is a company union of scabs, selling out their membership time and time again. No wonder they got decertified at DL and by the CO FAs.

Josh

 

[700UW]

Are you that dense?

He was an AMFA member when he crossed the picket line, not an IAM member.

You are really making a donkey out of yourself.

Ignorance is bliss.

AMFA represented the mechanics at NW, not the IAM.

Keep trying, and dont let the facts get in your way.

 

[700UW]

Northwest made it clear it would declare a lockout if the mechanics union decided not to strike when a 30-day “cooling-off” period expired at midnight Friday. The company had boasted of having prepared for the past 18 months to launch a strikebreaking operation and had spent over $100 million to hire and house “replacement” mechanics and flight attendants. The airline lined up 1,200 nonunion mechanics, plus 400 vendor workers and 300 managers for a total strikebreaking force of 1,900.

And its own members had to cross the picket line:

A Federal Judge in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, has issued a Temporary restraining Order (TRO) prohibiting the AMFA represented mechanics at Mesaba Airlines (Northwest Airlink) from honoring the strike by Northwest mechanics.

The ruling forces AMFA members at Mesaba to cross picket lines against their will. And further the ruling infringes on the First Ammendment, free speech rights of Mesaba Mechanics, by prohibiting them from even supporting their union brothers and sisters, by picketing with them.

The wording of this ruling is as follows:

Mesaba Mechanics and their AMFA representatives...

ARE PROHIBITED FROM DIRECTING, CALLING, CAUSING, AUTHORIZING, INDUCING, INSTIGATING, CONDUCTING, CONTINUING, ENCOURAGING, ENGAGING, OR TAKING PART IN ANY PRIMARY OR SECONDARY SLOW DOWN, SIT DOWN, WORK STOPPAGE (INCLUDING REFUSAL TO CROSS PICKET LINES WHETHER ESTABLISHED BY STRIKING EMPLOYEES OF NORTHWEST AIRLINES OR OF OTHERS), STRIKE OR PICKETING OF MESABA'S PREMISES, UNTIL THE PROCEDURES OF THE RLA HAVE BEEN EXHAUSTED AS IT RELATES TO THE CBA. THIS ORDER SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED TO PROHIBIT LAWFUL PRIMARY OR SECONDARY STRIKE ACTIVITY BY PERSONS OTHER THAN MESABA-AMFA EMPLOYEES BOUND BY THE CBA.​

The full text of this unfortunate ruling can be found here:
Mesaba_8-20-05.pdf

 

[aapitbull]

Northwest made it clear it would declare a lockout if the mechanics union decided not to strike when a 30-day “cooling-off” period expired at midnight Friday. The company had boasted of having prepared for the past 18 months to launch a strikebreaking operation and had spent over $100 million to hire and house “replacement” mechanics and flight attendants. The airline lined up 1,200 nonunion mechanics, plus 400 vendor workers and 300 managers for a total strikebreaking force of 1,900.

And its own members had to cross the picket line:

This is what 58 years of the AFL-CIO has got us, laws that say a Judge can order this and industrial unions all to willing to help large corporations the IAM/TWU/IBT should be proud of all they have done to destroy organized labor in America.when will you learn less than 7% of private sector jobs are union and you are speak proudly that AMFA lost, because we do not believe the industrial union bullsh$$ that you do. AMFA did not get supported because they decided to fight not fold, while all the rest folded and what happened the SCAB Mechanic's, F/A's, Fleet Service Workers & Gate agents are all non-union at Delta Now just lucky to have a job I guess.

Sorry that want cut it anymore if this is the end of the line I plan on fighting not surrendering!