If I'm reading this right one of the main reasons you took a job with NWA, and the reason you stay, is to prove a point and you take things personally. That has to be one of the worst reasons I can think of to take a job with a company. To take a job becasue someone you don't know calls you names? Sounds to me you might have some underlying insecurity issues.
Don't know if you have figured this out but you are no longer in the Marines. What works in the military doess not necessarily works in the civilian world. Your problems will not be solved by a full frontal assault. Becasue quite frankly no one cares whether or not you made a "point".
How could you have been "unaware" of the labor management issues at NWA? You are either being less than honest or you had your head in the sand. Did you think you were at NWA becasue they were one big happy family? Did you not hear about the conflict between not only the mechanics but also the flight attendants? By the way these problems do not crop up over night. It usually means there have been problems for a long time and things finally have come to a head.
How long do you think NWA will hold up their end of the bargin? Considering thier treatment of thier employees so far I would not hold my breath. When things start getting tough all they have to do is tell you "Soory but things are bad so were going to have to cut your pay 20%". What are you going to do then?
If you prefer 145 operators to 121 then you should go that route. By the way there's no succh thing as a "closed" shop in the sirline business. The definition of a closed shop is one where you have to be a memeber of a union just to get a job.
I'm still trying to figure out your earlier comment about preffering overhaul to line in your choices of employeers. If you were more familiar with the industry you would have known that SWA does some of their own heavy work. You also would have known that NWA has gotten rid of thiers.
Hate to break the news to you but the chances of you getting a job with SWA are preety slim. First if you want one with SWA you had better know somebody there. Now lets say you send your resume in and HR sends it to the appropriate people over at maintenance. The first thing the manager is going to see is that you were a "replacement worker" at NWA. Since the AMT's at SWA are AMFA he knows the what the reaction is going to be once you were to hit the shop floor. In the interest of maintaining harmonious labor/management relations he's probably going to move onto the next resume.
Before you get on you soap box about being a straight shooter, your skills and work ethic let me remind you there are thousnads of other guys who are "straight shooters", have "skills" and have a good work "ethic" who would not casue a #### storm on the shop floor.
Sorry it took so long to answer this one...somewhere along the line I missed it...my mistake.
first off, I would like to thank you for the tone and format of this post. You ask some pointed questions, stated your side well, and remained civil. Itis indeed refreshing to know that some can stil practice the art of debate without undue viciousness. Anyway, lets take a look back here, and see if I cant answer some of your questions.
Idid not TAKE this job for personel reasons. I took it because it paid well, gave me a chance to return to the desert for awhile, and that was where most of my crew from Dothan were going. I STAYED because I really do love a challenge, and to prove It could be done. Yeah, I admit to taking it as a personal challenge. Thats just my nature I guess. You alluded to possible insecurities over being called names. Perhaps you may have a point. But by the same token, would a black man be considered insecure if he got offended over being caled a n#$%@r? Should a woman be called insecure if she is angered over being refered to as a HO, or ####? does a Scottsman have the right to feel insulted after being called English without beng labeled insecure? Granted, these are extreme cases, but no more so, I would say, than being compared to rapists and child molesters.
I am afraid I must totally and regrettably agree with you that this is not the Marines. GOD I do miss it so!
I was unaware of the finer detals of the labor relation problems at NWA because, to be honest, It had no effect on me. Most of my work has been 145 or Govt contract. It wasnt until I worked at Dothan that I even knew NWA was having ANY kind of trouble. At that time, all I knew was that the A and P's were mad about having to take a pay cut that still earned them 3 dollars an hour more than most.
Ya know, I gotta re state that...now that i think about it, I do remember when Amfa got into NW. I think it was about 98 or 99. I was doing heavy checks for Mesaba as a contractor. I remember reading how AMFA was going to be "different" than other unions, and that they were going to push to make A and P's listed as "Skilled labor". They also claimed that AMFA would not be contributing to one Major political party with its dues money. I said to a buddy of mine at the time, "Ya know, these guys sound all right. I can support that" I left for a contract fixing UH-1's for the dea shortly after that, and never gave it another thought till now.
I knew absolutely nothing about the F/A issues.
I dont know how long NWA will hold up thier end of the bargain, but I do know how long I'll hold up mine. As long as they pay me the agreed upon wages I will give them everything I got. If, some time down the road, NWA is unable or unwiling to meet these terms, I wll make the decision either to except the new ones, or seek emloyment elsewhere. No harm, no foul...call me when ya need me.If someone comes along who can do as good a job as me but cheaper, or a better job at the same price, I will congradulate him, help get him started, then be on my way. To me that is only decency.
I knew NWA was getting rid of some of thier heavy work, cause We were doing it in Dothan. My original plan was to show up in Tuscon, take the training, then go back to Alabama as soon as the strike was over. I admit to being completely surprised when we learned that AMFA rejected the offer.
I know little of SWA's operation other than it seems to be working. If, however, they would refuse an otherwise outstanding a and P simply over a labor dispute, I guess I could just say that that is SWA's loss. The way I see it, if some one wants on my crew who knows his Stuff, works his ass off, and is an asset to my team, I wouldnt care if he ever crossed a picket line. My job is to get a quality AC out on time on target. If said individual is going to assist in that goal, his position on organised labor is of no concern to me.
I hope this clarifies some of your questions. If I can provide any more insight into this from another perspective, please feel free to ask. I will answer as honestly and staightforwardly as possible. Thank you.