Opinions

[Ken MacTiernan]

Tulsa World, A12
Opinion

By Staff Reports
11/7/2006

"Past TWU concessions concern AA employees" (Oct. 8) describing the
Transport Workers Union initiative to build up the heavy overhaul
operation at American Airlines in Tulsa, also quoted the views of
several mechanics from AA stations in big cities who criticized the
entire effort.
The article omitted that, without exception, each quoted person was a
leader in Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association's attempt to
displace the TWU as the AA mechanic representative. In fact, they are
on record as advising the TWU membership to take their chances in
bankruptcy rather than agree to the 2003 concessions; several even
took out ads in the Tulsa World to that end.
The results of their advice are illustrated by the fiascoes on AMFA's
watch at Northwest Airlines and United Airlines. No mechanic work
group at a bankrupt carrier has ever emerged from bankruptcy with its
heavy overhaul operation, pension or retiree medical intact. None
have negotiated snap backs on their concessions. Mechanics' pay at
these carriers is significantly below that at AA, which is second in
the passenger industry. Only AA continues to perform the majority of
its heavy maintenance in house.
The concessions continue to hurt, but it should be obvious that
following the advice of Chuck Schalk, Bob Owens and Ken McTiernan
would have had devastating consequences for my coworkers and this
community. Why are they given a regular forum in the World?
Rick Mullings, Claremore

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

My reply:

To the Tulsa World Opinion:

Well, it seems as if Mr. Mullings might have spilled a little much twu kool aid on his key board. I would like to see where I criticized the build up of over haul at AA. I am happy that overhaul is being built up. I only wish the same could be said for those of us OUTSIDE of Tulsa. But I guess Mr. Mullings is unable to comprehend what he reads.
Mr. Mullings goes on to state that the fact that those quoted in the article were in deed AMFA supporters. ( I have not been elected a position in AMFA so being a "leader" is yet another oversight by Mr. Mullings. But thanks for the compliment all the same.) But to add to this statement yes, I was and still am a AMFA supporter. Why must Mr. Mullings and others like him believe that being a supporter of a craft, democratic union for AMTs is a bad thing? I have yet to hear when I will receive a ballot for International Officers in the twu.
What fiascos does Mr. Mullings allude to? The "fiasco" that the IAM allowed to happen at UAL BEFORE AMFA was elected that effectively removed overhaul at that carrier? (Maybe that was "omitted" on his part?) Or perhaps the "fiasco" at NWA where skilled AMTs struck because the company refused to bargain in good faith? These proud men and women did what the twu would crap in their collective shorts if they were ever forced to do. They went on strike. Not only for themselves but for ALL AMTs. Perhaps Mr. Mullings "omitted" the fact that the twu initiated removing A & Ps from the back shops, which in turn forced other airlines to compete by doing the same but then also ratcheting up the erosion of our profession?
Mr. Mullings mentions the term "snap-back". Are they in our concession language? Or were they simply "omitted"? (If Mr. Mullings is referring to the .38 cents that we receive each year on the anniversary of the concession vote I am afraid that Mr. Mullings is unable to comprehend that which he reads. ( See above.) Or does Mr. Mullings refer to the written language that states undeniably that after the concession contract expires we will all wake up and find that our pay and benefits have been returned to their previous pre-concession levels? Or is that particular language "omitted" as well?
Mr. Mullings asks why I, and others are given a regular forum in the Tulsa World. I guess that twu kool aid has taken a very firm hold of his beliefs. I would gather from this statement that only those with a positive view of the twu and those who believe that concessions were a fair trade when only the workforce took pay cuts but upper management received pay RAISES & BONUSES are allowed to have their point of view printed.

Ken MacTiernan
SAN AA AMT
(619) 395-6681

 

[jetmechjer]

As they say ......opinions are like assholes everyone has one and they all stink!!!!!!!!!
But the untouchable TWU International pukes all believe that they do no wrong and their #### does not stink!!!

YOU ARE OUT OF ORDER BROTHER!!!!!

:down: :down: :down: :down: :down: :down: :down: :down:

 

[PlayTheOdds]

My reply:

To the Tulsa World Opinion:

...Not only for themselves but for ALL AMTs. Perhaps Mr. Mullings "omitted" the fact that the twu initiated removing A & Ps from the back shops, which in turn forced other airlines to compete by doing the same but then also ratcheting up the erosion of our profession?...
Ken MacTiernan
SAN AA AMT
(619) 395-6681

So A&P's were removed? What were they replaced with Ken? AMT's maybe? I'm still looking forward to that comparative list from you on the requirements to be an A&P compared to the requirements to be an AMT.

 

[NewHampshire Black Bears]

So A&P's were removed? What were they replaced with Ken? AMT's maybe? I'm still looking forward to that comparative list from you on the requirements to be an A&P compared to the requirements to be an AMT.

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

PTO,

YOU are a SCAB !!
A FILTHY, DIRTY,BOTTOM FEEDING SCAB !!
YOU are comparable to a MALIGNANT TUMOR !!
YOU have No SHAME !!
YOU are(after all) A SCAB !!


NH/BB's

 

[Wretched Wrench]

Mullings was only one of many who, as part an orchestrated effort by the TWU, wrote very similar letters at the same time to the Tulsa World. I am surprised that they did not recognize the letter writing campaign for what it was---union propaganda. Rather poor journalism, I call it. Some reports indicate that they did indeed recognize it as TWU flackery, but went along with it.

 

[Ken MacTiernan]

Mullings was only one of many who, as part an orchestrated effort by the TWU, wrote very similar letters at the same time to the Tulsa World. I am surprised that they did not recognize the letter writing campaign for what it was---union propaganda. Rather poor journalism, I call it. Some reports indicate that they did indeed recognize it as TWU flackery, but went along with it.

I spoke with a gentleman at the Tulsa World to confirm that they did in fact receive my response to Mr. Mullings' "opinion". This person knew exactly the "opinion" I was responding to. So, the twu must resort to a campaign from the brain dead to write letters asking why a different opinion is allowed in the print media? With the obvious "omittions" in Mr. Mullings' letter I would assume that the original letter was drafted by burchette.

I am sure that burchette must have had to dictate the "opinion" letter since his hands are busy being inside the company's pockets. Maybe he was search for a pen?

Either way, why doesn't burchette and his faithful care about his fellow AMTs who live outside of Tulsa?

 

[Wretched Wrench]

Either way, why doesn't burchette and his faithful care about his fellow AMTs who live outside of Tulsa?

I assume that is a rhetorical question, but he knows where his power base is, and is responsive only to them.

We are not "his fellow AMTs". He recognizes only those who can keep him in office and those who are of no use to him.

 

[PlayTheOdds]

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
PTO,
YOU are a SCAB !!...

Thats all fine NHBB but since Ken won't answer the question then maybe you can explain to us why he is upset about AMT's being replaced by AMT's. I'm just having a hard time finding the logic in that. Certaily he must see that he is chaseing his tail.

 

[PRINCESS KIDAGAKASH]

Thats all fine NHBB but since Ken won't answer the question then maybe you can explain to us why he is upset about AMT's being replaced by AMT's. I'm just having a hard time finding the logic in that. Certaily he must see that he is chaseing his tail.

Why should you care,SCAB? Thanks to you,dumbass, there won't hardly be any AMT's,A+P's,Aircraft mechanics,etc. left in this country anyway. Why don't you go back to your favorite computer porn sites and leave the real aircraft mechanics(those that are licensed and don't cross picket lines) alone? In other words: GET LOST! SCAB!

 

[Wretched Wrench]

Do not feed the trolls

 

[PlayTheOdds]

Why should you care,SCAB? Thanks to you,dumbass, there won't hardly be any AMT's,A+P's,Aircraft mechanics,etc. left in this country anyway. Why don't you go back to your favorite computer porn sites and leave the real aircraft mechanics(those that are licensed and don't cross picket lines) alone? In other words: GET LOST! SCAB!

My darling Princess there will always be AMT's. It is the A&P that is in jeopardy of going extinct. Ken is the one that said that A&P's were removed from the backshops. I find it a bit odd that he failed to mention that they were replaced with AMT's. He is so hell bent on the term AMT why didn't he say that the AMT's were removed from the backshop. You guys say there is no difference between the two yet he specifically reverts back to the term A&P when AMT should have worked just as well. These non-A&P AMT's make up the majority of the MRO and contract workforce and now they have wedged their way into the majors. As I said before, the A&P is a dying craft and you guys are accelerating it with your blanket AMT term.

 

[PlayTheOdds]

Ig, ignore? ignorance! That's it IGNORANCE. In Ken MacTiernan's ignorance he ignores the blatant facts pointed out to him. Instead of addressing the issue he, "pounds sand"? No he just sticks his head in it and hopes the obvious disappears. Ken Mactiernan-Director of AMTA, Defender of a useless term, Destroyer of the proud A&P Mechanic. Come on Ken, you should be proud that AMT's are filling up the backshops. Just curious Ken what education level, skills and experience do these new AMT's working in your backshops have? Just how long will it take these guys to reach the line? It is already happening at NWA as they implement their Tech Ops Support program. Congratulations Ken now the flying public can sleep well at 30.000 feet knowing their aircraft is well maintained by off the street AMT’s and never even know that there was once highly trained and skilled A&P Mechanics that performed the required maintenance.

 

[Bob Owens]

These non-A&P AMT's make up the majority of the MRO and contract workforce and now they have wedged their way into the majors.

While there have always been non-A&Ps in the majors even on the line they usually gained employment prior to 1970. After that A&Ps were pretty much needed to get a job. OH always had some specialty jobs where an A&P was not required. The critical difference is that liscenced or not they were on the mechanics pay scale.

You can thank the TWU for changing this with their SRP program in 1995. This program created a new very low scale (presently $9.30/hr). The SRP program (later renamed OSM)displaced A&Ps in shops in Tulsa, this in turn put all the other carriers "in house" OH operations at a disadvantage, AA could enjoy the labor costs of an MRO with the Quality and efficiency of "in house" OH, less than outsource prices with insource control, it took seven or eight years but eventually the other carriers had to give up their OH to compete.

 

[PlayTheOdds]

While there have always been non-A&Ps in the majors even on the line they usually gained employment prior to 1970. After that A&Ps were pretty much needed to get a job. OH always had some specialty jobs where an A&P was not required. The critical difference is that liscenced or not they were on the mechanics pay scale.

You can thank the TWU for changing this with their SRP program in 1995. This program created a new very low scale (presently $9.30/hr). The SRP program (later renamed OSM)displaced A&Ps in shops in Tulsa, this in turn put all the other carriers "in house" OH operations at a disadvantage, AA could enjoy the labor costs of an MRO with the Quality and efficiency of "in house" OH, less than outsource prices with insource control, it took seven or eight years but eventually the other carriers had to give up their OH to compete.

That is very interesting Bob. Would you agree that if the current trend for the A&P continues eventually the A&P will disappear from commercial aviation?

Lets say that all A&Ps refuse to sign off oils in the logbooks performed by tech ops personnel or as Ken wishes AMTs. How long do you think it would take for the companies to complain to the FAA until the FAA turns around and says, "Ok you don't have to have and A&P license to sign off the log book anymore, you do have to have a company issued certificate showing that you have been trained in servicing engine oils then you can sign off the logbook." Once that happens it is all over for the A&P in commercial aviation.

 

[ThirdSeatHero]

That is very interesting Bob. Would you agree that if the current trend for the A&P continues eventually the A&P will disappear from commercial aviation?

Lets say that all A&Ps refuse to sign off oils in the logbooks performed by tech ops personnel or as Ken wishes AMTs. How long do you think it would take for the companies to complain to the FAA until the FAA turns around and says, "Ok you don't have to have and A&P license to sign off the log book anymore, you do have to have a company issued certificate showing that you have been trained in servicing engine oils then you can sign off the logbook." Once that happens it is all over for the A&P in commercial aviation.

I tend to doubt it.

The US is unfortunately on the hind end of things when it comes to certifications. Consider for instance that in the majority of other countries, the AMT(A&P for those with having difficulty understanding the term) equivalent is an AME-Aircraft Maintenance Engineer.

While inept managements will always try to do more with less when it comes to aircraft maintenance, I really doubt they would ever attempt to do without.

Sooner or later the smarter ones will figure out that cheaper seldom translates to better.