Real Mechanics
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local 12 proud
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how does it hurt the other groups? do the pilots not have their own union? do the flight attendants not have their own union? so what your basically saying is the UN-SKILLED must ride the coattails of the skilled in order to recieve a decent wage. i have nothing against the unskilled but if they wish to have the same as me then they can also go to school and get the same qaulifications and move up, or they can continue status quo and get the left overs 🙂My World said:
Decision 2004
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My World said:
Go whimper that message on the PILOTS union, F/A's Union, Police union, Fire Fighters union, ELECTIRICIANS union, STEELWORKERS union...
Tell us MW, how much are you willing to sacrifice to subsidize high pay and over manned conditions for the unskilled? Hey, I know, we could all work for 50 cents a day and have zero unemployment, and your local garbage collector could then take care of your next medical surgery. What is your bottom dollar to "help" the other guy?
My World said:
A mechanics union would do more harm to other workers than having a Pilots union, or a flight attendants union.
If the mechanics leave, the rest of the other workers should try to do what should have been in the very beginning, organize all the other ground workers into one union.
The fact is that not only do mechanics recieve no benifit from being in the same union as baggage handlers but baggage handlers recieve no benifit either.
This blaming the baggage handlers for our decline is BS. In 1995 when we got our "seperate contracts" the mechanics contract was ratified while fleet service rejected theirs. So how can mechanics blame fleet service?
The fact is that mechanics can only blame other mechanics, mainly those in overhaul, for their decline. In fact it we could have regional contracts organized by location instead of classification chances are mechanics here in New York and LAX would be better off. Baggage handlers in these areas, at $21/hr are not holding anyone back. In fact the turnover rate for these workers is huge.
The only people that benifit from the current structure are the company and the TWU. They both just sit back as we take pot shots at each other and rake in the money. Both Fleet service and maintenance are way underpaid. Fleet service workers essentailly perform the same function as longshoremen, yet they make a fraction of what longshoremen make. Why the disparity?-simple-the union. If all the fleet serice workers in any particular airport were in one union, a union that was accountable and willing to fight they could control the airport the way the longshoreman control the seaports, only the Fleet Service workers would be even more powerful.
Mechanics need to focus on the goal of uniting the profession, it has not been the baggage handlers holding back the pay of mechanics it has been poorly led and misinformed mechanics. The blame for the mechanics decline to a large extent is because the mechanics have not become united in a union that will fight for the profession. The first step to correcting this is to get rid of the TWU and join together with other mechanics. Even when we do that we have to educate those mechanics who live in low cost areas of the importance of maintaining the rates.
Drippy Quill
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Well Booby, the "hero" in you sometimes really shines. Still looking to receive COLA in place of your negotiated contract. Or is that combined with your pay? Still believe you deserve more an hour because a loaf of bread costs more there than here.
- So what you desire is
- Be a mechanics only union
- Be a line mechanics union only
- Be a line mechanics union only with COLA
- Be a line mechanics union only with COLA and speak with a New Yawkers accent
- Be a line mechanics union only with COLA and speak with a New Yawkers accent, and have driven a taxi for 3 years prior.
Bob Owens said:
Excellent post Bob! I have been hearing that "rampers riding the mechanics coattails" crap ever since I was at EAL. It is utter non-sense and UA, NW, DL, and Southwest are proof. At Northwest, they laid off half of their mechanics but all the rampers are still there making about $19 an hour. At UA, they laid off all of their heavy maintanence mechanics but the rampers are still there making about $19 an hour (for now). At Delta, mechanics and ramp are both non-union, so they can pay either group what they want. And of course Southwest farms out most of it's heavy maintenance while it pays it's senior rampers $24 and hour. Don't get me wrong, I feel mechanics should be adequately compensated given that they are federally licensed professionals whose signature can stay with an aircraft for a long time. But a ramp crew chief insures that the aircraft is loaded according to plan (weight and balance) and that cargo is segregated, documented, and loaded properly. The crew chief then puts his signature on the final. Also given that rampers have to work in the heat and humidity of the summer, the sub-zero windchilled winters, and the other elements while loading up to 12 tons of bags, freight, and mail on a 757, dictates that I be compensated adequately.
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aafsc said:
No it is not the baggage handlers or rampers holding back the mechanics, they appear to be doing quite well. It is the structure of the TWU. I see nothing wrong with the rampers permanently separating from the mechanics, the rampers have done very good for themselves.
Hopeful
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aafsc said:
In this world, we don't get compensated for how physically demanding our job is or what environment we work in. If that was the case, a pilot would make minimum wage. And for that ramp crew chief who loads that aircraft, he is only responsible until that plane lands. The mechanic's name on an aircraft stays in the records for many a year, and into decades.
Aside from ramp workers, let's talk cabin service. The old system had them making just about what the ramp worker made. Putting aside the semantics of the passenger seeing a clean cabing and blankets folded, how much do you think one should earn folding blankets and vacuuming carpets?
I don't, nor have I ever belittled anyone for what job path they have chosen. But somewhere along the line, we have to be honest and say some people are worth more than others.
Aside from the fact that mechanics have federal licenses, their responsibility does not end when that aircraft lands.
TIME FOR CHANGE
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I was just e-mailed the twu Q&A about the PBGC and the effects on our pension once the twu "without further ratification" sells the pension down the river and tells you its for the better and AA wont be able to survive with all that pension debt. 🙄
Hopeful said:
Reagrding your first paragaph, I believe I said that. That the mechanics should be adequately compensated because they are federally licensed professionals and their signature stays with the aircraft for years in some cases as where a ramp crew chief's responsibility ends when the flight lands. As for pay, before concessions, the mechanics were making about $35 and hour as where a fleet service clerk was making $22 and hour. And honestly, the mechanics should make significantly more than ramp because of their skills, licenses, and responsibilities. I started with AA 15 years ago making $6.85 an hour part time. Are you saying that after 15 years I should still be making $6.85 an hour?
As far as cabin, about two contracts ago, AA was basically allowed to pay cabin whatever they wanted. A new group was created and the pay was very low. They hired people off the street for these new positions. It wasn't long before the problems began; like VCRs being removed from the MD-11s. There was also problems with applicants passing the drug tests. So AA raised the wages. Now, in the latest round of concessions, AA was allowed to contract out midnite cabin. We all know of the low pay and high turnover of the contract employees in addition to the disapperance of cabin supplies. As for cleaning the aircraft during the day between flights, at most cities the ramp has to unload the plane, deliver the bags, come back and clean the plane, then run downstairs and load the plane; in most cases in less than 30 minutes.
Hopeful
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aafsc:
I agree with what you are saying. I felt the need to respond over the comment that the ramp workers work in sometimes unpleasant weather. No argument there!
True, most line mechanics don't spend as much time outdoors as the ramp worker does. But from personal experience, I have changed many an engine generator, tire, brake, hydraulic pump sometimes in excess of 2 hours in the same extreme weather where the fingers are so numb you cant put a simple nut on a bolt. Where the feet are so numb, there is no feeling left.
We all experience these work realted conditions.
Not to argue with you over who has it worse, but all airline workers are being forced to no longer have pride in their jobs and to work in worse conditions because we all have to do alot more with a lot less.
The irony of working in extreme weather conditions is because the company will haul ur ass in to the office for an attendance hearing afer you call in sick.
I agree with what you are saying. I felt the need to respond over the comment that the ramp workers work in sometimes unpleasant weather. No argument there!
True, most line mechanics don't spend as much time outdoors as the ramp worker does. But from personal experience, I have changed many an engine generator, tire, brake, hydraulic pump sometimes in excess of 2 hours in the same extreme weather where the fingers are so numb you cant put a simple nut on a bolt. Where the feet are so numb, there is no feeling left.
We all experience these work realted conditions.
Not to argue with you over who has it worse, but all airline workers are being forced to no longer have pride in their jobs and to work in worse conditions because we all have to do alot more with a lot less.
The irony of working in extreme weather conditions is because the company will haul ur ass in to the office for an attendance hearing afer you call in sick.
