AA union parties see ruling soon
By D.R. STEWART World Staff Writer
6/16/2004
A vote is being sought to change the airline's mechanics affiliation.
Federal authorities are expected to rule this week on whether more than 16,000 American Airlines mechanics will hold a union representation election this summer.
Although the incumbent Transport Workers Union has represented American mechanics since 1946, the insurgent Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association has capitalized on widespread discontent among American mechanics over the past year.
Resentment began emerging a year ago after mechanics were forced to accept 25 percent wage and benefit cuts to keep American from filing a bankruptcy petition. Altogether, American's mechanics, pilots and flight attendants agreed to wage and benefit reductions totaling $1.8 billion over five years.
In March, AMFA filed documents with the National Mediation Board for an election, claiming it had signed authorization cards from 60 percent of American's mechanics. AMFA needs signed cards from 50 percent plus one of American's mechanics to hold an election
.
During the past month, the National Mediation Board has sifted through lists of eligible union voters submitted by the airline and the two unions. Dave Stewart, AMFA's co-chairman in Tulsa, said AMFA submitted a list of 16,014 mechanics eligible to vote in a representation election.
Rick Mullings, spokesman for Local 514 of the TWU, said the union's list includes 18,400 eligible voters.
American spokesman Sonja Whitemon said the company's eligibility list contains 18,600 names.
National Mediation Board spokesman Rachel Barbour said the group would have no comment until a board decision is reached.
Don Rodgers, AMFA co-chairman in Tulsa, said AMFA attorneys have learned that a board decision is expected this week.
"The longer it takes, the better it is for us because it shows they are looking at each individual person" who is eligible to vote, Rodgers said. "I have a very positive feeling at this time. I think they are going to put this thing to a vote." AMFA supporters accuse the TWU and the company of stuffing the eligibility list to dilute AMFA support.
"The company's eligibility list includes 16 deceased people and 1,200 errors overall," Rodgers said. "American Airlines built the Sabre (computer) system. They don't have glitches of 1,200 people. If the company admits to 1,200 mistakes, how is the National Mediation Board to believe the rest of their list?"
American, which must remain neutral in the representation dispute, clearly has a lot to lose if AMFA wins an election.
Although AMFA would be compelled to adhere to the five-year contract, it would be far less likely to agree to further concessions if the economy or the industry soured, AMFA spokesmen said. Even with the concessions, American's future is not secure.
Industrywide losses are expected to be $2.2 billion in 2004. American, the world's largest airline, is facing hot competition from discount carriers and surplus capacity that constrains its ability to raise ticket prices.
The TWU's Mullings said American and the union are in unfamiliar territory, which accounts for the discrepancies in the eligibility lists. "We've never been through a National Mediation Board election since the 1940s, so we have never had to go to the point of finding out who is in the class and craft of mechanic under NMB rules," Mulling said.
Under NMB rules, a mechanic is defined as a person who spends the majority of his or her time working on aircraft or buildings and equipment that support aircraft. "Until somebody challenges you in an election, you don't know how many people there are in the class and craft of mechanic," Mulling said. "The NMB doesn't care what American Airlines or the Transport Workers Union calls you."
D.R. Stewart 581-8451
[email protected]
Note the lies, Even the Amfa wannabes are unfamiliar with our Contract! Also note the editor with the Tulsa World cannot even keep his time frame correct!
I suspect the NMB is looking very closely at all the cards submitted by Amfa and are going to toss out any in question! Since Amfa has been caught using unethical tactics.
Well we will know within the next 72 hours!!! Since the NMB is going to have a movement of personal later this week.
By D.R. STEWART World Staff Writer
6/16/2004
A vote is being sought to change the airline's mechanics affiliation.
Federal authorities are expected to rule this week on whether more than 16,000 American Airlines mechanics will hold a union representation election this summer.
Although the incumbent Transport Workers Union has represented American mechanics since 1946, the insurgent Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association has capitalized on widespread discontent among American mechanics over the past year.
Resentment began emerging a year ago after mechanics were forced to accept 25 percent wage and benefit cuts to keep American from filing a bankruptcy petition. Altogether, American's mechanics, pilots and flight attendants agreed to wage and benefit reductions totaling $1.8 billion over five years.
In March, AMFA filed documents with the National Mediation Board for an election, claiming it had signed authorization cards from 60 percent of American's mechanics. AMFA needs signed cards from 50 percent plus one of American's mechanics to hold an election
.
During the past month, the National Mediation Board has sifted through lists of eligible union voters submitted by the airline and the two unions. Dave Stewart, AMFA's co-chairman in Tulsa, said AMFA submitted a list of 16,014 mechanics eligible to vote in a representation election.
Rick Mullings, spokesman for Local 514 of the TWU, said the union's list includes 18,400 eligible voters.
American spokesman Sonja Whitemon said the company's eligibility list contains 18,600 names.
National Mediation Board spokesman Rachel Barbour said the group would have no comment until a board decision is reached.
Don Rodgers, AMFA co-chairman in Tulsa, said AMFA attorneys have learned that a board decision is expected this week.
"The longer it takes, the better it is for us because it shows they are looking at each individual person" who is eligible to vote, Rodgers said. "I have a very positive feeling at this time. I think they are going to put this thing to a vote." AMFA supporters accuse the TWU and the company of stuffing the eligibility list to dilute AMFA support.
"The company's eligibility list includes 16 deceased people and 1,200 errors overall," Rodgers said. "American Airlines built the Sabre (computer) system. They don't have glitches of 1,200 people. If the company admits to 1,200 mistakes, how is the National Mediation Board to believe the rest of their list?"
American, which must remain neutral in the representation dispute, clearly has a lot to lose if AMFA wins an election.
Although AMFA would be compelled to adhere to the five-year contract, it would be far less likely to agree to further concessions if the economy or the industry soured, AMFA spokesmen said. Even with the concessions, American's future is not secure.
Industrywide losses are expected to be $2.2 billion in 2004. American, the world's largest airline, is facing hot competition from discount carriers and surplus capacity that constrains its ability to raise ticket prices.
The TWU's Mullings said American and the union are in unfamiliar territory, which accounts for the discrepancies in the eligibility lists. "We've never been through a National Mediation Board election since the 1940s, so we have never had to go to the point of finding out who is in the class and craft of mechanic under NMB rules," Mulling said.
Under NMB rules, a mechanic is defined as a person who spends the majority of his or her time working on aircraft or buildings and equipment that support aircraft. "Until somebody challenges you in an election, you don't know how many people there are in the class and craft of mechanic," Mulling said. "The NMB doesn't care what American Airlines or the Transport Workers Union calls you."
D.R. Stewart 581-8451
[email protected]
Note the lies, Even the Amfa wannabes are unfamiliar with our Contract! Also note the editor with the Tulsa World cannot even keep his time frame correct!
I suspect the NMB is looking very closely at all the cards submitted by Amfa and are going to toss out any in question! Since Amfa has been caught using unethical tactics.
Well we will know within the next 72 hours!!! Since the NMB is going to have a movement of personal later this week.
