Today I met with a congressman's campaign manager re. foreign repair stations.

[Lloyd Grey]

The man I met today with works for the Congressman and will arrange a meeting re. foreign repair stations during the campaign. I subsequently sent him an email stating that a regulation change could be ordered by the President which would set a timeline for ALL U.S. Passenger Air Carrier aircraft "C" checks to be accomplished by FAA repair stations inside the USA; and,

The Congressman could gain a lot of postitive PR if he would sponsor the bill.

I don't mention the names or city here, because I hope YOU will do the same.

Here is a tip: I made a deal. ALL campaigns need volunteers. Since I drive through town on my way to work, I can deliver yard signs. The campaign office will take requests, give me a list and the number of signs to be placed at each address. I locate them by my gps equipped iPhone and everyone is happy.

The most important thing is "face time". We don't have the money offered by lobbyists or PACs. What we do have is "proximity" during the election season, and "face time" with people who work with and can educate the politician.

Do I care what party? Not at all.

Is this about "union" jobs? Yes but also about ALL jobs at MRO companies.

Will you do what I am doing for our profession? Please, "do". And LOOK them in the eye when you ask for a commitment, a Bill and a new way of doing business in American aviation.

 

[Kellerguy]

While the basic idea is fine, the problem is that it places US carriers at an unfair advantage against foreign carriers and could very well have unintended outcomes, one of which could end up being US carriers unable to compete in international travel. If one imagines that for a moment, then in today's political environment together with the customers proven tendencies to travel the lowest cost airline everywhere, it might not be long before domestic travel is opened up to international carriers too.

A better approach might be to put all airlines on an even playing field if the fly into, out of or within the US by making all of them subject to the same FAA rigor.

 

[eolesen]

Politicians are so trustworthy, I think I'd ask for the meeting before delivering any signs... Otherwise, you'll end up like one of Planned Parenthood's free condoms.... used.

 

[Frank Szabo]

The man I met today with works for the Congressman and will arrange a meeting re. foreign repair stations during the campaign. I subsequently sent him an email stating that a regulation change could be ordered by the President which would set a timeline for ALL U.S. Passenger Air Carrier aircraft "C" checks to be accomplished by FAA repair stations inside the USA; and,

The Congressman could gain a lot of postitive PR if he would sponsor the bill.

I don't mention the names or city here, because I hope YOU will do the same.

Here is a tip: I made a deal. ALL campaigns need volunteers. Since I drive through town on my way to work, I can deliver yard signs. The campaign office will take requests, give me a list and the number of signs to be placed at each address. I locate them by my gps equipped iPhone and everyone is happy.

The most important thing is "face time". We don't have the money offered by lobbyists or PACs. What we do have is "proximity" during the election season, and "face time" with people who work with and can educate the politician.

Do I care what party? Not at all.

Is this about "union" jobs? Yes but also about ALL jobs at MRO companies.

Will you do what I am doing for our profession? Please, "do". And LOOK them in the eye when you ask for a commitment, a Bill and a new way of doing business in American aviation.

Politicians run on money - nothing else. Now that corporations are considered "people" for political donation purposes (per the USSC), the aircraft maintenance trade will follow the electronics offshore.

Unless the trades can match the corporate million$ which can be delivered via lobbying (Heaven forbid a politician be bribed), offering the signs only make one a useful idiot.

The only thing that can get a pol's attention faster than money (or loss thereof) is a viable threat to their power by being removed from office - the power they hold is more addictive than opium. All that's necessary is getting the trades to agree on the shape of the table.

Herding cats would be easier.

 

[Lloyd Grey]

Fair opinions, even perhaps that I am an idiot. After all, I share employment with the likes of you.

But let me ask; what have you done today?

 

[Frank Szabo]

Fair opinions, even perhaps that I am an idiot. After all, I share employment with the likes of you.

But let me ask; what have you done today?

So far today, I've spoken with a headhunter with a clientele looking for diemakers (as I have every day this week - all out of state and not yet an option due to family concerns) and arranged an interview locally - but let me ask - what have you done today to benefit you and your family? Hint - offering to supply signs doesn't count.

I've been shown over time, in no uncertain terms, what working for the "greater good" accomplishes. It's nice to see others, as in your case, aren't quite so jaded. I truly hope, for your sake, your dedication isn't due to not having other options.

 

[FWAAA]

The man I met today with works for the Congressman and will arrange a meeting re. foreign repair stations during the campaign. I subsequently sent him an email stating that a regulation change could be ordered by the President which would set a timeline for ALL U.S. Passenger Air Carrier aircraft "C" checks to be accomplished by FAA repair stations inside the USA; and,

To get the President to do something like issue an executive order you really should be talking to the President's people, no?

The Congressman could gain a lot of postitive PR if he would sponsor the bill.

What bill? In the previous paragraph, you were talking about the President issuing an executive order. Don't need a bill to get that done. Are you now talking about trying to get Congress to pass a law requiring that all heavy checks be accomplished in the USA?

Good luck with that. I predict the odds of success at somewhere around one in a billion.

Presumably the unions that would benefit from such an order or law have spent some time and money on that cause - don't see how a grass roots effort by mechanics going it alone would lead to greater probability of success.

 

[Frank Szabo]

Politicians are so trustworthy, I think I'd ask for the meeting before delivering any signs... Otherwise, you'll end up like one of Planned Parenthood's free condoms.... used.

[sharedmedia=core:attachments:9458]

 

[eolesen]

Are you now talking about trying to get Congress to pass a law requiring that all heavy checks be accomplished in the USA?

Good luck with that. I predict the odds of success at somewhere around one in a billion.

Presumably the unions that would benefit from such an order or law have spent some time and money on that cause - don't see how a grass roots effort by mechanics going it alone would lead to greater probability of success.

The current administration couldn't even get CardCheck passed, which arguably is far more important to the union cause than protectionism with a slice of xenophobia mixed in, all wrapped in the flag of national security...

 

[AA89]

Not the first time I've seen the xenophobia word used on this subject. Both times by someone that probably wouldn't know the first thing about maintaining an aircraft from the other side of a desk. Please explain why you think trying to keep these jobs in the USA makes someone a xenophobe.
Do you apply that tag to anyone that fights outsourcing to other countries?
And will you be taking your car in for service this weekend "across the tracks" or the usual Casper Milktoast service center?

 

[Frank Szabo]

The current administration couldn't even get CardCheck passed, which arguably is far more important to the union cause than protectionism with a slice of xenophobia mixed in, all wrapped in the flag of national security...

Sir E: In my humble opinion, the current "administration" (loosely speaking, of course) didn't even try to get that passed - corporate Amerika was paying too well to allow the bill to see the light of day.

At the national level, the political parties exist solely to create issues for the rabble (us) to busy ourselves with while the elite do as they damned well please with hardly any oversight by their bosses (us again).

Republicans, Democrats, Independents and other sects - all have the same goals and those goals have nothing to do with the well-being of the citizens.

 

[Barfbag]

Fair opinions, even perhaps that I am an idiot. After all, I share employment with the likes of you.

But let me ask; what have you done today?

Hey guy, I for one am proud of you and and your efforts.....

but the time to act came and went when Ronald Regan tossed out the PATCO workers.

Every union leader had a chance to back up these guys but they chose to wait their turn under Ronny's desk.

That's when the snowflake on a hill formed into a snowball. You know what happens to the snowball, getting larger and larger going down that snowy hill all those years, right ?

So go right ahead and just jump into the snowball's path.. Have a nice day.

 

[eolesen]

Not the first time I've seen the xenophobia word used on this subject. Both times by someone that probably wouldn't know the first thing about maintaining an aircraft from the other side of a desk. Please explain why you think trying to keep these jobs in the USA makes someone a xenophobe.

Because it has to do with the assumption that only a US based mechanic is qualified to do the work.

Just look at the reaction to the DL maintenance center planned for Mexico. It will be DL mechanics doing the work, so it isn't outsourcing, yet unionists are in an uproar.

If DL went thru the steps of having their mechanics in Mexico be subjected to all the same requirements (background checks, drug testing, FAA issued license), would you still be against it?

If AA decided to follow suit, and used non-union mechanics in Belize or Honduras, would you still be against it?

We've seen APFA decry the foreign nationals, and folks like Owens trying to make the argument that checks done an AA mechanic in LHR or FRA are outsourcing.

So, please, enlighten me on how this shouldn't be viewed as xenophobic.

And my car maintenance? One is a Honda with 100,000+ miles on it. I do my own oil and routine maintenance on it. It has never failed or needed a mechanic. The other is a 12 year old Cherokee with 100,000+ that has rarely needed repairs. I go to a specialist when it needs it, not the dealer, and not a Pep Boys. You don't go to a brake shop to have your tcase or diffs worked on, and my drive shafts only go to a shop that only does shaft balancing. I could save a lot of time going to a one-stop-shop, but I chose expertise over cost or expediency.

You can do a job well, cheap, and fast, but typically only get two of the three.

 

[AA89]

Because it has to do with the assumption that only a US based mechanic is qualified to do the work.

Just look at the reaction to the DL maintenance center planned for Mexico. It will be DL mechanics doing the work, so it isn't outsourcing, yet unionists are in an uproar.

If DL went thru the steps of having their mechanics in Mexico be subjected to all the same requirements (background checks, drug testing, FAA issued license), would you still be against it?

If AA decided to follow suit, and used non-union mechanics in Belize or Honduras, would you still be against it?

We've seen APFA decry the foreign nationals, and folks like Owens trying to make the argument that checks done an AA mechanic in LHR or FRA are outsourcing.

So, please, enlighten me on how this shouldn't be viewed as xenophobic.

And my car maintenance? One is a Honda with 100,000+ miles on it. I do my own oil and routine maintenance on it. It has never failed or needed a mechanic. The other is a 12 year old Cherokee with 100,000+ that has rarely needed repairs. I go to a specialist when it needs it, not the dealer, and not a Pep Boys. You don't go to a brake shop to have your tcase or diffs worked on, and my drive shafts only go to a shop that only does shaft balancing. I could save a lot of time going to a one-stop-shop, but I chose expertise over cost or expediency.

You can do a job well, cheap, and fast, but typically only get two of the three.

I guess everybody has their reasons why work that has traditionally been done in the U.S. should stay here but to label anyone that believes that as even a touch xenophobic is a stretch to me. It is the same logic that labels anyone for immigration reform as racist. They just must not like people from other countries I guess?
Cmon, you know unions are supposed to try and keep jobs in the U.S. In regards to Delta's hangar in Mexico, my first choice would be to keep those jobs here but if the facility and workers are under the same scrutiny as MROs in the U.S. then that's really all any of us can ask for. The same for AA.
My point all along in this is that we really don't know how our OH costs stack up against the foreign MROs and nothing was done by management to try and get us close to those costs. I've been for cleaning out the deadbeats and 3 time losers in maintenance and so are alot of guys but it was never done. Now all of a sudden they are full of chair removal ideas. Brilliant. And yes, I blame the union too.

I would imagine APFAs resistance to foreign nationals is the same I have heard from degreed professionals that complain about engineers from India coming here and working for less money and putting Americans out of work. Yes I am against that.

Bob Owens would rather those checks be performed in the U.S. rather than Europe. I am for that and on the flipside I imagine Europeans would rather they do the checks. I see both sides points of view.

Protecting jobs and/or seeing that our competitors play by the same rules is not xenophobia. If you want to call it a touch of protectionism then you may have a case.

I have you beat on the mileage. Your cars together add up to my poor old 2002 Silverado. C'mon Retirement Prefunding check......

 

[eolesen]

my first choice would be to keep those jobs here but if the facility and workers are under the same scrutiny as MROs in the U.S. then that's really all any of us can ask for....
Protecting jobs and/or seeing that our competitors play by the same rules is not xenophobia. If you want to call it a touch of protectionism then you may have a case.

Getting all facilities and workers under the same rules is a winnable argument.

Simply demanding that the work be done here? Almost as winnable of an argument as trying to get cigarettes and beer covered by food stamps.