It is not necessarily only a financial amount that has set our group back decades, as that is clearly obvious.
But also a sense and real need for teamwork internally.
Let me explain,
As Flight Attendants, we were being represented by one of the largest and most powerful
labor unions in this country. We, as a group managed to attain an industry leading contract.
Ironically, the first initial tentative agreement was rejected by the group. Due to a grass roots effort, convincing
enough people, that it wasn't good enough. The second tentative agreement, negotiated by Teamsters was industry leading, at that time.
A group of motivated Flight Attendants, including former Teamsters leaders campaigned for an independent union.
The concept of a independent union is not really a bad idea, rather the devastating timing this grass roots effort took
upon themselves, convincing the majority, it was the right thing to do protecting us from concessions. It was not the right thing to do.
Many of those same individuals, who petitioned so heavily for the independent union. Simply walked away from it only to resurface again during the next representational campaign, only this time supporting someone else.
A learning lesson.
After the Teamsters yellow book was abrogated and subsequent failure of PFAA tentative agreement. Once again
a group of motivated Flight Attendants took it upon themselves solicited AFA. In the middle of not only our contract just being abrogated, but at a time moral was the lowest point in our careers during a period of bankruptcy.
A lot of promises were made, and many were convinced the AFA would establish and correct the perceived unjust actions.
What ended up happening was PFAA Tentative Agreement evaluations were modified and when the group opened the tentative agreement two, after all the promises made, flat out rejected that agreement.
It only got worse from there on out, as a significant majority were willing to reject the third agreement and equity claim.
Why has this set us back?
We have a group of former Leaders and activist still to this day fighting over the internal politics of the PFAA and AFA.
That infighting will create problems for the entire group.
It will carry over.
You see it is not necessarily a Union, rather than two particular groups and their union ideas who still have a wedge to grind with each other.
That has set us back, as we try to move forward.
It is all really just politics, however these two groups, former PFAA supporters and AFA Leaders, who will not let it go
will create a new set of issues, for the combined group. Based on the fact some are still convinced the AFA raided the PFAA and the need for some to maintain power positions.
This is real and needs to be addressed and brought to the DL Flight Attendants attention should representation become
successful.
There are many other issues that may hinder the combined the group other than just seeking a contract.
Basically there is a whole other can of worms, that is going to be sitting right on the table with everything else.
It is starting to unfortunately appear one consideration, we are going to have to leave both behind and try to move forward, as we heal as a group, working together focused on teamwork, customer service that enables a true positive
working environment, keeping in mind representation would still be available at a later time. If for some reason it was needed, such as a completely different union altogether which is not PFAA "independent" or AFA, because the "PFAA" and "AFA" have left such a sour taste, neither will be or considered effective. However if there was a "need" it must be a complete new entity that is neither the two previous with complete new leadership. I do not foresee a need, if the group actively participates leaving the past in the past and focuses on the future and really attempts to work together.
(I know from personal experience you can attain a Union at some time in the future, as we went through three)
There are two groups who cannot get on the same page without a constant need of conflict and that is a real issue.
There is a very small group who have managed to create so many problems by Union infighting, it has set us back more than just in a financial sense, it is the ability to work together resolving issues.
I often wonder if these people would have simply left well enough alone and we remained Teamsters, would a lot of these issues simply been avoided, especially the real setback the division and infighting has created.
The question would be?
Will the combined group over look all the real issues, just for the sake of having something in writing, that may just in fact not allow these promises made to be fulfilled due to internal politics?
