Usa Today: Mechanics Strike At Northwest Appears Over

[Red Tail Bear]

Bob, I can agree with you on everything except the barrel being empty for another carrier to pull off the same stunt. There were at least 1000 contractors that went to the NWA scab training but didn't cross the line. I expected that to happen but was still surprised at that high of a number. Most didn't cross because of fear of AMFA strikers, news travels quickly in the aviation industry and most of those are kicking themselves for not crossing. Those that did cross and are not going to roll over will return to the contract world and I'm sure cross another picket line if they were called to do so. You also now have a few thousand AMFA AMT's on the streets now. I am sure a majority of those feel let down by the unions and will cross a picket line if the opportunity arose, much like the AA guys that are here after being laid off and the TWA guys got to stay. I agree that the aviation industry is going to expand and at an exponential rate. Before that happens though you will see more union busting going on and the amount of ammo out there will only grow after each one.

I would also like to add that I also will continue to cross picket lines until the unions drastically change the way they operate and represent their members and the way they treat the company.

Uh! Hello PTO The reason that there are unions is because of the way the companys were and still are treating their employees!!

 

[Bob Owens]

Bob, I can agree with you on everything except the barrel being empty for another carrier to pull off the same stunt. There were at least 1000 contractors that went to the NWA scab training but didn't cross the line. I expected that to happen but was still surprised at that high of a number. Most didn't cross because of fear of AMFA strikers, news travels quickly in the aviation industry and most of those are kicking themselves for not crossing. Those that did cross and are not going to roll over will return to the contract world and I'm sure cross another picket line if they were called to do so. You also now have a few thousand AMFA AMT's on the streets now. I am sure a majority of those feel let down by the unions and will cross a picket line if the opportunity arose, much like the AA guys that are here after being laid off and the TWA guys got to stay. I agree that the aviation industry is going to expand and at an exponential rate. Before that happens though you will see more union busting going on and the amount of ammo out there will only grow after each one.

I would also like to add that I also will continue to cross picket lines until the unions drastically change the way they operate and represent their members and the way they treat the company.

Maybe they just signed up for kicks, and never intended to scab. The extra couple of months working restrts the clock on unemployment benifits. The fact that they turned down the job probably doesnt count against unemployment because the offer required relocation.

As for those who would cross because they felt the union let them down why would they cross somewhere else, why not just go back to NWA?

EAL guys who came after their strike (by the way it took two years before they actually liquidated) never regretted their decision to strike.

What you fail to realize is that the barrel is not getting fuller. Mechanics are leaving the industry on their own initiative. Right now its just a trickle, but its a trickle that never existed before. We recently had several guys who were not at risk of a layoff quit, I've never seen that before. We go through supervisors on a weekly basis. Also those that remain do not look at this as a lifetime gig anymore, thats why, despite threats from the company we see massive sick calls on the Holidays. We never used to see that before.


"I would also like to add that I also will continue to cross picket lines until the unions drastically change the way they operate and represent their members and the way they treat the company."


Who are you trying to kid? Your motives are not based on any noble grounds, you are an opportunistic scab, plain and simple(minded).

 

[PlayTheOdds]

No Red Tail, that is not the reason that there "are unions" that is the reason that there were unions. Unions do not protect you from the companies anymore nor do they treat the companies in a sensible manner. They have become unwanted parasites that feed off the members and the company. Have you read the posts made in these forums? Find one that says that such-n-such is a great union. You guys have been reduced to searching for the least of the evils, which is really sad.

 

[PlayTheOdds]

Maybe they just signed up for kicks, and never intended to scab. The extra couple of months working restrts the clock on unemployment benifits. The fact that they turned down the job probably doesnt count against unemployment because the offer required relocation.

I agree that there were some that did just that but most were scared.

As for those who would cross because they felt the union let them down why would they cross somewhere else, why not just go back to NWA?

Because there are no jobs left at NWA for them. Call the HR office there you will get a voice recording that says just that.

Who are you trying to kid? Your motives are not based on any noble grounds, you are an opportunistic scab, plain and simple(minded).

Bob I thought you were above such trivial statements. You are right about me being a opportunist which I don't see where that is a bad thing after all isn't that what America was built on. I think you could say the same thing about our founding fathers for didn't they place themselves at the highest levels of our new government? I'm not simple minded Bob, I'm simply realistic.

 

[proAMFA]

I agree that there were some that did just that but most were scared.
Because there are no jobs left at NWA for them. Call the HR office there you will get a voice recording that says just that.
Bob I thought you were above such trivial statements. You are right about me being a opportunist which I don't see where that is a bad thing after all isn't that what America was built on. I think you could say the same thing about our founding fathers for didn't they place themselves at the highest levels of our new government? I'm not simple minded Bob, I'm simply realistic.

Don't you dare compare yourself to our founding fathers. You don't deserve to walk on the ground they spat on. Your not being competative your being a thief, a job stealing, family wrecking thief, who works to destroy relationships between work groups and their employers and men and their families. They only thing people of your ilk are doing is allowing a company to do what it should not be doing-stealing from its workers and destroying the American way of life. The mechanics who worked years and years to build their company up have had it ripped away from them by a bunch of greedy carpet baggers. Worst yet what they have been allowed to get away with at Northwest is spreading to other airlines and businesses. Get off your perch scumbag. Your part of the problem. Someday you'll understand the pain you have caused. Until then continue to count your pieces of silver and numb your concious with alcohol it probably improves your work.

 

[Bagbelt]

As has been pointed out to me; the influence of millions of people who want cheap fares outweighs the influence of a few hundred thousand airline workers. Guys in my dads generation would have shut the place down if the janitors went on strike. A lot of the guys I work with have no desire to get involved and will justify croosing a picket line using their famillies as an excuse, like they didn't have famillies years ago. You can blame the AFL-CIO etc. all you want, the fact is most guys under 40 just don't get it.

 

[PlayTheOdds]

Don't you dare compare yourself to our founding fathers. You don't deserve to walk on the ground they spat on. Your not being competative...

Wow, he does speak. Did I strike a nerve proAMFA? Did the British Royalty not consider our Founding Fathers renegade dissidents? Had the British caught them would they not have been hung or shot in very short order for treason? Do you think the British thought they were simple-minded moralless pirates? That sounds a lot like what you guys think of me. Do you think they cared what the Brits thought? Do you think I care what you think? I wasn't trying to compare myself to them but since you brought it up I do see some interesting similarities.

 

[Saabmeister]

Wow, he does speak. Did I strike a nerve proAMFA? Did the British Royalty not consider our Founding Fathers renegade dissidents? Had the British caught them would they not have been hung or shot in very short order for treason? Do you think the British thought they were simple-minded moralless pirates? That sounds a lot like what you guys think of me. Do you think they cared what the Brits thought? Do you think I care what you think? I wasn't trying to compare myself to them but since you brought it up I do see some interesting similarities.

Are you a renegade dissident? No, you're a dirty scab. If anything, I think the striking AMFA members are more like renegade dissidents than you.

No one is going to hang or shoot you. (Although I'm sure some people would like to)

They didn't think the founding fathers we're simple-minded moralless pirates, but you sure as hell are.

 

[robbedagain]

the thing about this is at least the AMFA Membership stood up for their believes. that is far more than what the IAM could ever do for their membership.

 

[PlayTheOdds]

They stood up for their beliefs? I don't think so. They simply did as their union told them to. I am sure some feel that they are standing up for their beliefs but that is simply because they turned unionism into a religion.

 

[robbedagain]

Well their UNION had/has the balls to stand up against the crooks that are ruining a grat airline--NWA. I still stand by my last comment that they stood up for what they believe was their right to protect themselves against the awful bombings by top level crooks

 

[PlayTheOdds]

Maybe so, to bad they didn't have the stamina to go the distance. With the number of crossers where do you think their beliefs lie now? Some of these guys here are emotionally crushed for being here. I am afraid they are not going to make it due to the inner turmoil they are living with. I don't know how to deal with these guys, this whole union thing has become some type of cult that has really twisted these guys up. They remind me of refugees from a war torn country, totally defeated and absolutely helpless. They are attempting to return here as if they still have a union and are trying to operate as they did before the strike. You can send a guy to change a few reading lights and he will disappear for a couple of hours. They absolutely refuse to answer their radios. The MAP's are trying to be patient with them but you can tell it is wearing thin. Let me add that this is the minority of the group, most are simply glad to be back but they are all being judged as a whole which might be unfair but thats just life. I have a feeling that there are a lot of terminations just on the horizon.

 

[robbedagain]

why would there be any firings on the horizion? by the time that the rading lights are out, there could be more problems that are being picked up by the cockpit crew and the crews asks if it can be fixed right away. that may be the reason they are taking their time and they want it to be fixed right so the plane with pax doesnt crash.

 

[PlayTheOdds]

robbedagain, are you serious? Do you have any idea what maintenance clear means? It is obvious you have never done or been exposed to any type of line maintenance. Most aircraft are only on the ground for a little more than an hour and some for even less. If a mechanic changes a reading lamp then calls in an aircraft maintenance clear, that means he is no longer on the aircraft. He should then return to the LMO or go to another aircraft either way at least check in or answer his radio. You’re grabbing for straws to justify their actions.

 

[Hackman]

Maybe so, to bad they didn't have the stamina to go the distance. With the number of crossers where do you think their beliefs lie now? Some of these guys here are emotionally crushed for being here. I am afraid they are not going to make it due to the inner turmoil they are living with. I don't know how to deal with these guys, this whole union thing has become some type of cult that has really twisted these guys up. They remind me of refugees from a war torn country, totally defeated and absolutely helpless. They are attempting to return here as if they still have a union and are trying to operate as they did before the strike. You can send a guy to change a few reading lights and he will disappear for a couple of hours. They absolutely refuse to answer their radios. The MAP's are trying to be patient with them but you can tell it is wearing thin. Let me add that this is the minority of the group, most are simply glad to be back but they are all being judged as a whole which might be unfair but thats just life. I have a feeling that there are a lot of terminations just on the horizon.

My sources at NWA tell me most of the scab crossers are ex-iam, and most others were not AMFA supporters and would sell mom for a dollar, kinda like yourself PlaytheCods. My NWA friends have moved on, and will not return to the NWA mess again. If you have studied the EAL strike (you haven't i'm sure), it took over two years for the airline to die. EAL was mismanaged (like NWA), had extremely unhappy employees (like NWA), and when the mechanics went on strike, scabs like you came in and tried to keep the airline flying, at least for a couple years. But tragically, in the end they failed. Like NWA is failing right now. Stealand and his henchmen are apparently planning to take a huge dump on the rest of its beleaguered employees, and most likely that will seal NWA fate.

NWA was a hostile place to work before Stealand and his band of criminals started its current death spiral. Like EAL, bankruptcy will not save them from liquidation now. Enjoy the ride down Mr. Cods. At least until you slither back to Texas. 🙂