You can go two more years with BK wages ? Wow you must be independently wealthy unlike the other 99% of us ..
We have plenty to lose by sticking with this lousy contract , for starters , you still have the nice outsourcing language dangling over the heads of many a station , secondly , if we don’t get a new contract NOW , well we won’t get much of a boost when we merge again … to clarify that , this is my view , if we accept a fair contract now that isn’t industry leading , OK we’re in it till 2012 , but we will most likely merge again , and at that time we can redo the whole contract thing all over again to push for MORE ….if however , we don’t enter into a new contract , when the next merger comes around it will be harder to get more because we will have much more ground to cover in the talks .. It’s like if you were walking up a mountain , would it be more easy to just start and go straight up it without a rest , or take a break half way up and then continue on ?
The reason the company is scheduling talks in my view is , well if they don’t get something done the employees would rather see the doors shut , I’m not kidding here , if you presented to me the option of going another 2 or 3 years as we are now , or closing down shop , with all of the hate, rage , despair , anger etc in me , I’d rather close it down … it’s not good for business when your workers become emotionally detached and deranged . That’s why parker is coming back to the table , he know’s he’s taken us to the BREAKING point …
Let's not get ahead of ourselves by pushing the panic mode like you don't have any oxygen to breath, and let's not scramble for the sake of a pending merger [that's Dougie's problem].
Freedom you have alot of energy, that's commendable. Take some time and breathe, let's take our time, settle down. I see on youtube that you guys are planting 'seeds of solidarity' out in PHX, I admire that. I personally would wish that other hubs would join in more visibly as PHX has. Who can deny that PHX is ironically becoming a very solid brotherhood?
However, the fruit of 'seeds of solidarity' don't sprout overnight like a weed, but it will manifest itself soon enough. Such seeds of solidarity need to be cultured and waterered. It will grow up like a vine and strangle management but don't expect management to be purusaded until the vine is ripe. In other words, don't expect to make an expression, then wonder why your company hasn't signed a contract the next day.
Further, I am in contact with many in PHX and I will second alot of what you say on here is true about PHX rampers being so fed up that I would use the term, 'fully blown fed up'. But let me appeal to you not to come on here and cry about needing a contract yesterday and that you can't survive, that is exactly what parker would have you say. Besides, the class 2 stations and even the hubs are experiencing the same pain but are 'honkered down' and mobilized because we are in the middle of a 'great battle' that will help determine whether this ramp is going to be oppressed for the next 10 years with disrespect, anger, hate for a company, OR if this ramp will be a place to rear a family and be proud of working for this airline. As far as I can see on the horizon, NOBODY IS PROUD TO WORK FOR THIS AIRLINE and NOBODY is going the 'extra mile' because of the utter disrespect, and disregard that Parker has for the human beings that work for this company. It's all about relationships and Parker treats the masses on this property like $20 whores.
Until there is respect and dignity, screw it all Freedom...screw it all, hold your position, with the sword of justice held high. Nobody is saying there won't be casualty but hold firm for the hope of a fair and equitable contact. Therein lies the hope and it must be fought for and taken since management will not think lightly on this matter. Remember, management NEEDS also. Screw them, screw transition, screw mergers, screw going over and above at the risk of being unsafe. Unfortunately, we had to strong arm our District leadership and cast their legitimacy to the sideline since all they do is sing the praises of Parker by talking down to fleet service. But we have been effective in this regard and the rank and file mass is 'solid'.
Remember, your solidarity in PHX, while impressive, will accomplish NOTHING if it's represented in a topsy turvy way on this message board.
regards,
Tim Nelson
IAM Local Chairman, 1487, Chicago
