I was watching the game. Ok first the offer was the offer, I believe the company's finacial situation was undetermined because of the merger.That was a merger agreement not a traditional sec 6 agreement. As far as the T/A being concessionary in nature I don't think so, we all wanted everything without consideration for the class 2 and the west, the T/A brought the class 2 up, it protected cargo, it eliminated the 60 day recall, it had improvments in sick leave, LOA, vacation, and pension ( have you seen the 401ks lately they are taking a beating). Not crazy about the 2012 snap-backs. However, saying all that here is my question....I assume the company reads this site. Do you think it is wise to post what you want or what you would settle for? $19 -$20. shoot high let them wonder. Looking back was it better to have something then rather than have nothing now? We voted on shooting tht agreement down. Lets not sell ourselves short what do we want to see in the next T/A?
Remember, in bankruptcy, I dont' recall traditional bargaining either. Bottom line is that bargaining is bargaining and the company wants the COC out of the agreement because the envirnoment has changed and the company wants to be a player in the upcoming mergers. Otherwise, try to convince me of any other reason why the company is negotiating instead of waiting till 2009. Leverage unions. The Unions have something the company and Al needs. Bottom line.
We aren't settling for anything less than $20 hr. I personally, think it's profane just to settle for $20hr but considering Canale's crew wanted to accept $19 bucks last week [But the newbies put a break on it] it will be extremely difficult with our own Union Boss conceding and justifying the company's positon. 3 workers [Hall, Simmons, Fairbanks], who are elected by the membership are saying screw you to $19hr, OTOH, Canale and crew [Previous negotiators, including westies] wanted to accept $19 and throw 19 stations under the buss again. Some informational meetings implied that Canale was willing and bent on accepting Al's proposal without a counter. Basically the whole, 'stock price is low, 'lions, tigers, and bears, Canale speech was replayed. And according to "The Janitor" , Canale threw the 19 stations under the bus with his counter proposal. I got a problem with not raising the wage of steps 1-10. I got a problem of a union counter proposal not grandfathering or guaranteeing all current work as fleet service work.
I mean, what the hell, just raising the last step and screwing everyone else just suggest to me that Canale is desperate to just attempt to gain majority support. His 'math' will 'great pain' to him as his math will fall short. Our network of solidarity is strong and Canale will experience great personal "Pain" when the nominations take place this month.
Your boy Canale wanted to settle for 'piss clam' last year, and even reportedly wanted to sign last week until our 3 newbies told him to get a grip. He claimed $19 was the 'best he could do' and claimed he only got that because of COC language. He's in error, as fleet service still has the 'current' leverage of the COC as the environment has changed and it's 'merger mania'.
We have effectively rendered Canale ineffective and slapped him to the sidelines in return for 3 negotiators who may not be experiened but aren't sellouts like the rest, and they have the support of 8,000 workers behind them. The membership has lost confidence in Boss Canale. We gave Randy 2 years to work things out in this merger but he screwed it up so bad we had to overtake him and "Bull Rush" him to the sidelines.
Bottom line, negotiations are negotiations, we'll get $20hr, extra vactation, sick time, etc., or Al can wait till 2009. It's his call. Bottom line. Otherwise, it's called 'screw transition'.
And if "The Janitor" is right then screw everything if all levels of the wage step isn't taken care of. Fleet service is tigher than 'two coats of paint' therefore we don't have any problem if Al wants to 'flutter around'. No big deal. Gots to take care of ourselves first before we's accept a goofy TA. Fleet service will hold its position and take this whole damn thing down before it accepts something less than equitable.
Regards,
Tim Nelson,
IAM Local Chairman, Chicago 1487
