The IAM is a joke. I just recieved a letter in the mail and I'm sure everyone will be recieving thiers. The
letter basically is the same old IAM propaganda. I states in one part, ''Other unions traded off grievances without the consent of thier members. In the Machinists Union however, the membership decides.''
I'm sure I'll be corrected if I'm wrong but didn't certain IAM reps..(hayden) threaten that they could have just excepted an agreement without a vote. The only reason this was put to a vote was because the IAM wanted to extend it til 2012. They couldn't except a agreement that extends the length of the current agreement without a vote, its' in thier by laws. The IAM would have gladly accepted the changes had the company not looked for the extension, believe me.
The letter goes on to say,''When someone asks you to sign a card seeking a union representation election, remember the risk in which they are placing you, your family and your coworkers. An election will benifit US Airways and perhaps some individuals who were promised jobs with other unions, but not Fleet Service workers.''
When you sign a card you are not putting yourself at risk, thats' an ignorant statement and an round about scare tatic. You have every right to sign a card without being intimidated into not signing. The cards are a signal to the union and company your seeking new representation. They also always drag ''Our families'' into thier reasoning not to sign. As far as it benifiting some individuals, it may benifit all individuals. The current group of IBEW reps going around from city to city are not employed by USAIRWAYS, thier fares, hotels and food is all payed for by the IBEW, they already work for them. Its' thier job to support the IBEW.
Finally the letter opens up with,''The result of the recent ratification vote have stirred up a lot of emotions. Regardless of how you voted, the oppurtunity afforded the District 141 membership was unigue. No other US Airways union has voted on merger-related issues. Front line Customer Service and Reservation agents had no opportunity to vote on thier intergration agreement.''
Again the IAM screws themselves. They would have gladly accepted these changes if the company didn't look for the extension. They tried to sneak this TA through by opening up the voting in PHX and were told PHL was a ''slam dunk'' by Hayden. Thats' why it went to PHL next. Th IAM was hoping the rest of the fleet that they would have the number of votes necessary to accept the TA and everyone should show the company were a strong group and vote YES but PHL screwed them. Thier misinformation out of PHL messed up the plan. THE IAM WANTS THE WEST DUES'. THE COMPANY WANTS THE EXTENSION. Were the pawns being played with and ignored.
Sign the cards for yourselves and your families. We need a new direction and the IBEW affords this opportunity. The IBEW is out there for us, thier visiting cities for us. We need to stop going in the direction were going. The IAM continues to try to sell us out. Wake up and give them thier walking papers.The IBEW wants us and we should want them. I'll ask you where have the IAM reps been...in Reno and in hiding. Now I get a letter...dated Oct. 4th, todays the 13th. Man the mail moves slow , well maybe its the IAM that moves slow.
Its' signed...Sincerely, S.R.(Randy) Canale...
* what a joke of a leader you are...
Sorry for the length..
perserverance