At least they have some cajones

[a320drivr]

NWA strikers refuse to give in

Robert P. Mark
12/30/2005​

Despite the fact that most of the mechanic members of the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association at bankrupt Northwest Airlines have been replaced, the union rejected a settlement proposal that would have ended a strike that began in August.

The AMFA reported on its Web site that 56.59 percent of its voting members rejected the deal that would have granted them 26 weeks of unemployment benefits, four weeks of layoff pay, and payment of accrued vacation time.

AMFA said this month that the settlement proposal was the "worst contract in the history of airline labor."

 

[maru657]

Too bad their own crews crossed their picket line. Guess thats a perfect invitation to cross any picket line established by the NWA pilots in the future.

 

[pilotyip]

So the NWA pilot are suppose to shut down the airline, which would have killed the airline and their jobs? NWA may not make it even with BK, they had the highest costs in the industry, how could they stay in business without consessions? The pilot had already taken cuts, they told the mechs what would happen if they went on strike. They told them for nearly two years they would not honor their strike. Yes they have cajones, and it is great talk about at the bar, but it does nothing for the future of your job.

 

[maru657]

Short term future yes. But long term, if the Jr; enterprisers know that labor is not an easy target there will be a better shot at job security.
Run the industry like it's supposed to be career or continue to let "Herky" with the harvard business degree his mommy and daddy bought him treat it like his playground and personal piggybank.

 

[pilotyip]

Maru657, if you have the answers that will redefine the airline industry it is your job to step up and provide a path for everyone to follow. There is no one on this board that has the background or skill to do any better job than the present airline management. BTW all my friends with Harvard MBA's paid for it themselves, well with help from the GI Bill.

 

[CFIT]

Why would a union strike when they knew that there were replacement workers prepared, it wouldn't gain support from from the other groups, and management said it would outsource anyway?

Striking is the ultimate weapon a union has and that weapon appears to be on the verge of useless. Managment has figured this out.

 

[Boeingman]

Why would a union strike when they knew that there were replacement workers prepared, it wouldn't gain support from from the other groups, and management said it would outsource anyway?

Striking is the ultimate weapon a union has and that weapon appears to be on the verge of useless. Managment has figured this out.

It is useless when the other labor groups do not have the spine to back up those about to walk. ALPA has been historically pathetic in this aspect of unionism.

 

[DetoXJ]

Too bad the clueless AMFA leadership didn't let the union membership vote on the original deal. The vote didn't reall mean much after the entire group was replaced by the replacement workers. The war ended a long time ago.

 

[banned username 1]

Give this premise some though- although we wish that people thought the way we do, that's not even remotely the case. Society, and the changes brought with it during the last 30 years has made the strike action useless.

Most of you are too young to remember, but I can recall when there was a picket line at the local grocery store, the public itself would honor it. That was leverage. Now with class envy and everybody thinking that they're under the jack-boot of "The Man", virtually every worker carries around the attitude of "Everybody is making too much money...except me!!!"

What's frustrating to labor is that when they look for a target to point their finger of blame to, there aren't enough fingers to go around- and those targets don't care anyway. And yes, this "Band of Brothers" is one of those "targets" as well.

 

[maru657]

Railway, labor was allways too weak to provide much protection and nowdays with all govt; offices controlled by one political party, a political party not friendly to labor it's the "Mexicanization" of the US labor market. As long as the junior enterprisers have the opportunity to maximise profits at labors expense. God forbid that they should be forced to put in long hours actually making a business work without large stock options and retirement havens in the Bahamas.

 

[pilotyip]

maru, who is maximumizing profits @ labour's expense?

 

[maru657]

Hey, there's a Mexican or Indonesian pilot that can and will do your job for less money.

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

Now with class envy and everybody thinking that they're under the jack-boot of "The Man", virtually every worker carries around the attitude of "Everybody is making too much money...except me!!!".

UAL78,

Could under the jack-boot of the man be the same has keeping up with the Joneses? Although your description does yield more sympathy....

 

[banned username 1]

It could be construed that way, but no, in this case it seems as though everybody in their work life seems to be tapped-out, stressed-out, unappreciated and just plodding toward the day they get the gold watch (Ha Ha Ha!). That doesn't ring true for a lot of us because we're doing something that we like. But for the majority of workers, it seems to resonate.

That's why the phrase "living a life of quiet desperation" is so universally understood. How sad.

I used the "jack boot" as a reference to society in general.

 

[Chuck Yogourt]

Where were these same mechanics when the Northwest pilots walked? It is a two way street. What goes around, comes around.

 

[DTW320]

Where were these same mechanics when the Northwest pilots walked? It is a two way street. What goes around, comes around.

They were working at the hangars doing heavy checks and other major work.

AMFA's last contract gave them a 37% raise.Top of the heap pay. In order to get it they had to agree to allow up to 38% outsourcing of their work. What was one of their chief complaints right up to the strike? That NWA was outsourcing their work, even though it wasn't even to the 38% limit. Look, nobody's happy to see these folks on the street but here are the facts: as it became obvious that NWA was getting into big financial distress NWAALPA agreed to a 15% cut plus some benefit cost sharing but said that ultimately every group would have to participate if ALPA was to give any more help. NWAALPA agreed to sign a confidentiality agreement in order to gain total access to the company's books. We then saw how bad things really were. AMFA REFUSED to sign the confidentiality agreement and maintained that NWA was feeding them bad info about their financial condition, 2 sets of books, yada yada yada. Hell, some AMFA comments said that they expected the pilot's paycuts to be used to give them a raise. They refused to even consider participating in any relief for the company.

There is a time to strike, I walked the line for 2 weeks in 98, and there is a time to say hey, we need to do something to get through these bad times and live to fight these greedy bastards another day. If ALPA had struck with AMFA the only thing that would have been accomplished is that we would all have some great picket line stories to share in the Wal Mart break room(they get lunch breaks now right?). I'd be the guy asking "So, tell me again why you guys didn't get to vote on NWA's offer?"

 

[Diesel]

Since the strike not one NetJet pilot has ridden on NWA.

It's sad that the other airlines and unions won't honor the picket line.

NJ has had to put pilots on the roundabout route getting them home just to make sure not one dime goes to NWA.

We will continue to not fly NWA until this is over. Small potatoes? Maybe but for a company that buys 1000 Y class tickets a day it's our way of standing up for our fellow man.

 

[pilotyip]

320, I bet if Diesel worked for a major carrier he would be the F/O who carried the SCAB list and asks your name when your jumpseating. Good chance he has not worked at a union air carrier that went out of business. Good chance he is living in a fantasy world of black and white with no gray. He talks big about honoring the picket line when it does directly effect his take home pay. So, do not waste any more words on this guy. He posts on a pilot board and is not reality in touch with reality.

 

[DTW320]

Since the strike not one NetJet pilot has ridden on NWA.

It's sad that the other airlines and unions won't honor the picket line.

NJ has had to put pilots on the roundabout route getting them home just to make sure not one dime goes to NWA.

We will continue to not fly NWA until this is over. Small potatoes? Maybe but for a company that buys 1000 Y class tickets a day it's our way of standing up for our fellow man.

Well congratulations...I hope you feel better about that. I take it that it matters not to you that these same mechanics crossed ALPA's picket line in 1998. I also take it that you could care less about all the negative things that AMFA has said about your union, the Teamsters, and other AFLCIO unions like IAM/TWU. I believe AMFA officially referred to the ground workers at NWA as "knuckledraggers" that they should not be affiliated with union-wise(but it was OK for the aircraft cleaners to be included with them in their "mechanics only" union)

We will continue to not fly NWA until this is over.

Could you define "over" for me? Hundreds of mechanics have crossed the line and the rest have been permanently replaced.

Since the strike not one NetJet pilot has ridden on NWA.

Likewise....

 

[Diesel]

Why should we be able to pick and choose between crossing certain picket lines and not others.

A line is a line. Why confuse the issue. One day somebody might need to stand up for my line.

PilotYip- Yes i could live in fantasy land of Falcon 20 Managment in DTW. I could also live in the fantasy land that a college degree is not needed in this buisness. Too bad that's not the case and i could just eek out a living accepting what crumbs the company will give me and be thankful. That is not the case with me either but it looks like it is with you.

Keep grinding away.