NWA Mechanic's

[cfm56-7b]

Is alpa at nwa going to back it's mechanics?

 

[nwaredtail]

Well, since they did not support us in '98, they are not AFL-CIO and by them not negotiating which will probably put us in Chapter 11 for sure, I would say............. probably not. If NWA goes Chapter 11, they will be very aggressive to dump the pension before any new pension laws can be passed, so expect a filing in early October to avoid the new Bush BK laws.

Just watch out folks, you thought NWA didn't go along with fair increases before, just wait until we can play UAL's game......

 

[SMMustang]

Just read an article that essentially said that Mgt can't wait for the strike to happen, because they can unload all that payroll. Maybe they won't have to file for Chap 11 after all. If the mechanics go out on strike, I don't see them coming back...EVER. NWA will sink or swim without them. The only hope for the mechanics is for the Pres to order them back to work 10 minutes into the strike the way American pilot were ordered in ...what...'98? Barring that, they will have collected their last paycheck at NWA. AMFA...Stupidity at its finest.

 

[320AV8R]

Is alpa at nwa going to back it's mechanics?

Are you kidding me ?

They wouldn't pee on us if we were on fire.

Where's my Jepp bag ?

320AV8R

 

[Workin'Stiff]

The pilots union are not going to walk hand-in-hand with the mechanics and flight attendants in sinking the company. They're doin' this dance all alone.

 

[General Lee]

I read in the USAToday that the union leader of the MSP local office would be one of those 2600 that would lose their jobs. Do you think he would vote for his own job loss? He will fight to the end it sounds like, and he through in the "Eastern" reference. Great! (big time sarcasm here)



Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[Buckaroo]

This pig is toast. Stick a fork in it.

 

[outtahere]

And people say pilots are selfish?

 

[cfm56-7b]

The pilots union are not going to walk hand-in-hand with the mechanics and flight attendants in sinking the company. They're doin' this dance all alone.

__________________

nice solidaryity

 

[surplus1]

Your own view of self preservation has always taken precedence over union solidarity. When the pilots decide to walk, which they have done many times at NWA, they don't ask the mechanics if it's OK. They should not be surprised if the mechanics don't ask them.

As for whether the strike is foolish or not, remember this: No strike can ever take place unless management wants it to.

 

[SMMustang]

Your own view of self preservation has always taken precedence over union solidarity. When the pilots decide to walk, which they have done many times at NWA, they don't ask the mechanics if it's OK. They should not be surprised if the mechanics don't ask them.

As for whether the strike is foolish or not, remember this: No strike can ever take place unless management wants it to.

It isn't going to be a strike. It is going to be a lot less payroll for Mgt to deal with. Mgt wins big here. That'll be a whole lot of $ saved...I wonder what it'll add up to.

 

[WMUSIGPI]

It isn't going to be a strike. It is going to be a lot less payroll for Mgt to deal with. Mgt wins big here. That'll be a whole lot of $ saved...I wonder what it'll add up to.

Simple, another bonus for DS and friends

 

[P38JLightning]

replacements?

It isn't going to be a strike. It is going to be a lot less payroll for Mgt to deal with. Mgt wins big here. That'll be a whole lot of $ saved...I wonder what it'll add up to.

Yeah but someone's got to turn the wrenches. What's mgt's game plan? I doubt they will get nearly enough NWA line crossers to do the job, and probably next to none in the short term. Can any qualified mechanic start working right away for an airline, or do they have to be specific airline qualified like pilots? If so, that could take another few weeks or so for outsiders to line cross, even if they wanted to.

Not saying mgt won't allow the strike, as they very much might. But this is also looking more and more like an 11th hour deal in the making. Mgt wants 26% pay cuts and 1/3 or more furloughs. Union already offered 16% cuts with no furloughs. There could be room for some kind of middle ground. Either way, I don;t see a mech strike as a purely money/payroll saving move by mgt. But its been done before so who knows.

 

[SMMustang]

Yeah but someone's got to turn the wrenches. What's mgt's game plan? I doubt they will get nearly enough NWA line crossers to do the job, and probably next to none in the short term. Can any qualified mechanic start working right away for an airline, or do they have to be specific airline qualified like pilots? If so, that could take another few weeks or so for outsiders to line cross, even if they wanted to.

Not saying mgt won't allow the strike, as they very much might. But this is also looking more and more like an 11th hour deal in the making. Mgt wants 26% pay cuts and 1/3 or more furloughs. Union already offered 16% cuts with no furloughs. There could be room for some kind of middle ground. Either way, I don;t see a mech strike as a purely money/payroll saving move by mgt. But its been done before so who knows.

They've been training the replacements for sometime now...some are furloughed NWA mechanics. 84% have over 5 years experience, 63% have over 10 years experience. AMFA is talking up the safety issue, but it doesn't have any teeth. Mgt wouldn't be training these guys unless they planned on using them. AMFA is a smaller union I think and is betting its entire existence on this strike. I don't see the union or the Mechanics surviving this one.

 

[320AV8R]

SMMustang-

RE: They've been training the replacements for sometime now...some are furloughed NWA mechanics. 84% have over 5 years experience, 63% have over 10 years experience. AMFA is talking up the safety issue, but it doesn't have any teeth.

Correct...a lot of them are furloughed NWA mechanics.

RE: Mgt wouldn't be training these guys unless they planned on using them.

Correct again. Most of NWA Management worked together years ago for a guy named Frank.....LORENZO. Replacing union mechanics with scabs would be Utopia for them.

RE: AMFA is a smaller union I think and is betting its entire existence on this strike. I don't see the union or the Mechanics surviving this one.

Three in a row. AMFA replaced the IAM and feels like it has something to prove. Trouble is, their "war chest" is $200,000....which ain't jack squat.....and their ultra militant AMFA brothers at UAL just caved and signed a concessionary contract. Smart money is on the Company coming out ahead on this one.

320AV8R

 

[SMMustang]

What I don't understand is how the rank and file can't see the writing on the wall? They've seen the furloughs, they know the company situation. How can they not see that the day they walk out they might as well start practicing, "Would you like a cart today?" because Wal-Mart greeter is in their immediate future if they do.

 

[Ty Webb]

Really . . . man, you sound like someone I want on my side during contract time . . .

So, in your infinite wisdom, pray tell what you think the mechanics should do? Or any of us should do in this industry? Bend over and roll over and bend over and roll over . . . . until there's nothing left? At least they have some balls. An actual strike may not happen . . . or may not have to happen.



.

 

[xjhawk]

this industry is so messed up! I think all cost savings talks should be started with.......charge what a ticket costs (price of fuel goes up, so does a ticket) and management does not get bonuses when their is a loss, does not get a bonus to leave in disgrace, and does not get thousands of stock options for taking a company to bankrupcy)

The board members.....need to open their eyes.......

 

[Dennis Miller]

What I don't understand is how the rank and file can't see the writing on the wall? They've seen the furloughs, they know the company situation. How can they not see that the day they walk out they might as well start practicing, "Would you like a cart today?" because Wal-Mart greeter is in their immediate future if they do.

I can't believe this guy's in a Union. Glad you can't wait to meet and greet your scab mechanic.

 

[COpilot]

How can they not see that the day they walk out they might as well start practicing, "Would you like a cart today?" .

I disagree, mechanice have a job skill that transfers much better across employment lines. Whereas airlpane pilots have a very narrow trade.

 

[SMMustang]

I disagree, mechanice have a job skill that transfers much better across employment lines. Whereas airlpane pilots have a very narrow trade.

True statement. I really have no dog in this fight. I gave up on my airline career long time ago...I just watch for purely entertainment reasons.

So, in your infinite wisdom, pray tell what you think the mechanics should do? Or any of us should do in this industry? Bend over and roll over and bend over and roll over . . . . until there's nothing left? At least they have some balls. An actual strike may not happen . . . or may not have to happen.

Hey, don't blame me...I'm not the one who ran off to JetBlue as soon as possible. Besides what else is there to lose really at this point. I don't have an airline job and my life is pretty good here in the AFRE$. Without JB, SWA, Airtran, this whole union solidarity thing might work. However if the choice is cave and have a job or strike and lose the job permanently, which would you chose? I have told everyone I come across not to go into the aviation business commercial or military...Military pilots are going to be a thing of the past pretty soon at this point.

Get real...that whole livin' the dream thing is over. And it isn't coming back.

I can't believe this guy's in a Union. Glad you can't wait to meet and greet your scab mechanic.

Won't even have the opportunity to meet and greet any mechanics, union or otherwise.

My observations are objective...sorry if you don't like reality, but dreaming it a different way isn't going to change it.

 

[klhoard]

. . .<snip>...Military pilots are going to be a thing of the past pretty soon at this point.. . <snip>.. . ..

.
.
.
Why is that? Are we surrendering to France??
.
.
.

 

[SMMustang]

.
.
.
Why is that? Are we surrendering to France??
.
.
.

UAVs are the future. Why put a pilot in the cockpit. Did you see what happened in Yemen in Nov 02? That was a turning point in military aviation history.

 

[sf3boy]

I have said this before on here and I'll say it again. Everyone at NWA could work for free and it would not stop the losses. Period. The mechanincs could take concessions and pay NWA to ride the employee bus out of the lot on Ecorse, and the airline would still lose money. This was printed in their annual report.

As a banker told me, "I don't think I have ever seen a balance sheet as bad as NWAC's. And I've seen DAL's." Look at the corporate bond market. 45 cents on the dollar for a NWAC bond.

For a pilot to say that the AMFA is going to take down their employer....let's have us another crack at Econ 101.

 

[ultrarunner]

Mgt wants 26% pay cuts and 1/3 or more furloughs.

Since when does management need premission to furlough??

Man, I'm behind in my reading...AGAIN!

 

[Workin'Stiff]

May have been a slip up on the words... But the overall meaning is still the same: People no workie....

 

[WMUSIGPI]

I have said this before on here and I'll say it again. Everyone at NWA could work for free and it would not stop the losses. Period. The mechanincs could take concessions and pay NWA to ride the employee bus out of the lot on Ecorse, and the airline would still lose money. This was printed in their annual report.

As a banker told me, "I don't think I have ever seen a balance sheet as bad as NWAC's. And I've seen DAL's." Look at the corporate bond market. 45 cents on the dollar for a NWAC bond.

For a pilot to say that the AMFA is going to take down their employer....let's have us another crack at Econ 101.

The biggest question is why the fudge do people trip over each other to throw more money investing in airlines losing 3+ Bil per year. I can't think of any other private business that could even come close to that form of insanity.

Example: US Airways/Air Wisconsin

WTF... Rather than invest 125 mil why not wait for them to fold then take over their routes like the old days. Heck they are operating mainline size airplanes in the 146's it's not quite like when ACA went out on a branch

 

[SMMustang]

http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2005/07/25_tonessb_solidarity/?rsssource=1

 

[SWPA Pilot]

What is the answer to the whole industry mess. Government regulation?

 

[vetteracer]

What is the answer to the whole industry mess. Government regulation?

1 - lift the Wright Amend.
2 - Get rid of all outside unions. (In House).
3 - Stop all gov't assistance to dead beat airlines.
4 - No bail out money, loans, etc.
5 - Get a business model for success and follow it.
6 - Pay a fair wage. No A,B,C,Z etc scales.
7 - Starting pay, 50K, 5K per year raise for ever, no matter what seat you sit in. (something like that anyway).
8 - Get the tentacles of all the leaches off the backs of airlines.
-Local airport tax
-Huge fees, taxes, surcharges etc.
9 - Have a professional pilots association that all ATP, COMM belong to if they want to work in the US. The PPA would monitor crappy schools, dirt bag pilots, etc. NO PPA card, see ya. Maybe we could turn the collar white again.

Just a start, not an end all be all.