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Author
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Topic: How would you have voted...
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Sven
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 9972
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posted 30 December 2005 10:45 AM
...if you were a member of the AMFA??Airline Mechanics Vote to Continue Strike against NWA Let's see. The union leaders could have recommended a contract back in August that would have guaranteed 2,750 mechanic jobs. Then, union "negotiators also rejected two other offers made by management in September and October, which would have saved 1,080 and 500 jobs, respectively." Now, they get diddley squat...and a zero probabiliity (for most of them) of ever getting a job that will pay anywhere near what they would have gotten had they agreed to a contract earlier. Brilliant strategy.
From: Eleutherophobics of the World...Unite!!!!! | Registered: Jul 2005
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Loretta
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 222
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posted 30 December 2005 12:30 PM
First of all, if I was a member of AMFA, I would know a lot more about the sitation than is being presented here in the Star Tribune. This article itself doesn't even make sense. quote:
When the strike began, there were 4,100 AMFA mechanics, cleaners and custodians on the Northwest payroll. The union’s leadership called the strike after Northwest proposed eliminating all of the custodian and cleaner jobs and reducing the mechanics workforce to 2,750. Those who’d retain their jobs also would be subject to 25 percent pay cuts. Union negotiators also rejected two other offers made by management in September and October, which would have saved 1,080 and 500 jobs, respectively.
Look at the numbers here: 4100 original workers minus 2750 proposed remaining workers should equal the numbers of those proposed to be laid off ~ 1350. If "1080 and 500" jobs could have been saved in the company's offers, then theoretically, there would have been new hires since 1580>1350 by 230. Does this mean that the company concerned has proposed that they'd hire 230 new people as well as imposing paycuts, etc? Obviously, there's something missing here. As there always is when the mainstream media cover "labour" stories. I'm sure that the union's website tells a different story (am too busy to check into it right now). (On second reading of the quote, maybe the 4100 was only including mechanics but that's a rather disingenuous way to communicate information. Why use numbers at all if not counting everyone?)
From: The West Kootenays of BC | Registered: Apr 2001
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robbie_dee
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 195
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posted 30 December 2005 02:54 PM
Knowing Sven, I suspect his reason for bringing this up is little more than as a club to bash all unions. Truth be told, though, the AMFA/Northwest story is one of both tragedy and stupidity. There have been some touching displays of solidarity from many workers, but also many displays of ignorance and betrayal by certain union leaders. Not to mention, of course, Northwest Airlines itself, on which I will NEVER fly again. All in all, there's plenty of blame to go around.A couple of Labor Notes articles offer background: Chris Kutalik and William Johnson, "Solidarity for Never? Northwest Mechanics Strike Against Deep Pay Cuts, Outsourcing." Labor Notes Sept. 2005 Chris Kutalik, "Northwest Pushes ‘Permanent Solution’ to Union Problem" Labor Notes Oct. 2005 Also see Peter Rachleff's bitter comments here: "12 Minute Minnesota Rally Excluded Striking NWA-AMFA Workers" Labornet 12/7/2005 You can also read a pretty good debate about the ins and outs of the Northwest strike, and AMFA's union leadership, on Jon Tasini's "Working Life" blog. The debate in the comments to this article is particularly informative: Working Life: "Who is O.V. Del-Femine?" (Aug. 30, 2005) [ 02 January 2006: Message edited by: robbie_dee ] [ 02 January 2006: Message edited by: robbie_dee ]
From: Iron City | Registered: Apr 2001
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