Wednesday, August 24, 2005

A few thoughts on the NWA strike

I wonder if the Mechanics at North West Airlines realized they slit their own wrist about 5 minutes after they walked off the job on Sunday or not. Perhaps the most telling part of this whole BULL SHIT strike is the fact that AMFA is out on the picket line alone. Usually during these types of strikes their is usually other striking personal in a sign of "union" solidarity. But not this time.... The reluctance of other unions to join AMFA is a sign that union members here are already fearful about replacement workers and outsourcing.

While I do fell that asking the mechanics to take a pay cut but not asking the management to take one as well is a bit bull shit and one sided; I do see the obvious that cuts need to be made in order for the airline to survive. Link In addition to pay someone 40,000 or more or year for custodial duties or fleet services (fancy airline lingo) is a complete waist and a lot of dead weight.

As for the myth about replacements mechanics not being as qualified....That is Bull shit with a capitol B. All mechanics have the same license that had to be obtained through a FAA approved learning institute and has to be properly maintained. I would have not fear in flying a aircraft maintained by replacement workers or "scabs"

As for my humble opinion on the strike as a whole.... it is six-one-half dozen-another. While I think the airline industry as a whole would fair much better with the collapse of one of the big majors (and complete and permanent grounding of their fleet) I do not want to see anybody out of a job. I think both sides need to swallow their pride and come back to the table and work this shit out.

Fun facts about unions and airlines....

Union contract negotiations average 15 months and rarely are completed before the present contract expires?

Since 1994, the average length of nine airline union contract negotiations was three years.

When the Comair pilot strike of 2001 ended, 400 pilot jobs were eliminated upon their return to work?

During their 89 day strike, Comair pilots did not get paid forfeiting $8.4 million in wages?

That since 1990, airlines have sought federal intervention nine times to stop workers from illegal work slowdowns, sick-outs, partial strikes, and other actions designed to influence contract negotiations?

The Railway Labor Act (RLA) of 1926 was intended to prevent strike-imposed disruptions of commerce. Since 1946, there have been 161 airline strikes - 38 in the last 25 years.

Scope clauses keep major carriers from taking advantage of a small fraction of the potential benefits of RJs.

A union can only guarantee two things: its right to strike and make its members pay dues and assessments.

Air Wisconsin pilots received a 7% wage decrease for CRJ200 flying and a 9% reduction in BA 146 flying. Flight attendants took cuts of 1.8 - 6%.

Because of the Comair strike, they liquidated 37 of their aircraft including their entire Brasilia fleet.

Contracts between airlines and their labor groups do not expire; they remain in force, but become "amendable." Negotiations do not have to begin until the contract does become amendable.

United pilots took reductions of 30% and flight attendants took 9%. Mechanics, fleet services, and passenger services all took wage reductions of 13%.

Northwest's mechanics and flight attendants contract took 56 months (four years and ten months) to negotiate. It took effect in April 2001 and is not amenable until 2005.

When the RLA was written in 1926, commercial airlines did not exist. It was not applied to the airline industry until 1936.

2,400 non-union workers were laid off from Comair during the pilot strike.

Once a union is voted in it's very hard to remove it. The RLA provides no official way to decertify a union.
Posted by MrV :: 5:07 PM :: | ---------------oOo---------------