Since
the inception of their protracted, ponderous and fraud-filled card signing campaign,
the Machinists have engaged in a great deal of chatter surrounding the ideal of
“Voice.” The IAM claims to be uniquely positioned to use our “Voice” through potential
contract negotiations to deliver A Days or Reserve, LODs or no LODs, and any number
of other conflicting visions for our future depending on your base, seniority or
whatever measure it is they use to capture a vote for their dues starved
organization.
This
begs the questions:
· What have the Machinists promised you lately?
· Where will the Machinists draw the line to deliver a contract?
· And how will the Machinists guarantee that it’s a fair, equitable
and acceptable agreement for our 20,000 plus flight attendant group?
What have the Machinists promised you lately?
That could be pretty much everything depending on who was talking, what they were talking about, when and where they were talking, and who was listening.
A Days vs. Reserve
For
example, many mid-range seniority flight attendants (the 15 to mid-20 year
group) in Detroit – and for that matter anywhere else a large contingent of
former NWA flight attendants are based – have been promised an end to A Days,
or as the Machinist’s refer to them, “Ass days.” You see, in our past NWA
flight attendants (I’m one) were contractually obligated and locked into a seniority
driven full-time Reserve system, which depending on the month guaranteed 10 to
11 days free from trip assignment. The other 20 or so days of the month you
belonged to Scheduling, to be flown whenever, wherever as necessary. We didn’t
have a choice or much voice in this matter – it was negotiated for us and we
dealt with it best we could.
If you are a newer flight attendant who might not be familiar with the Reserve system, you might want to reread that last paragraph, this one, and the rest of this email carefully, because the Machinists are loudly proposing full-time Reserve in place of A Days as that promise would help secure the votes of the former NWA flight attendants (as well as anyone in the 15 to mid-20 year group) during a representational election. They don’t want A Days and given their seniority would escape full-time Reserve.
Conversely, if you are junior (residing in the 10 years or less range), the Machinists have probably already promised you that they will keep the A Day system. Don’t count on that. Talk is cheap and no amount of monthly dues will change this fact: there weren’t so many flight attendants hired in the early 2000s, which means that the votes of the bottom 5,000 or so flight attendants aren’t as important as the top 15,000, and under the Machinists organization, votes count up to a bare majority (50 percent plus 1), and opinions of the minority don’t matter.
Here’s an easy equation: IAM Contract – A Days = Reserve.
LODs, or No LODs? That is the question …
If you are a newer flight attendant who might not be familiar with the Reserve system, you might want to reread that last paragraph, this one, and the rest of this email carefully, because the Machinists are loudly proposing full-time Reserve in place of A Days as that promise would help secure the votes of the former NWA flight attendants (as well as anyone in the 15 to mid-20 year group) during a representational election. They don’t want A Days and given their seniority would escape full-time Reserve.
Conversely, if you are junior (residing in the 10 years or less range), the Machinists have probably already promised you that they will keep the A Day system. Don’t count on that. Talk is cheap and no amount of monthly dues will change this fact: there weren’t so many flight attendants hired in the early 2000s, which means that the votes of the bottom 5,000 or so flight attendants aren’t as important as the top 15,000, and under the Machinists organization, votes count up to a bare majority (50 percent plus 1), and opinions of the minority don’t matter.
Here’s an easy equation: IAM Contract – A Days = Reserve.
LODs, or No LODs? That is the question …
If you are one of the many Language of Destination (LOD) qualified Delta flight attendants, you’re high on the list of Machinist must haves in a potential representation election … you see, the IAM needs your vote, and will promise you anything, ANYTHING to get it. But beware, because the Machinist activists aren’t telling you about their numerous promises made to more senior flight attendants, many of whom greatly desire to have additional (NON LOD) positions available for bid on international flights.
Again,
you mostly hear about this issue in the former NWA bases. This is huge in Detroit,
as well as Minneapolis, Seattle and Los Angeles. Nothing personal against any
of these bases; I have flown with these flight attendants for many years and
most of them are some of the finest people I’ve ever met. But that doesn’t
change the fact that the IAM is promising the mid- and upper-seniority flight
attendants that if elected they will negotiate to limit LOD positions on all
international flights.
Here’s another easy equation: IAM Contract – LOD flight attendants = layovers for LODs in exciting locations like Buffalo, Dubuque, El Paso, Huntsville …
Where will the Machinists draw the line to deliver a contract?
Simple answer here, all the Machinists need to pass a contract is a simple majority of the Delta flight attendant group, or 50 percent plus 1.
Given the Machinists’ abysmal track record negotiating contracts for the very small minority of flight attendants they currently represent at ExpressJet and CommutAir, it will likely take years to even achieve that second-rate milestone.
The quickest and most expedient way to reach a contract would be for the Machinists to negotiate a few red meat items to secure as many votes as necessary to reach that 50 percent plus 1 landmark, and one of the easiest ways to do this would be to dump A Days and limit LOD positions. Keep in mind, there is a price for everything, and while the company supports the A Day and LOD programs, there’s nothing that guarantees those programs would remain the same in the future should the Machinists enter the picture. At the end of the day, Scheduling just needs the operation covered, and while A Days may be the more equitable system, Reserve works just as well. And the trade-off to get to full month Reserve may just be a reduced daily guarantee and return back to averaging. At Continental, the Machinists were only able to negotiate a 4:00 per day average daily guarantee, rather than the 4:45 pure per day guarantee we enjoy at Delta. Should the IAM get in, it will become nothing more than a numbers game to get a contract ratified, and the more people they get off A Days, the more people that would potentially vote for a contract. And that means a return to the union proven full month Reserve system.
Regarding LODs, if the IAM waives a big enough carrot in front of the company – because in negotiations you give up something in order to get something – management could easily reduce LOD staffing. Don’t think it won’t happen, because with a union, all it takes is a simple majority to get there.
Yet another easy equation: 50 percent + 1 + however long it takes the Machinists to negotiate an agreement = Substandard IAM Contract we are all locked into for 5 or more years.
How will the Machinists guarantee that it’s a fair, equitable and acceptable agreement for our 20,000 plus flight attendant group?
These questions get easier and easier to answer the deeper we delve down … the Machinists can’t guarantee a fair, equitable and acceptable agreement for the 20,000 plus Delta flight attendants.
It’s simple math. All the Machinists need is 50 percent plus 1 of the group to pass an agreement. Given their dreadful track record – which I have noted above and explained in a number of other emails – it will likely take years for them and whomever they appoint to negotiate an agreement. There will be no incentive for the Machinists to finesse the finer items because in a few years or less today’s activists will be screaming:
Where’s my contract?!?
Here’s another easy equation: IAM Contract – LOD flight attendants = layovers for LODs in exciting locations like Buffalo, Dubuque, El Paso, Huntsville …
Where will the Machinists draw the line to deliver a contract?
Simple answer here, all the Machinists need to pass a contract is a simple majority of the Delta flight attendant group, or 50 percent plus 1.
Given the Machinists’ abysmal track record negotiating contracts for the very small minority of flight attendants they currently represent at ExpressJet and CommutAir, it will likely take years to even achieve that second-rate milestone.
The quickest and most expedient way to reach a contract would be for the Machinists to negotiate a few red meat items to secure as many votes as necessary to reach that 50 percent plus 1 landmark, and one of the easiest ways to do this would be to dump A Days and limit LOD positions. Keep in mind, there is a price for everything, and while the company supports the A Day and LOD programs, there’s nothing that guarantees those programs would remain the same in the future should the Machinists enter the picture. At the end of the day, Scheduling just needs the operation covered, and while A Days may be the more equitable system, Reserve works just as well. And the trade-off to get to full month Reserve may just be a reduced daily guarantee and return back to averaging. At Continental, the Machinists were only able to negotiate a 4:00 per day average daily guarantee, rather than the 4:45 pure per day guarantee we enjoy at Delta. Should the IAM get in, it will become nothing more than a numbers game to get a contract ratified, and the more people they get off A Days, the more people that would potentially vote for a contract. And that means a return to the union proven full month Reserve system.
Regarding LODs, if the IAM waives a big enough carrot in front of the company – because in negotiations you give up something in order to get something – management could easily reduce LOD staffing. Don’t think it won’t happen, because with a union, all it takes is a simple majority to get there.
Yet another easy equation: 50 percent + 1 + however long it takes the Machinists to negotiate an agreement = Substandard IAM Contract we are all locked into for 5 or more years.
How will the Machinists guarantee that it’s a fair, equitable and acceptable agreement for our 20,000 plus flight attendant group?
These questions get easier and easier to answer the deeper we delve down … the Machinists can’t guarantee a fair, equitable and acceptable agreement for the 20,000 plus Delta flight attendants.
It’s simple math. All the Machinists need is 50 percent plus 1 of the group to pass an agreement. Given their dreadful track record – which I have noted above and explained in a number of other emails – it will likely take years for them and whomever they appoint to negotiate an agreement. There will be no incentive for the Machinists to finesse the finer items because in a few years or less today’s activists will be screaming:
Where’s my contract?!?
What’s
taking so #$%^ long to negotiate this?!?
Don’t
blame me, I didn’t vote for them!!!
Conclusion
Conclusion
IAM + promises, guarantees, “Voice” etc… = years of division with disappointing results.
Please share this email and my blog with your friends and coworkers.
Sincerely,
Jose Arturo Ibarra
Please find out additional factual
information here: http://bedeltabedifferent.com/
