Originally Posted by goingforgold
It does seem that Katrina is having a bigger impact on the operations of NW than the strike.
In the media thread it was pointed out that the union leaders pretty much let the AMFA members out to dry by authorizing a strike with no funds. Evidently, there was not even a vote on the contract. This whole thing was poorly handled by the leaders of AMFA. If they had accepted the last NW offer, they would have health insurance and severance.
I agree - Advantage NW.
If the next workers unionize under the IAM, maybe they will have a chance to have leaders really looking after the workers' wellbeing. I don't know much about the IAM, but I would think from the perspective of a union worker, it has to be better than AMFA.
Too bad there is the thought that anyone returning to work is a "scab". I bet there are a lot of people thinking they would be better off with a job right now.
AOG is way down, arrivals within 14 are at acceptable levels, completion is way up, AMFA really shot themselves in the foot. Their web site admits that two workers have crossed lines ( and if that's what they admit to you have to wonder what the real number is), they are begging for money on their web site, NW is flying and they (striking workers) are going to have to make mortgage payments starting today.
As for the "scab" thing, no one has ever adequately explained to me what the union hopes to accomplish by calling someone a "scab". If I'm out of work and the kids need food, call me any damn name you WANT to, I'm working becuase my family comes before your f******g picket line. So some union ape is yelling SCAB SCAB SCAB at me? Ooh, bet he's gonna call me a "pig" or a "fathead" or even maybe a "big meanie". I'm a scab with a paycheck and my kids are eating. By the way, union tough guy, exactly how much money is your precious UNION paying you to walk around in a circle and wave a stick with cardboard stapled to it in the air?
"Our strength is our solidarity!" Has anyone asked exactly what percentage of their normal take home pay the UNION BOSSES are getting? I'll bet it's 100%. Perhaps if the union bosses had to go without paychecks like the workers whose paychecks they live off of are, that these strikes would be a lot more rare. THe union bosses going without money would be a show of solidarity. Instead you have a show of executive greed, and wow, isn't that the same thing AMFA is accusing NWA of? But the union mind tells you that the union boss continuing to pay his bills and feed his family while you yourself are selling personal property and calling creditors with the lame excuses that the AMFA web site suggests is good and right and fair.
Then again, in the union mind, NO JOB is better than 75% of your paycheck.
The tin is moving, the tickets are being sold, passengers are getting from A to B, this ceased to be a major news story outside of the hub cities on day three, no new talks are scheduled and I cannot find one good reason fro NWA not to stay the course on this. Meanwhile, the union mind sounds like a bumper sticker...
"Daddy, I'm hungry."
OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR SOLIDARITY
"But daddy, I'm hungry."
AMERICA WORKS BEST WHEN WE VOTE UNION YES
"Daddy, why can't we buy groceries?"
I SUPPORT MY UNION BROTHERS AND SISTERS
"Daddy, when can we eat dinner?"
I'M UNION AND I VOTE
"Daddy, are you listening to me?"
UNITED WE STAND, DIVIDED WE FALL
"Daddy?"
--PP