Originally Posted by ORDguy

I had quite a bit of support and empathy for the mechanics cause until I saw this quote! The only ones getting screwed now are the decent hardworking people whose leadership sounds like a bunch of thugs.

Originally Posted by socrates

Again when did they EARN the option, that is what matters not when they cashed them in

BTW: You might wish to read the "whole story" (sorry PH) instead of just a fact here or there....

Originally Posted by yogimax

The first round in the media war definitely goes to NW. There has been no outcry of public support on behalf of the striking workers of AMFA. Both print and tv media have presented the story in a fair manner. Of course, the next few days will be critical. The AMFA position (hope) is that NW's fleet, and especially the DC9s, will "break." (their word, not mine) Of course, there will be maintenance issues, but I'm sure NW can modify their schedules to take into consideration the number of "broken" airplanes. Indeed, moving to the fall schedule immediately offers a significant cushion. Without the support of the other unions, AMFA's position looks weak. Time, however, will tell.

Originally Posted by LTRS

Where in the heck do you get this information??? Major companies spend hundreds of thousands if not millions EVERY year on lobbyists to induce congress to reduce safety standards for employees and their rights to compensation if they are injured on the job. For you to say safety issues are no longer a problem just SCREAMS ignorance on this issue. But that of course doesn't stop anyone from having an opinion. I'm sorry if that sounds rude, but there is nothing more rude, in my book, than a person boldly speaking to an issue as if they actually knew what they were talking about when it's perfectly clear they haven't a single fact in hand about the topic.

No, it would not be on CNN for gawd's sake. They are much too busy ignoring the deaths in Iraq and focusing on stories like the runaway bride. But hey, that's a new one -- "if it's not on CNN, it's not happening." Ho boy, unbelievable.

As for wages, again you act as the voice of authority, but in reality are without a clue. There wouldn't be a decent living wage in this country for skilled labor without unions. To be against unions you have to be against a decent living wage. To be against unions you have to believe that one side (management) is entitled to a team of people to advance their side, but the other side is not.

And the comment about "growing your skills" is just pure baloney. They aren't scabbing with people with more skills. They are scabbing with people who don't care that they are driving down wages for others. You can grow your skills all you want but if companies continue to race to the bottom you will find YOURSELF at the bottom eventually as well. You're not immune, much as you might wish to believe you are. And when your boss comes in and says, hey, we're going to pay you 25% and take away that 401K you thought you'd have for retirement, don't be surprised when there is no one left to say that's not right.

The solution is simple -- stop paying management huge salaries for making incompetent decisions, ask employees how to cut waste and be more efficient, then charge what it costs to fly the passenger.

Originally Posted by paulbarton

I think more accurately the Union would rather see the airline go into bankruptcy. The crass statement above by a union negotiator shows that the union does not care a whit for the mechanics, this is purely a power struggle between management and union.

Originally Posted by johnnied

As will I...I have booked three flights. The only talking point you have missed so far is that the mechanics are "hard working American families". If the AVERAGE wage of a mechanic is $70,000 per year, when you add benefits this figure goes up another 20% and also means that there are mechanics making MORE than the $70k stated. And this is not just the mechanics, it is the custodians as well. Only a union man can threaten the safety of the public, the viability of his employer and at the end of the day still get his job back. Any of us do that, we would rightly be fired on the spot. As should the mechanics.

Originally Posted by RichMSN

Oh, I was certain that they have great training to do what they do. But why should this guarantee them work? Despite my BS, MS, and MBA if my company suffers a downturn, they'll let me (or others like me) go in a heartbeat. And that's how it should be.

Originally Posted by Allanf

Let's all of us help the Flight Crew by taking our newspapers and other trash with us when we deplane.

Another simple thing we can all do is to keep the lavatory neat. On a flight from MSP to AMS a few years ago for some reason we were short a lavatory and the lead FA asked, over the PA system, that we use our paper towels to wipe out the sink before we left the lavatory. I have tried to do that ever since.

Just one way we can show our appreciation to them for putting up with the extra stress and complexities of this situation.

Originally Posted by H2O_Goalie

I am, quite frankly, irreplaceable. Because I do a hands-on job that about 200 other people in the country do. In addition, I voluntarily work at a lower wage than I could get. If I were to decide to leave (or for some insane reason my company was put in a position to let me go) it would literally take me about 3 hours to find another job (likely at higher pay...though my quality of life with my present company is so high it's virtually insane).

I was not always in this position. For 7 years out of college I worked a gig where my pay was minimal, where my bosses felt nothing of asking my to take concessions or skip increases in pay/benefits. In that time I learned first-hand that growing your skillset and finding a position that was mission-critical was the key to keeping your job and getting paid what you want.

LTRS, it's already been demonstrated earlier in this thread that you're a liar. Why don't you just go away to whatever little socialist utopia will have you? I'll bet they're waiting for you down on the picket lines at the airport...though I wouldn't want your putting your money where your mouth is to interfere with more productive things, like planning your next trip to the WTO meetings for a protest. Though with you eliminating your transportation options left and right due to moral concerns you'll probably have to get there by oxcart.

Originally Posted by StSebastian

With both sides having prepared for many months, it would be unreasonable for us to expect any kind of resolution within a few days -- neither side wants to be the one to capitulate and everyone wants to save face now and be able to claim at least some victory.

Originally Posted by ws8n

I seldom venture into NW thread, but the strike and the discussion going on here is sure amusing.

A few years back, SQ pilots were planning to strike. Guess what happen. The Senior Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew stepped in, and told the union he would rather shut down the airline, then to let it run by unions. The union leader was subsequently fired, and deported from SIN within a week.

Sorry, I have little sympathy for unions. If one is not happy with their current job, go find another. Don't sulk

Originally Posted by LTRS

I'm a liar? Link to that, please? Look, you're talking out of your butthole on ALL these issues. You haven't got clue one what you're talking about...