Tue, Mar 11, 2003
Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association Challenges IAM
Widely blamed as the 'final straw' in United's
December Chapter 11 filing, the Machinists' Union has gotten a lot
of flak, some unfair, about its role in the giant's fall.
As United's other labor unions made various concessions, the IAM
stood alone, refusing to consider pay and benefit cutbacks that the
airline claimed were necessary to avoid seeking bankruptcy
protection. As things are now, United is on the edge, ready to ask
the Court to simply nullify all the union contracts, leaving the
IAM's members to receive whatever backlash may be forthcoming, and
ready to absorb larger cuts than the other unions' members --
workers who have already received 'voluntary' cuts.
Into
this scenario comes the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association,
petitioning the Mediation Board to let United's mechanics leave the
Machinists and organize with them. This request has not been
well-received at the IAM's offices.
In the Chicago Sun-Times, Robert Roach Jr, IAM's
general vice president, was quoted saying, "AMFA's intrusion at
this critical stage introduces potentially fatal distraction into
an already precarious situation."
The AMFA petition included signature cards from over 60% of
United's cleaners and mechanics, currently represented by the
IAMAW. It's up to the Mediation Board to decide whether that 60% is
enough to allow a vote.
Not as much is at stake, as a week ago: United is no longer,
thanks to its shrinking stock and ESOP sales, an "employee-owned"
company; its employee-owners no longer have the special privileges
they held, when employees owned more than 20% of the stock.
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