FlyHoss From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 598 posts, RR: 0 Posted (7 years 9 months 4 weeks 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 1665 times:
Can AMFA emerge victorious over NW? Is there any way, other than hoping the operation stumbles and crumbles?
Here's a wild idea; should AMFA try to recruit the replacement mechanics? If it's true that they're largely former (furloughed) union and legacy carrier mechanics, they probably understand what's at stake (for organized labor). If AMFA would guarantee their incomes, would they leave NW and join the picket lines?
What will NW do with the replacement mechanics once the strike is over?
Like I said, it's a wild idea and not likely to happen, but would AMFA even try something like it?
BostonGuy From United States of America, joined Jul 2000, 514 posts, RR: 8 Reply 2, posted (7 years 9 months 4 weeks 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 1638 times:
N501US From United States of America, joined May 2005, 211 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (7 years 9 months 4 weeks 1 day 9 hours ago) and read 1622 times:
The first question to cross my mind is: "Why would anyone want to help AMFA?" Convince me, please!
Fools and thieves are well disguised in the temple and the marketplace.....
Usnseallt82 From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 4891 posts, RR: 54 Reply 4, posted (7 years 9 months 4 weeks 1 day 9 hours ago) and read 1613 times:
I'm not real sure why this thread was brought up. As if there aren't enough already.
Alias1024 From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 2648 posts, RR: 2 Reply 5, posted (7 years 9 months 4 weeks 1 day 9 hours ago) and read 1612 times:
The only other way I can think for them to win is by winning the PR war, causing passengers to become sympathetic to their side and book away from NW until the strike is ended. Here is how I would do it.
Picket Lines: They need to keep up their picket lines at their major airports (DTW, MSP, MEM, MKE), and take the time to personally speak with as many passengers as possible to gain their sympathy. They should emphasize two arguments. First, they are more experienced than the replacements. Second, they are simply trying to hang on to their jobs, while NW management is trying to screw them. (The merits of these arguments can be debated all day on this board, but remember that perception is often more important than reality in these situations) I would also suggest doing this at LGA, LAX, and ORD to try and get as much media attention as possible.
Television commercials: They don't have a lot of money to spend on this, so they need to be very selective and only air commercials in their major markets. In these I would very much try to gain the sympathy of viewers by emphasizing the huge furloughs NW is asking for, and stressing that the mechanics are fighting to keep their jobs.
Appearances in the media: Try to get media outlets interested in covering the strike. Sometimes newspapers and television news shows are looking for filler because they don't have enough real news to cover (this is how you end up with water skiing squirrels on the evening news). Make it very convenient for them to fill that time by basically having the story already written for them and having representatives standing by to be interviewed. Basically try to create opportunities to get the union's point of view across to the public.
I know it is pretty far fetched, but other that an operational meltdown or a serious accident, it is the only way I can think of in which the union could win.
It is a mistake to think you can solve any major problems with just potatoes.
MidnightMike From United States of America, joined Mar 2003, 2892 posts, RR: 16 Reply 6, posted (7 years 9 months 4 weeks 1 day 9 hours ago) and read 1581 times:
Quoting FlyHoss (Thread starter): Can AMFA emerge victorious over NW? Is there any way, other than hoping the operation stumbles and crumbles?
No. AMFA is not getting the support from other Northwest Unions, nor from the General Public.
LUVRSW From United States of America, joined Aug 2005, 498 posts, RR: 1 Reply 7, posted (7 years 9 months 4 weeks 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 1541 times:
ALPO, IAM, and PFFA don't cross the picket lines, and it's game over for Spleenland. That brit Andy Roberts gets on my nerves too.
FlyBoeing From United States of America, joined May 2000, 866 posts, RR: 2 Reply 8, posted (7 years 9 months 4 weeks 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 1535 times:
My strategy would just be to wait it out and be ready when something bad inevitably happens. I did a quick and dirty statistical analysis here which indicates that at the rate Northwest is recovering from their MEL backlog they'll hit the 7-day limit in 3-4 days.
I think they made a serious error when they failed to indicate to the public that the effects of a mechanic's strike were not immediate. One thing they really could have done was to emphasize that Northwest did not negotiate in good faith at all. Training 1,900 replacements 18 months before a contract does not inspire confidence in the process.
I'd also say that they should capitalize on the recent set of disasters. Think of it. In the last few months we've seen an AF jet go down and burn but everybody survive thanks to a professional crew. We've also seen three low-cost carriers go down. Who would you rather fly with?
It's a dirty tactic but it might get them some currency. I've heard rumblings about a "safety strike" by NW flight attendants.
Lightsaber From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 10892 posts, RR: 100 Reply 9, posted (7 years 9 months 4 weeks 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 1519 times:
Quoting Alias1024 (Reply 5):
I know it is pretty far fetched, but other that an operational meltdown or a serious accident, it is the only way I can think of in which the union could win.
Alias1024, a very well done analysis.
If I may add:
1. Make sure the strikers are presentable on the picket lines. Nice collared shirts, shaved, combed, etc. (looking professional)
2. Approach the customers with a "please listen to us" attitude rather than threats...
Otherwise you had one of the few posts where the suggestions might work.
Quoting FlyBoeing (Reply 8):
It's a dirty tactic but it might get them some currency. I've heard rumblings about a "safety strike" by NW flight attendants.
Source? I've heard the opposite.
Now a little on why the union isn't getting so much support:
1. Most people have only really "seen" unions when there is a strike when customers are:
a. yelled at (oh... sympathy there... not!)
b. Threatened. (No, no one would think of the Mafia when this happens)
c. Intimidated.
Why don't unions persuade?
With the IAM "taking back" AMFA jobs and successful replacements... the AMFA seems doomed.
Quoting FlyBoeing (Reply 8): I did a quick and dirty statistical analysis here which indicates that at the rate Northwest is recovering from their MEL backlog they'll hit the 7-day limit in 3-4 days.
Interesting. But doesn't NW have a reserve of DC-9's ready to put into service? (Please note I'm asking.)
Also note from : http://wcco.com/consumer/local_story_237120440.html Some of that is because the airline has implemented its fall schedule early, so it does not need as many planes right now. NW should have spare aircraft...
As others have noted, next week will be the interesting week. Right now, I'd bet on NW not the AMFA.
FlyHoss From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 598 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (7 years 9 months 4 weeks 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 1508 times:
Quoting BostonGuy (Reply 2): Quoting FlyHoss (Thread starter):
If AMFA would guarantee their incomes
Guarantee their incomes? With what?
Excellent question. With payments from their "treasury" raised from dues and assessments.
I have NO idea how much (if any) money AMFA has to do this kind of thing. Or if they have the ability to assess other members.
I'm just "blue sky" imagining or thinking; wondering if AMFA can win, because in my opinion, NWAC is winning the PR battle, thus far.
Laxintl From United States of America, joined May 2000, 22251 posts, RR: 51 Reply 11, posted (7 years 9 months 4 weeks 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 1493 times:
The AMFA coffers are certainly not very big. Being a relatively small union it does not have much economic strength to provide any sort of lengthy support to strikers.
BostonGuy From United States of America, joined Jul 2000, 514 posts, RR: 8 Reply 12, posted (7 years 9 months 4 weeks 23 hours ago) and read 1419 times:
Quoting FlyHoss (Reply 10): I have NO idea how much (if any) money AMFA has to do this kind of thing. Or if they have the ability to assess other members.
I don't have the link to the source handy, it's from another thread on here and I can't remember what the thread was, but the financial reality of the AMFA is that they hardly have any money. So little that they are unable to pay anything to striking mechanics or even help subsidize health insurance payments.
The AMFA is not only in a financially weak condition, it also has very poor relations with other unions who also represent NW employees (IAM in particular) and has not presented a compelling reason to the public for why they should support the AMFA when other unions aren't.
TOLtommy From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 3224 posts, RR: 4 Reply 13, posted (7 years 9 months 4 weeks 22 hours ago) and read 1371 times:
Quoting Laxintl (Reply 11): The AMFA coffers are certainly not very big. Being a relatively small union it does not have much economic strength to provide any sort of lengthy support to strikers.
AMFA might not be the biggest union, but they've had plenty of time to prepare a strike fund. The last strike by AMFA was in 1980. Even if $1 per month of dues had gone into a strike fund since that time, it could have been invested into a sizeable strike fund. The PayPal link on their website is pathetic!
LegendDC9 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 14, posted (7 years 9 months 4 weeks 20 hours ago) and read 1315 times:
Pathetic is not even a strong enough word. Going on strike and looking for donations is absolutly disgusting to me. I am going to pay you to sit home on your ass because you would rather do so rather than find your own solutions? sick.
If I was making decisions at NW, looking at the pathetic AMFA, I would not bring any mechanics back. Outsource the whole lot and allow them to come back to work on individual contracts only. The problem if any mechanics return under AMFA is that they are going to be so disgruntled and resentful towards NW for breaking their union and losing pay, that they will be a detrement to the airline. It's sad because the ones they need to be angry at is their own outdated and unprepared union leadership.
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