Monday, August 22, 2005
Northwest Airlines Strike Day Three...
It amazes me at how gullible the media seems to be at buying Northwests business as usual spin.
It seems that most of the TV, web and news paper reporting is still saying that the strike has had little impact on Northwests schedule.
But this clipping from the Detroit News paints the true story...
As you can see, at Laguardia out of 8 flights on 2 were unaffected, a 75% impact (with 25% cancellation rate.)
In Vegas, out of 4 flights only 2 left on time, a 50% impact with a 25% cancellation rate.
In Orlando out of 5 flights only 1 was unaffected, an 83% impact.
Lax, 50% effected.
Ohare 50% effected, with 1 cancellation.
Denver, 50% effected.
Phoenix, 75% effected.
With these type of delays and cancellations, how on earth can the press still be reporting the NWA talking points?
I would also like to take a moment and thank everyone who has posted kind words of support and encouragement for these workers and their families.
We are also receiving reports from the picket lines of flight crews and flight attendants (the ones who DID vote to support AMFA) bringing donuts, and drinks to the guys walking the lines. I want to extend my personal gratitude to those of you who have done this.
My dad told me of one Flight attendant who was actually crying because she didn't want to cross the picket line, but she knew that she would lose her job if she didn't.
I encourage everyone, even passengers who are not able to change their travel plans to other airlines to continue to express and show your support.
Thanks.
It seems that most of the TV, web and news paper reporting is still saying that the strike has had little impact on Northwests schedule.
But this clipping from the Detroit News paints the true story...
As you can see, at Laguardia out of 8 flights on 2 were unaffected, a 75% impact (with 25% cancellation rate.)
In Vegas, out of 4 flights only 2 left on time, a 50% impact with a 25% cancellation rate.
In Orlando out of 5 flights only 1 was unaffected, an 83% impact.
Lax, 50% effected.
Ohare 50% effected, with 1 cancellation.
Denver, 50% effected.
Phoenix, 75% effected.
With these type of delays and cancellations, how on earth can the press still be reporting the NWA talking points?
I would also like to take a moment and thank everyone who has posted kind words of support and encouragement for these workers and their families.
We are also receiving reports from the picket lines of flight crews and flight attendants (the ones who DID vote to support AMFA) bringing donuts, and drinks to the guys walking the lines. I want to extend my personal gratitude to those of you who have done this.
My dad told me of one Flight attendant who was actually crying because she didn't want to cross the picket line, but she knew that she would lose her job if she didn't.
I encourage everyone, even passengers who are not able to change their travel plans to other airlines to continue to express and show your support.
Thanks.
Comments:
<< Home
50% affected, yet very few cancellations. Looks like y'all failed to "shut 'em down" as promised.
# posted by 
: 7:48 AM
: 7:48 AM
"It amazes me at how gullible the media seems to be at buying Northwests business as usual spin.
It seems that most of the TV, web and news paper reporting is still saying that the strike has had little impact on Northwests schedule."
With all due respect for your father's situation, you're being just as gullible if you're buying into AMFA's spin on how effective the strike is.
Look halfway between what both sides are claiming, and you'll usually find the truth.
I had no doubt there would be some impacts on how well NWA can operate, but if they're even able to pull off 85% of their flights, they've won the battle, if not the war. They did better than that based on what has been reported already.
Unfortunately for your father and his co-workers, there are consequences for standing up for cause, be it just or lost. And I sincerely hope that everyone of the striking members were fully prepared to live with those consequences.
It seems that most of the TV, web and news paper reporting is still saying that the strike has had little impact on Northwests schedule."
With all due respect for your father's situation, you're being just as gullible if you're buying into AMFA's spin on how effective the strike is.
Look halfway between what both sides are claiming, and you'll usually find the truth.
I had no doubt there would be some impacts on how well NWA can operate, but if they're even able to pull off 85% of their flights, they've won the battle, if not the war. They did better than that based on what has been reported already.
Unfortunately for your father and his co-workers, there are consequences for standing up for cause, be it just or lost. And I sincerely hope that everyone of the striking members were fully prepared to live with those consequences.
# posted by : 7:57 AM
: 7:57 AM
Just like to say that I am behind the NWA mechanics 100%. The airlines have specifically targeted maintenance in their cuts. Maintenance has taken a bigger cut in terms of people then any other work group. This is industry wide.
The flying public has no clue about an AMT's job and they are led to believe that anyone can do the job. That is a lot of bull. An AMT's job is mixture of so many types of mechanical abilities. The knowledge that is accumulated with years of experience cannot be replaced. The company could train people for a year and those people still couldn't begin to fill the shoes of an experienced AMT.
I have been very sad and upset for the last couple of years as our profession has been attacked without mercy. It's doesn't feel good when everyone berates your chosen career and belittles the contribution that you give to your company. We are important and we matter.
I work line maintenance myself at another airline and my coworkers and I have figured it would take about a week for the strike to really start affecting NWA operation. Even with highly skilled and experienced AMT's working, Airplanes break down and it sometimes takes a while to troubleshoot the problem. With the Scabs, I imagine that with some of the problems that they will encounter, they will have no clue even where to begin much less have any idea on how to fix the plane. These problems will compound. Sure they can MEL away a lot of problems, but if NWA pilots are like ours, it won't take long before pilots begin to refuse an airplane due to the amount of MEL items on the planes. Plus a lot of items can only be MEL'd for 10 days and then they have to be fixed. Also, if the FAA is doing the job that they are supposed to be doing, it will not take long for them to start flagging some of NWA maintenance.
I pray for all the NWA AMTS. They are standing up for our entire profession and maybe one of last hopes for respect.
The flying public has no clue about an AMT's job and they are led to believe that anyone can do the job. That is a lot of bull. An AMT's job is mixture of so many types of mechanical abilities. The knowledge that is accumulated with years of experience cannot be replaced. The company could train people for a year and those people still couldn't begin to fill the shoes of an experienced AMT.
I have been very sad and upset for the last couple of years as our profession has been attacked without mercy. It's doesn't feel good when everyone berates your chosen career and belittles the contribution that you give to your company. We are important and we matter.
I work line maintenance myself at another airline and my coworkers and I have figured it would take about a week for the strike to really start affecting NWA operation. Even with highly skilled and experienced AMT's working, Airplanes break down and it sometimes takes a while to troubleshoot the problem. With the Scabs, I imagine that with some of the problems that they will encounter, they will have no clue even where to begin much less have any idea on how to fix the plane. These problems will compound. Sure they can MEL away a lot of problems, but if NWA pilots are like ours, it won't take long before pilots begin to refuse an airplane due to the amount of MEL items on the planes. Plus a lot of items can only be MEL'd for 10 days and then they have to be fixed. Also, if the FAA is doing the job that they are supposed to be doing, it will not take long for them to start flagging some of NWA maintenance.
I pray for all the NWA AMTS. They are standing up for our entire profession and maybe one of last hopes for respect.
# posted by : 2:50 PM
: 2:50 PM
As the wife of a mechanic, I KNOW how the ride with NWA has been...and I can tell you there have been a LOT more lean years than good ones. Out of TWENTY YEARS, I can count on ONE hand the good ones....and part of those were spent trying to recoup from the years of pay cuts. My husband hired on with Republic, thinking we were embarking on a fun journey...instead it has been one filled with more lows than highs. I have seen my husband beaten down by a company that has no consideration for their people as human beings.....they are simply numbers...numbers to be slashed. I'm proud of the stand he and his fellow union members are taking.
It amazes me how little people think about what it takes to keep those large machines flying. I understand how it can seem you are simply sitting on a bus or in a car when you fly...but the reality is..if something breaks..you can't just pull over to the curb when you are at 30,000 feet. The stress these planes go through simply taking off....going from temps or 110 in the desert to 65 below in the air...the impact it takes on landing. I used to take comfort in know the ones working on the planes I flew on were my loved ones, friends and neighbors. People taking pride in what they were doing. I don't understand why Northwest didn't take the facility they had...they were known as the best maintenance in the industry at one time...and turn it into a money maker...why couldn't THEY have been the place the others took their work to? Instead they chose to dismantle..looked good on paper...wonder how good it will look as a heap on the ground.
It amazes me how little people think about what it takes to keep those large machines flying. I understand how it can seem you are simply sitting on a bus or in a car when you fly...but the reality is..if something breaks..you can't just pull over to the curb when you are at 30,000 feet. The stress these planes go through simply taking off....going from temps or 110 in the desert to 65 below in the air...the impact it takes on landing. I used to take comfort in know the ones working on the planes I flew on were my loved ones, friends and neighbors. People taking pride in what they were doing. I don't understand why Northwest didn't take the facility they had...they were known as the best maintenance in the industry at one time...and turn it into a money maker...why couldn't THEY have been the place the others took their work to? Instead they chose to dismantle..looked good on paper...wonder how good it will look as a heap on the ground.
# posted by : 4:54 PM
: 4:54 PM
To my AMFA supporters at NWAC,
I am a Delta Airlines Line AMT, eventho we are in the midst of a AMFA drive at DAL, most Line AMT's honor your pickets, and refuse to cross the line. In fact I witnessed my manager recieve a call from NWA Maintenance Controll about borrowing a tool, My manager told your TMC that we didn't have the tool, when in fact he well knew we did! I was shocked. A memo was released from our Line Maintenance Manager for Delta Airlines, telling us to help the Skyteam, and when asked by NWA to service their planes, that we jump at the oppurtunity to work on your aircraft. Well only a few cases system wide that I know of where one of our fellow bastard scab AMT's crossed the line, I am working on getting the names and send them in. I as well as most of my brothers join hands with you during your strike, my thoughts to you and your families during this strike!
I am a Delta Airlines Line AMT, eventho we are in the midst of a AMFA drive at DAL, most Line AMT's honor your pickets, and refuse to cross the line. In fact I witnessed my manager recieve a call from NWA Maintenance Controll about borrowing a tool, My manager told your TMC that we didn't have the tool, when in fact he well knew we did! I was shocked. A memo was released from our Line Maintenance Manager for Delta Airlines, telling us to help the Skyteam, and when asked by NWA to service their planes, that we jump at the oppurtunity to work on your aircraft. Well only a few cases system wide that I know of where one of our fellow bastard scab AMT's crossed the line, I am working on getting the names and send them in. I as well as most of my brothers join hands with you during your strike, my thoughts to you and your families during this strike!
# posted by : 5:31 PM
: 5:31 PM
I feel that all of the northwest people are reading off the same generic script that probably a CEO has written for them. Just like on day 4 they come out with the vandalisim of property that was supposedly done by the mechanics. They had to go out and buy new waste and water trucks ok did they say they had already bought them. NOOOOOOOO they made it look like our people were in the wrong.
It is not about the WAGE but about KEEPING THE JOBS HERE IN THE UNITED STATES!!! Why should we take our jobs to other countries, and we get into the soup lines.
UNION ALL THE WAY!!!!!!!
It is not about the WAGE but about KEEPING THE JOBS HERE IN THE UNITED STATES!!! Why should we take our jobs to other countries, and we get into the soup lines.
UNION ALL THE WAY!!!!!!!
# posted by : 7:40 AM
: 7:40 AM
Anonymous said...
Well my fellow AMT's. I'm beginning to get really sick of the B.S that we put forth. It is time to face the truth about us and our profession. It was not scabs that left over 20 engine oil caps off at NWA during the last 18 months. It was not scabs that drove a 727 off the taxi way in DTW 3 years ago.It was not scabs that left a clamp off of an A320 engine in ORD LAST MONTH. It was not scabs that left a clamp off a DC10 in Orlando a few years back. Both ORD & MCO incidents generated fire warnings by the way. We all make mistakes. Its that simple. It was not scabs that forgot to install chip detector o rings on an Eastern L1011 way back when. Stop kidding yourselves. Im a 20 years NWA tech. Im on strike and out of a job. I hate what this company has become and I am disgusted at the way corporate america is bending us over. But people you better wake up and smell the jet fuel. These scabs are a&p techs. They just happen to have made a lousy choice in coming to work for NWA. But they are a&p's none the less. WAKE UP
2:01 AM
Anonymous said...
Oh ok...Lets keep going here. Hmmm, who filled a DC-9 hydraulic system with soap? Not a scab. NWA and all airline amt's screw up by the numbers. Planes are not that critical. Stop making into something its not. Commercial airliners break everyday and land safely. The systems are redundant and thats a fact.The latest Billings diversion of an A320....SO what. We divert all the time. It happens.Systems fail and the redundancy allows for safe flight. We divert just the same for added safety. Ive seen it all at NWA in my 22.5 years. We technicians screw up, the planes parts screw up...IT HAPPENS PEOPLE. It is extremely rare that an accident occurs from a poor trained or for that matter a highly trained tech.Ive seen techs employed at NWA that you wouldnt want working on your lawn tractor much less an airplane.There are loser scabs and there are loser union techs. ITS A FACT!! ADMIT IT AND FIND ANOTHER BATTLE TO FIGHT IN THIS WAR AGAINST NWA. LETS BE SMART AND GET REAL. WE WILL NOT CONVINCE THE COMPANY THAT WE'RE THE ELITE ALL MIGHTY TRAINED PREFESSIONALS. THEY HAVE BEEN SEEING OUR SCREW UPS FOR MANY YEARS AND WE HAVE COST THIS COMPANY MILLIONS IN DAMAGED AIRPLANES. NO HUH.....REMEMBER THE A320 IN LGA ? OR THE LOSER IN JFK THAT DROVE THE 747 INTO THE TERMINAL? WHAT ABOUT ALL THE RUNWAY INCURSIONS ??????????? THEY WERENT SCABS.THE FAA DAMN NEAR SHUT OUR TAXI OPERATION DOWN BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD SO MANY INCURSIONS ON RUNWAYS. DAMN YOU PEOPLE...WAKE UP....ITS NOT A SCAB THING. THESE SCABS ARE SCUM OF THE EARTH AND I WILL SPIT ON THE FIRST ONE I SEE....BUT ALL IM SAYING IS LETS BE REALISTIC IN OUR CAUSE. HEY KEVIN...HOW DID THAT PANEL DEPART THE 747 AGAIN? YEAH...YOU KNOW....THE BIG PANEL ON TOP OF THE WING ? HEY MIKE.....HOW DID THE 727 FALL ON ITS NOSE ? HEY BILL.....YOU MANAGER SCUM...WHEN YOU WERE A TECH....HOW MUCH FUEL DID THE 747 HAVE TO DUMP WHEN IT RETURNED FROM FLIGHT BECAUSE OF THAT GEAR PIN YOU LEFT IN ? OH AND I JUST CANT IMAGINE THE NUMBER OF LLM CHECKS THAT WERE NOT DONE ON LLM SENSITIVE ITEMS....BY US PROFESSIONAL AMFA TECHS. DAMN...DID I FOGET TO MENTION THE OIL CAPS....OVER 20 OF THEM. MOST NWA TECHS ARE NOTHING MORE THAN HIGHLY PAID PUSH BACK DRIVERS. OH WAIT...NOT ANYMORE, THATS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE RAMP NOW. YES...NWA, THE ONLY AIRLINE LEFT TO LET THEIR TECHS PUSH AIRPLANES. THEY FINALLY WOKE UP. WELL, I HAVE TO GET READY FOR MY PICKET LINE DUTY. GONNA TAKE SOME MORE PICS OF SCABS TODAY. IM LIKING THAT ;)
3:18 AM
Anonymous said...
Hi, I cannot agree with everything this guy says but he has a point.Im a striking NWA tech and I always thought of it this way. AMFA or the IAM never taught me a godamn thing about airplanes.I know what I know from the training NWA has given me over the years and the shared knowledge and ojt of my co-workers. This guy is correct though....we're all humans and I have made mistakes through my career.I have seem more mistakes than I can care to remember from my union brothers and being a member of AMFA ( which I am very proud of ) has had absolutely no bearing on what kind of technician I am. NONE. I do my best and do it well. Lets see, how about all of those long time , very experienced NON UNION Delta airlines technicians. Many of which NWA has hired over the years and are now dues paying members of AMFA. I rest my case.
3:32 AM
Well my fellow AMT's. I'm beginning to get really sick of the B.S that we put forth. It is time to face the truth about us and our profession. It was not scabs that left over 20 engine oil caps off at NWA during the last 18 months. It was not scabs that drove a 727 off the taxi way in DTW 3 years ago.It was not scabs that left a clamp off of an A320 engine in ORD LAST MONTH. It was not scabs that left a clamp off a DC10 in Orlando a few years back. Both ORD & MCO incidents generated fire warnings by the way. We all make mistakes. Its that simple. It was not scabs that forgot to install chip detector o rings on an Eastern L1011 way back when. Stop kidding yourselves. Im a 20 years NWA tech. Im on strike and out of a job. I hate what this company has become and I am disgusted at the way corporate america is bending us over. But people you better wake up and smell the jet fuel. These scabs are a&p techs. They just happen to have made a lousy choice in coming to work for NWA. But they are a&p's none the less. WAKE UP
2:01 AM
Anonymous said...
Oh ok...Lets keep going here. Hmmm, who filled a DC-9 hydraulic system with soap? Not a scab. NWA and all airline amt's screw up by the numbers. Planes are not that critical. Stop making into something its not. Commercial airliners break everyday and land safely. The systems are redundant and thats a fact.The latest Billings diversion of an A320....SO what. We divert all the time. It happens.Systems fail and the redundancy allows for safe flight. We divert just the same for added safety. Ive seen it all at NWA in my 22.5 years. We technicians screw up, the planes parts screw up...IT HAPPENS PEOPLE. It is extremely rare that an accident occurs from a poor trained or for that matter a highly trained tech.Ive seen techs employed at NWA that you wouldnt want working on your lawn tractor much less an airplane.There are loser scabs and there are loser union techs. ITS A FACT!! ADMIT IT AND FIND ANOTHER BATTLE TO FIGHT IN THIS WAR AGAINST NWA. LETS BE SMART AND GET REAL. WE WILL NOT CONVINCE THE COMPANY THAT WE'RE THE ELITE ALL MIGHTY TRAINED PREFESSIONALS. THEY HAVE BEEN SEEING OUR SCREW UPS FOR MANY YEARS AND WE HAVE COST THIS COMPANY MILLIONS IN DAMAGED AIRPLANES. NO HUH.....REMEMBER THE A320 IN LGA ? OR THE LOSER IN JFK THAT DROVE THE 747 INTO THE TERMINAL? WHAT ABOUT ALL THE RUNWAY INCURSIONS ??????????? THEY WERENT SCABS.THE FAA DAMN NEAR SHUT OUR TAXI OPERATION DOWN BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD SO MANY INCURSIONS ON RUNWAYS. DAMN YOU PEOPLE...WAKE UP....ITS NOT A SCAB THING. THESE SCABS ARE SCUM OF THE EARTH AND I WILL SPIT ON THE FIRST ONE I SEE....BUT ALL IM SAYING IS LETS BE REALISTIC IN OUR CAUSE. HEY KEVIN...HOW DID THAT PANEL DEPART THE 747 AGAIN? YEAH...YOU KNOW....THE BIG PANEL ON TOP OF THE WING ? HEY MIKE.....HOW DID THE 727 FALL ON ITS NOSE ? HEY BILL.....YOU MANAGER SCUM...WHEN YOU WERE A TECH....HOW MUCH FUEL DID THE 747 HAVE TO DUMP WHEN IT RETURNED FROM FLIGHT BECAUSE OF THAT GEAR PIN YOU LEFT IN ? OH AND I JUST CANT IMAGINE THE NUMBER OF LLM CHECKS THAT WERE NOT DONE ON LLM SENSITIVE ITEMS....BY US PROFESSIONAL AMFA TECHS. DAMN...DID I FOGET TO MENTION THE OIL CAPS....OVER 20 OF THEM. MOST NWA TECHS ARE NOTHING MORE THAN HIGHLY PAID PUSH BACK DRIVERS. OH WAIT...NOT ANYMORE, THATS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE RAMP NOW. YES...NWA, THE ONLY AIRLINE LEFT TO LET THEIR TECHS PUSH AIRPLANES. THEY FINALLY WOKE UP. WELL, I HAVE TO GET READY FOR MY PICKET LINE DUTY. GONNA TAKE SOME MORE PICS OF SCABS TODAY. IM LIKING THAT ;)
3:18 AM
Anonymous said...
Hi, I cannot agree with everything this guy says but he has a point.Im a striking NWA tech and I always thought of it this way. AMFA or the IAM never taught me a godamn thing about airplanes.I know what I know from the training NWA has given me over the years and the shared knowledge and ojt of my co-workers. This guy is correct though....we're all humans and I have made mistakes through my career.I have seem more mistakes than I can care to remember from my union brothers and being a member of AMFA ( which I am very proud of ) has had absolutely no bearing on what kind of technician I am. NONE. I do my best and do it well. Lets see, how about all of those long time , very experienced NON UNION Delta airlines technicians. Many of which NWA has hired over the years and are now dues paying members of AMFA. I rest my case.
3:32 AM
# posted by : 3:40 AM
: 3:40 AM
I find this post curious ... I was at LGA on the date this person cites, and I can assure you we did not have the 2 cancels mentioned. I have to question: Is it the media or some AMFA folks that are gullible?
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# posted by : 3:00 PM
: 3:00 PM << Home
