WE’RE READY TO GO
After the Tentative Agreement was voted down by approximately two-thirds of our members, your Mechanic and Related Negotiations Team engaged in weeks of intense strategic planning and analysis. We met for many hours, over many days to ensure we have a comprehensive strategic plan and full text proposals.
Our guiding beacon was simply to follow your marching orders. The members own this union and the ratification vote sent a clear message.
We had frank discussions about what were the key problems in the TA. From your many e- mails, our union meetings and surveys, we got a clear sense what must be fixed. As a result, we fully reviewed the contract proposal line by line and page by page.
We are ready to go and are all on the same page. Our team will be contacting the National Mediation Board (NMB) next week to ask for sessions to start as soon as possible.
WE MADE SOME INTERNAL CHANGES
TO GET THE JOB DONE AGAINST AA
It was clear that more than TA language changes were needed to fight AA. The carrier continues its attack on us and we must fight harder and smarter. We made some key changes as of the October 11th internal session:
- Since the negotiating team has so much work to do, we decided to split up assignments so we can move faster. A group of six leaders will lead a subcommittee presenting our proposals at the table (Larry Pike, Bob Owens, John Ruiz, Vinnie Argentina, John Hewitt and John Carlisle). Other team members will lead up negotiations communications. Finally, we are elevating our contract campaign fight back strategy, including member actions, strike preparations, and union coalition tactics.
- The International has provided us with top experts to assist in our activities. Labor attorney Mark Richard, who is nationally recognized, along with strategic communications advisor Jaime Horowitz have been retained by us.
- We had up front talks with Jim Little and he agreed that our team has ownership of the negotiating process. We are fully in charge. The ATD staff will assist us as we request, but it’s our team. Jim pledged legal, public relations and other critical financial and technical support as well.
EVERY MEMBER AT THE TABLE
It won’t be easy. We get it. We are up for the fight. The best way forward is staying united. Every Title, every Local, every TWU official and every International Leader must and will be on the same team. We are strongest when we are one union.
It is clear that our strength starts with the rank and file membership. We need all 11,000 Members “at the table” with us. AA needs to see you sitting right there with us. Our campaign moving forward will involve constant member actions, communications and feedback. They will feel your presence alongside each of us.
WE WILL KEEP YOU FULLY INFORMED
Now that events are set in motion again, we will keep you fully informed. We will issue communications after every session and as the campaign unfolds. Stay involved and informed.
IN UNITY.YOUR NEGOTIATIONS TEAM