Message from Local 514 President, Dale Danker – September 3, 2017

This past week in DC we signed a letter which will solidify that all initial inspection will be preformed by our inspectors. We are achieving positive items in negotiations, the company does not just give them to us. I wish that the company would give us an industry leading contract, I believe we’ve earned one for the many years of sacrifices but they just don’t care.

 I’ve continually asked for more relief by putting the old CS policy back in with Shift Swap, I’ve  seen nothing yet…. they don’t care.

  When they want to bring you in the office and ask you what your favorite movie is or try to get to know you because HR told them to do this so the relationship between the company and its employees  will get better, try to remember this.

It’s the company that wanted to keep mandatory overtime and the union fought to stop it.

It’s the company that took a week’s vacation, flex vacation and more than likely base shutdown from you and it’s the union fighting to get you more than what you currently have. They do not want you to have any more than what your bankruptcy contract gives you.

Last but not least try to remember when they want to act like they care they want us to accept the LUS scope language.  That’s 50/50 outsourcing on AO, Not counting livery (paint), Not counting any back shop work. All together this pushes outsourcing to somewhere around 70%.

 They will say they promise to not layoff anyone but why would we ever accept worse than what we achieved in bankruptcy.

If we accepted that type of scope here’s what I believe would happen.

They will shut down shops and transition people to AO. Very similar to what has happened to our engine shops with the retirement of the MD80’s. Maybe they offer an early out but if they do they don’t hire back fills. So the 1003 AMT’S in the back shops will bring their seniority to AO and those stuck on undesirable shifts could possibly be stuck there their entire career.

Like many of you missing your family events and kids games I would love to have the contract finished and be home to watch my daughter playing softball for the last time during her senior year. Remember though the company doesn’t care about us and they actually want us to take more concessions while they roll in the billions. I will continue to do my best to achieve a tentative agreement that will be good for all of us.

I want to thank the officers and members that are supporting us this Labor day weekend by attending the rally in Chicago and Labor day Parade in Henryetta.

I will be in town this week reaching out to city, state and Federal leaders about the future of the Tulsa base. The week of September 11th I’m  in Dallas for negotiations then two weeks in Las Vegas for the TWU International Convention, then the following week in DC for negotiations.  We did ask the company to meet for negotiations the first week of the convention but they said no.

 One last thought, if you don’t come to Union meetings I’d like you to please try to make just one so you can see what’s happening within your local. There are a small group of members that keep trying to change the direction of this local. Hindering us in our ability to move forward with the business of this local. While it is always entertaining to deal with this small group it does take time away from the jobs we were elected to do. If you were here to see this, I know you would stand up for what is right.

So in short come to a 3:45 meeting once a year, get some free food and popcorn and enjoy the show. You might win the 25$ door prize.

Enjoy one of your 5 holidays and remember the company does not give a damn about you.

Union!

Dale