One thing that never ceases to amaze me is how the vocal RAHbros are never willing to find even a minutiae of fault with representatives. It is a constant pass the buck, not our fault, blame someone else mentality. You guys really need to call out your eBoard for a detailed explanation of various events, current and past.

The following comments I wrote yesterday, but they became old news quickly so I decided to table them. After further thought, though, I figured what the heck, the more the merrier. I'm sure it will incite some nice responses and create an opportunity for constructive discussion (right!). Without further adieu:

IBT357 Followers:

In case some of you haven't yet read the Teamsters Airline Division News for the Week Ending March 18, 2012, I wanted to re-post this really cool quote from Capt. David Bourne:

I case you are wondering why I like it so much, it has to do with the use of the words "deceitful", "misinformation" and "untruths." These are important words because they are a perfect description of how the IBT357 is handling communication with their followers (errr.... membership) with regard to the proposed FO pay raise issue at RAH.

Currently, the Republic intranet site has some interesting information available for review by employees. Check it out under the "News and Events" section. Keep in mind the words "deceitful", "misinformation" and "untruths" as you read through the documents.

Now, of course, I realize many of you will discount this information as something contrived by the company to:

Your own IBT357 eBoard President made that statement in his communique to the followers yesterday (3/28) and I'm confounded as to why he chose to use the word "spin" when it is the IBT who is proactively attempting to "spin" (a.k.a deceive and misinform) the message to the followers, most likely knowing that the Company planned to release the full record so that each of you could read for yourselves.

So here are the highlights since I am fairly certain the majority will refuse to even entertain visiting the aforementioned intranet site to self-educate, as opposed to embracing the IBT rhetoric like a 6 month upgrade.

Here you go:

In January the Company proposed to IBT357 that FO pay rates should be increased which was a message received very positively by your eBoard during that particular negotiating session.

Earlier this month, based on the positive reception of the eBoard to the FO raise proposed in January, RAH management suggested (in person) that they were prepared to implement the raise effective April 1, 2012, which was evidently once again positively received from your eBoard. Not only was it well received, but it was supposedly received with the understanding that the raise would be provided without prejudice to your Union's negotiating position nor with the intention to influence those negotiations. Furthermore, the Company claims the issue of attrition and difficulty filling new-hire classes was never, once, mentioned as a reason for proposing an FO pay raise.

Everything mentioned in the last paragraph (and more) was communicated very professionally back to your eBoard not long after the 357s 1st communique to their followers on the subject in early March. This communication from the Company to your eBoard was met with silence (a.k.a. "crickets chirping") for roughly 2 weeks until, which time, the Company (through their attorney's) notified your eBoard that they would like to know whether or not the IBT wanted the Company to move forward with implementing the raise.

That communication was met with a response from your eBoard (via attorney and using classic IBT rhetoric) reversing their position and essentially turning the communications previously mentioned on their heads as wrongly stating the facts. Your eBoard flip-flopped and was now ratcheting up the "misinformation" campaign, attempting to squarely place the blame for any failure on the Company.

The following day the Company communicated to your eBoard that, due to their reversal of position on the FO raise, they no longer planned to implement it. In the communication, the Company left the door open saying they were still willing to implement an FO raise and were willing to discuss with your eBoard at "any time" and, for the third time in the month of March, expressed that any such raise would be implemented with the understanding that it would be done so "without prejudice to the Section 6 negotiations."

Now I am not making this stuff up followers. It is all available in its' glory for you to educate yourselves and determine your own opinions. Go read it! After doing so I would suggest calling your eBoard president and asking for clarification, as it appears he went from thanking the company for their offer to "holding it hostage" in an effort to leverage the FO pay increase as an underhanded attempt at "self help", although it was clearly communicated (3 times!) by the Company that, it's worth repeating, would be done so "without prejudice to the Section 6 negotiations."

You, followers, are currently being manipulated by those you have elected to represent your interests. Those people (your eBoard), in turn, appear to be nothing more than puppets of IBT National. THIS is a perfect example of why I am not a fan of the IBT and will most likely never be. They are doing you a great disservice by deceiving and misinforming their membership.

Feel free to go ahead and respond accordingly with spiteful APC style comments. I'm ok with that because that's the game we play here at APC. But, PLEASE do me a favor and learn the facts as they have been presented by both sides. Then make your own informed opinions of whether your eBoard is currently acting in your best interests.