Originally Posted by
Albief15
LOA I was part of why I ran for block rep. LOA II was simply the memorializing of the the FCIFs.
I was against the first LOA. I am voting for LOA II. Why? It helps the dudes who are going there, and it firms up those enhancements so they cannot be taken away at a whim. If the crew force wanted it previously, why NOT offer the improvements up to them as well?
You got a vote...do as you see fit. This one didn't cost us anything. It is hard for me to gather much indignation about LOA II when the weaker LOA I was voted for by 68% of the crew force. I am hearing a lot of spears thrown at Fred about LOA II. Dudes...the LOA is the reason Fred and I are here... If you think there is a lot of leverage to garner improvements, however, after you just signed off on the previous LOA by that kind of margin I think you are mistaken.
The excess bid, not the LOA, will probably be the main factor in more guys going to HKG voluntarily. I'm for anything that helps them out at all. This LOA II helps...a little. I'm not here to sell it to you however--make your own choices.
I first must say Albie, that is good to have someone on the MEC whom one seems to know where he is coming from. Having said that, I tend to disagree on some points.
I too, was against the first LOA. So therefore I am against the second one. Neither is what any of us deserves. I didnt bid HKG because the deal sucked, among other reasons. Although LOA2 helps those that are going there, they bid it without the "memorialized enhancements".....(major sarcastic tone!) So, they bid it knowing what they were getting under version 1.
When the Company started sweetening things unilaterally, the Union should have raised the BS flag and stopped it. That is direct dealing.....unsat. But, of course I realize they couldnt have raised a stink; they wanted LOA1. Even if the Company acted illegally and nefariously during the vote AND bidding. Pathetic, if you ask me. (I know you didnt ask me
)
This LOA2 did cost us! It cost us because it allowed the Company to give us a cr@ppy deal on LOA1, and then when that didnt work to well, we got version 2. It cost us in unity due to the hard sell from those that pushed hard for it, when now I think a lot more folks realize what a piece of junk it is....and was.
There is a much bigger picture here. The Company are experts at divide and conquer. They have honed their skills this time around. Giving our NC committee a crappy deal, sweetening things unilaterally when they want more crewmembers to "bite", then getting away with all of this is just plain wrong.....AFU! This goes against my grain, sense of fair play, and other things I wont mention. And of course I realize it is business.
Hope you the best in your work with the MEC. I would suggest that when we are offered a deal by the Company, you will ask yourself (if you already dont) what their profit will be, what we get out of it (nothing taken away like this LOA), and if it is all fair. And what their motivations are.