Bagocolts

I have only one thing in common with the most interesting man in the world: I don't often post to this forum, but when I do....

Word is out that our new "Interim" Block 1 Rep. was recently removed from a 13 DAY trip (~80 hrs) to attend a 2 day union meeting. That's the whole month. Apparently and in addition, he chipped in a couple of additional days to pinch hit for our MEC leadership which was nowhere to be found at about 300K/yr for the MEC Chairman.

Allowing for a couple of travel days because I'm not an unreasonable person, that's 6 days... what about the other 7 days? Think he will ever reimburse the members with association fly back? Think you will ever know if he does? It's no wonder that he wants the position permanently. Wow! He says he feels your pain... Anyone tried to move an R day lately?

I think the company agrees: If the vote cast by the "pilot" company negotiator is any indication. He made a trip down to the "interim" election meeting just to raise his hand in support of our new "interim" Block 1 Rep.
Wonder what he knows that we don't? Must be nice to be able to vote for the MEC leadership that you would like sitting on the other side of the table during contract negotiations.

Happily, we still have an alternative... 1, 4, 8... don't forget to vote.

Unknown Rider

Bush league.

seefive

So Bagocolts,

Are you telling me that whoever it is you are going to vote for your block rep is going to fly his line instead of attending union meetings? He isn't going to get bought out of trips for union business?
I'm not saying this is ideal but it obviously will happen at times. The reps also spend a lot of their own time doing union business while not being compensated.
I think you need to be become more aware of the realities of this process and the fact that there are costs to doing business as a union.
But feel free to promote your candidate and your agenda.

RedeyeAV8r

BagofBolts:
As I understand it he was just elected as the Blk 1 interim.
He most likely had his JUL line already before the special election.
The MEC called a special meeting before the interim election to elect / select
A new NC chair and committe.

So yes he most likely was removed from a big trip.
I bet his calendar is open.

Wait and see if he flys an AFB. Association fly back trip.
just checking. He has 90 days to do so.
Since you only have 4 posts do you have a second screen name with many more?

Bagocolts

No, what I am really telling you is that cronyism and patronage are running wild with the present MEC and leadership. Dropping trips to do union business is legitimate, but there seems to be no accountability any more back to the group. Like I said, I'm reasonable. Travel time to and from and/or rest time prior to a trip should be allowed, but there is no accountability anymore to the group who ultimately pays the bills. You and I will never know if any makeup was ever done with regard to this incident. The group is owed some days and we should have easy access to the information to indicate that it has been done.

I am also hearing that the policy manual has been gutted to allow working from home for the leadership which explains their absence from the office a lot of the time. This has to be the highest paying work from home job in the country. Block rep is a part-time job which is uncompensated, but MEC leadership is a full-time position-paided handsomely. If you don't want to hang around the planet and be available to the folks, don't run for the positions.

Also, the Financial Oversight Committee has been de-fanged and is less powerful then the old days. The FOC's of old used to be much more effective in rooting this stuff out.

Ultimately, it is we that have gotten fat, dumb and happy in allowing the MEC to turn a blind eye to the leadership, who in turn, put policies in place very advantageous to them. Since the leadership is chosen by the MEC, the leadership is not likely to hold the MEC to account. So with a neutered FOC, we have to do it; and the only mechanism is elections. There is one going on right now in 1, 4, and 8. The choice is to go with the present interim rep who is a crony of the leadership and business as usual or to go with the challenger, who is their worst nightmare-because they know his election will result in accountability. You make the call.

Bagocolts

No, one name.

Correct, 90 days. How many days does he owe us and how will you know that it is ever accomplished?

Unknown Rider

Isn't what you're saying true about every other member? So why single this guy out other than the fact you're trying to promote his competition?

FDXLAG

So your saying less information is better. If you know something about the other guys please share.

Bagocolts

What I am really trying to promote is for the membership to become more involved in calling their leaders to account. Elections are the way to do that and the challengers in 1 and 4 look like the way forward to begin that process. I would be saying the same thing if it were other blocks up for election.

When the company's "pilot" negotiator who will be negotiating against us in the next contract talks wanders down to a union meeting and votes for his Block 1 rep, someone who will hold power on the other side; that is telling and gives me great cause for concern.

The company obviously and as always wants "somebody we can work with". I guess the really famous quote had to do with the FPA. "We really like those guys, they're somebody we can work with". Well, they've got it again with the present MEC leadership and now are going to work on the MEC itself. While that's fine for them, how is going to work out for us?

MaydayMark

Bogocolts ... I'm betting you're not a union volunteer?

You know what they say, "People who live in glass heads shouldn't get stoned."