APA statement
02-25-2011, 01:40 PM
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APA statement
FORT WORTH, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Allied Pilots Association (APA), certified collective bargaining agent for the 11,000 pilots of American Airlines (NYSE:AMR - News), expressed strong support for preserving the collective bargaining rights of public-sector workers. State legislatures in Wisconsin and other states are debating whether to strip public employees of their right to collectively bargain as part of efforts to reduce budget shortfalls.
“Collective bargaining represents one of the foundational elements of a democratic society,” said President Captain David Bates. “After all, when citizens of various Eastern Bloc countries began seeking greater individual freedoms during the 1980s, trade unionists stood at the forefront of that movement. Denying workers in either the public or private sector the basic right of collective bargaining is antithetical to democracy.”
Earlier today the Wisconsin Assembly passed a bill that strips collective bargaining rights for most public workers. The Assembly’s vote sent the bill to a vote in the Wisconsin Senate. At last report, some Senate Democrats remained absent, preventing a vote.
“We understand the need for policymakers to be fiscally responsible, but this is the wrong way to go about meeting that responsibility,” Bates said. “The Wisconsin Senate needs to do what’s right by voting the bill down. This is not just a Republican or Democratic issue—it’s one that goes to the heart of what it means to be an American.”
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Good on the APA.
“Collective bargaining represents one of the foundational elements of a democratic society,” said President Captain David Bates. “After all, when citizens of various Eastern Bloc countries began seeking greater individual freedoms during the 1980s, trade unionists stood at the forefront of that movement. Denying workers in either the public or private sector the basic right of collective bargaining is antithetical to democracy.”
Earlier today the Wisconsin Assembly passed a bill that strips collective bargaining rights for most public workers. The Assembly’s vote sent the bill to a vote in the Wisconsin Senate. At last report, some Senate Democrats remained absent, preventing a vote.
“We understand the need for policymakers to be fiscally responsible, but this is the wrong way to go about meeting that responsibility,” Bates said. “The Wisconsin Senate needs to do what’s right by voting the bill down. This is not just a Republican or Democratic issue—it’s one that goes to the heart of what it means to be an American.”
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Good on the APA.
02-25-2011, 02:10 PM
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Originally Posted by fireman0174
Good on the APA.
...and from ALPA as well:
WASHINGTON — Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) President Capt. Lee Moak issued the following statement today in response to recent union-busting campaigns by several Midwestern state legislatures:
“The 53,000 members of the Air Line Pilots Association, International, stand together with the public sector workers of Wisconsin, Indiana, and Ohio and anywhere collective bargaining rights are threatened. The ability to join as a group to negotiate working conditions with an employer is a fundamental tenet of a free democracy.
“Teachers, police officers, firefighters, nurses, and other public employees are the bedrock of our society. They deserve our respect and recognition for the essential work they do. Like all workers, they also deserve the right to organize their members and bargain on their behalf.
“Many of the basic work conditions every American takes for granted, including retirement plans, employer-sponsored health care, the five-day work week and paid holidays came as a direct result of advances made by organized labor. Regardless of whether they belong to a union, every working American enjoys benefits won through collective bargaining. The current anti-labor backlash perpetuated by some cynical politicians ignores our history and cheapens the collaboration between labor and management that has created the most prosperous, best-educated workforce in the world.
“As we have seen too often in our own industry, pay, benefits, and work rules can change, and not always for the better. But we firmly believe that any changes in employment deserve to be negotiated directly with an employer, not arbitrarily imposed by government or the courts.
“We urge all ALPA members to support their union colleagues and take a stand with them for the American principles of fairness, equity, and justice"
“Many of the basic work conditions every American takes for granted, including retirement plans, employer-sponsored health care, the five-day work week and paid holidays came as a direct result of advances made by organized labor. Regardless of whether they belong to a union, every working American enjoys benefits won through collective bargaining. The current anti-labor backlash perpetuated by some cynical politicians ignores our history and cheapens the collaboration between labor and management that has created the most prosperous, best-educated workforce in the world.
“As we have seen too often in our own industry, pay, benefits, and work rules can change, and not always for the better. But we firmly believe that any changes in employment deserve to be negotiated directly with an employer, not arbitrarily imposed by government or the courts.
“We urge all ALPA members to support their union colleagues and take a stand with them for the American principles of fairness, equity, and justice"
02-25-2011, 02:15 PM
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unions have brought this country to a screaming halt. When workers show up to work to get sleep, there is a problem. Your union workers in the auto industry have cost their industry so much, sorry to say guys.
02-25-2011, 02:24 PM
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Originally Posted by pilotrob23
unions have brought this country to a screaming halt. When workers show up to work to get sleep, there is a problem. Your union workers in the auto industry have cost their industry so much, sorry to say guys.
02-25-2011, 02:31 PM
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i was just speaking of auto industry and a big reason why this is in the news lately. The auto industry in america has not been competitive for awile, there is a reason why. Hope this country can be a manufacturer of something, cause it is looking dim.
02-25-2011, 02:40 PM
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Originally Posted by pilotrob23
i was just speaking of auto industry and a big reason why this is in the news lately. The auto industry in america has not been competitive for awile, there is a reason why. Hope this country can be a manufacturer of something, cause it is looking dim.
It bothers me when people argue over who deserves 30k/yr and who deserves 60k/yr. To me it is far more absurd to pay someone Millions of dollars per year to produce/create nothing and instead play golf with their buddies. These are the people we should be counting on to bring forth innovative products that suit the needs of their customers, ask yourself what they've done in the last few decades?
02-25-2011, 02:45 PM
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Originally Posted by pilotrob23
unions have brought this country to a screaming halt. When workers show up to work to get sleep, there is a problem. Your union workers in the auto industry have cost their industry so much, sorry to say guys.
Ummmm..... Didn't you post this on another thread?
In my opinion, it doesnt have to be alpa, but some sort of union in some manner, because of the above reasons stated. Especially with the M&A going on in the industry, some sort of protection in a contract would be a good idea?! Take care everyone
I think you had it right the first time.
02-25-2011, 02:54 PM
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i agree with some sort of representation in our industry, if we didnt, i would get 4 days off a month. Im kinda on the fence here because i am a union member, but the decline of the chryslers, gm, etc dont lie solely on innovation. Our workers cost to much, whether hourly wage, pensions, medical, etc. Wanted to discuss both sides. Take care guys
02-25-2011, 03:00 PM
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Originally Posted by Phuz
I disagree. I think the primary cause for the decline of the American auto industry over the last 30 years has been a lack of innovation. The products produced by competing manufacturers were often superior in quality and were better designed to suit the needs of the people purchasing them.
It bothers me when people argue over who deserves 30k/yr and who deserves 60k/yr. To me it is far more absurd to pay someone Millions of dollars per year to produce/create nothing and instead play golf with their buddies. These are the people we should be counting on to bring forth innovative products that suit the needs of their customers, ask yourself what they've done in the last few decades?
It bothers me when people argue over who deserves 30k/yr and who deserves 60k/yr. To me it is far more absurd to pay someone Millions of dollars per year to produce/create nothing and instead play golf with their buddies. These are the people we should be counting on to bring forth innovative products that suit the needs of their customers, ask yourself what they've done in the last few decades?
02-25-2011, 03:02 PM
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Originally Posted by pilotrob23
i was just speaking of auto industry and a big reason why this is in the news lately.
The Wisconsin teachers have also offered concessions in Pension and Health Insurance reform, but the Governor isn't interested in concessions anymore. His sole goal is to eliminate the ability to collectively bargain. Even if you think the Wisconsin workers are lazy and overpaid (and I certainly have some problems with government unions), if you ever want to have a say in your working conditions, you will recognize the assault that is currently ongoing against the basic principle of collective bargaining
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