The Same Old Song And Dance
Recently, Delta Air Lines CEO Richard Anderson announced raises across the board for
all “non-contract employees”; and as usual he added that NWA employees wouldn’t
receive the raises due to contractual issues. Of course, IAM GVP Robert Roach, Jr., and District
Lodge 143 President/ Directing General Chair Stephen Gordon reminded him that there are
no statutes in our contract that do not allow for pay increases outside our negotiated ones.
What I found funny about this is that a DTW manager in a letter recently published on the Delta intranet praised all the DTW workers as “world class” employees (which as we know are all Union employees) for the best luggage statistics ever. Don’t world class employees deserve a raise Richard? I’m not complaining, why would I? I was off ered a special lanyard for my world class effort. Of course I realize this is just a strategy of trying to drive wedges between employees. A strategy the company has been running on all of us since the announcement of the merger. I hope everyone will keep this in mind the next time you hear the newest rumor. Don’t fall prey to the company propaganda. Delta has tried to divide and conquer from the beginning. They continue to pit full-time against parttime, contractual against non-contractual, above the wing against below the wing, employee against employee, and NWA against DAL.
Everyday the rhetoric, from the company, along with the lack of respect for all employees continues. For example, CEO Richard Anderson and his cronies were just awarded millions in stock. Meanwhile, all Delta and NWA employees remain under pay concessions, and increases in health care. We are made to live on 1989 wages at 2010 prices, all the while they stuff their pockets. Do you really think we could do better without a union? I don’t. All of us have worked here long enough to know the reality the value this company puts on its’ employees. In knowing just that, you have to realize the importance to everyone’s future, why the worlds largest airline must have the worlds largest airline union.
Everyday I hear people express their concern and worry about things they heard at work. And, honestly I know most of this misinformation is cultivated by the company. Usually these rumors begin with small talk with management, a company memo, or some article published on the company intranet. Please do not get your information from these sources, but get it from your Shop Committee, your Stewards, the IAM web sites, IAM postings, and union meetings. Don’t listen to management rumors, or believe everything you hear at a company town hall meeting, read in a memo, or the propaganda published on Deltanet. Whose future do you really think they have in mind? Ours? I think not. If you have a question, hear a rumor, or have a concern—ask the IAM. Get the real information from your union, the one source that truly has your future and livelihood in mind.
Let’s be realistic, it’s the same old song and dance. It may be a new paint job, but it’s the same old airline, with the same old conniving and greedy people running it. The new Delta is the old Northwest. Though the next few weeks will bring many challenges for all of us, we cannot falter in the task of ensuring our union representation. Our futures depend on it. Remember, when it’s time to vote, vote union, vote IAM.
Recently, Delta Air Lines CEO Richard Anderson announced raises across the board for
all “non-contract employees”; and as usual he added that NWA employees wouldn’t
receive the raises due to contractual issues. Of course, IAM GVP Robert Roach, Jr., and District
Lodge 143 President/ Directing General Chair Stephen Gordon reminded him that there are
no statutes in our contract that do not allow for pay increases outside our negotiated ones.
What I found funny about this is that a DTW manager in a letter recently published on the Delta intranet praised all the DTW workers as “world class” employees (which as we know are all Union employees) for the best luggage statistics ever. Don’t world class employees deserve a raise Richard? I’m not complaining, why would I? I was off ered a special lanyard for my world class effort. Of course I realize this is just a strategy of trying to drive wedges between employees. A strategy the company has been running on all of us since the announcement of the merger. I hope everyone will keep this in mind the next time you hear the newest rumor. Don’t fall prey to the company propaganda. Delta has tried to divide and conquer from the beginning. They continue to pit full-time against parttime, contractual against non-contractual, above the wing against below the wing, employee against employee, and NWA against DAL.
Everyday the rhetoric, from the company, along with the lack of respect for all employees continues. For example, CEO Richard Anderson and his cronies were just awarded millions in stock. Meanwhile, all Delta and NWA employees remain under pay concessions, and increases in health care. We are made to live on 1989 wages at 2010 prices, all the while they stuff their pockets. Do you really think we could do better without a union? I don’t. All of us have worked here long enough to know the reality the value this company puts on its’ employees. In knowing just that, you have to realize the importance to everyone’s future, why the worlds largest airline must have the worlds largest airline union.
Everyday I hear people express their concern and worry about things they heard at work. And, honestly I know most of this misinformation is cultivated by the company. Usually these rumors begin with small talk with management, a company memo, or some article published on the company intranet. Please do not get your information from these sources, but get it from your Shop Committee, your Stewards, the IAM web sites, IAM postings, and union meetings. Don’t listen to management rumors, or believe everything you hear at a company town hall meeting, read in a memo, or the propaganda published on Deltanet. Whose future do you really think they have in mind? Ours? I think not. If you have a question, hear a rumor, or have a concern—ask the IAM. Get the real information from your union, the one source that truly has your future and livelihood in mind.
Let’s be realistic, it’s the same old song and dance. It may be a new paint job, but it’s the same old airline, with the same old conniving and greedy people running it. The new Delta is the old Northwest. Though the next few weeks will bring many challenges for all of us, we cannot falter in the task of ensuring our union representation. Our futures depend on it. Remember, when it’s time to vote, vote union, vote IAM.