Delta Ramp Workers Organizing Committee

Sunday, February 10, 2008

DO WHAT I SAY NOT WHAT I DO

MANAGEMENT ENHANCING OWN CONTRACTS
PROCESS NEARS END GAME


How many times in the past has management told employees not to listen to union ‘promises’ and rhetoric? “We will take care of your needs,” they said. “We don’t need outside forces coming between us” was always their retort when union activity heated up.

Now that the process of finalizing a merger appears to be entering its closing stages, guess what our top management is doing? That’s right; they are using their ‘outsiders’ – their LAWYERS to find ways to protect them.

You see, all of our top leaders have contracts; documents designed by their representatives that protect them in the event of a merger or acquisition. They are guaranteed their money. And, since more value is coming towards the merged carrier, they want a bigger piece of the action. Isn’t it ironic that most all of the pieces of the merger are reportedly done, and what is holding up the deal is which upper management will stay (and reap millions) and who will go away (and reap millions)?

They are taking care of their own interests while leaving the rest of us vulnerable and exposed by not having the same kind of quality representation that they are using for themselves. Talk about double standards! How arrogant and condescending of them.

Watch how ruthless these leaders will be to their own; the unfortunate, exposed and non-represented middle managers, whose careers will be coming to an abrupt end because of duplication and consolidation. No soft landing for them! They will be out the door before they have time to remove their lunches from the office mini-fridge.

Our fate is not much safer than the exposed middle management team. Those of us who are not yet covered by a contract will be left to fate, the whim of an unknown future management, or worse yet, a plan to ‘right-size’ the company by layoffs and management charged with looking for a reason to walk us off the property. Don’t kid yourselves about that inevitable eventuality.

The only real protection from such an action is to sign those union authorization cards (and follow the example of top management) by having our professionals – the IAM – help write a contract that can protect all of us. We deserve the same kind of representation and security that our leaders see no problem having.

Let’s follow their lead and secure us the same kind of quality protection that our Company Officers have. Unionize now. In Solidarity.