UNION BUSTING

AMC has obtained the services of Mountain State Employers Council, Inc. This is the same organization that they used during the last election. We have no idea what they are paying MSEC. However, it is money that could be better spent on your salaries. For those of you that have your doubts about union busting, the following is verbatim from the MSEC web site:

Union Organizing Drives
(Should a union seek to organize a non-union employer, the Labor Relations attorneys consult with the employer to preserve union-free status. We play an active coaching role throughout the entire process, working with management to foster pro-employer attitudes among employees. We guide managers through the intricate requirements of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), which governs employer/union conduct during these difficult times. In addition, we handle NLRB hearings that may result. For unionized employers, we assist with decertification elections.)

* In this case, they are dealing with the National Mediation Board, not the NLRB, which governs most of the union activity in non-transportation industries.

The union busting has begun. Some examples we have already witnessed include; antiunion postings on the forums, intended to confuse the issues and mislead you, threats of losing jobs if you unionize, management working with strongly antiunion pilots and delay tactics in the election process. And this just the beginning of what is to come.

Please remember that you have the legal right to form, join or assist a union free of intimidation from management. Nonetheless, the union busters are well aware of their advantages and they will frequently use them. For example, it is illegal for them to directly threaten to close bases if you form your own union. However, it is legal for them to say "We don't know what effect dealing with your union will have on us financially." Please inform us of all union busting activity. We not only need to know about it, but we also must make sure, for your protection, that the union busters stay within the confines of the law.

Other tactics you can expect include:

• Mandatory captive audience meetings.
• A sudden need to listen to your concerns
• A willingness to form Pilot Advocacy Groups
• Antiunion letters prepared by the union busters
• Attempts to discredit unions, including the OPEIU
• Attempts to make you thing that your union is an "outside third party"
• Discussion of wage and benefit changes, for the better or possibly try to divide you by indiscreetly making you think you will have you wages lowered.
• Changes in management that may seem better for the pilots.

When management attempts to convince you that forming your own aviation union is bad for you please ask yourself what their intentions truly are. Are they really concerned about your welfare or their own? What are they really afraid of?