Becoming Teamsters
By: Paul Molenberg, 18-year UAL
mechanic,
“When are
we going to vote to get the Teamsters in?” is the wrong question. The
right question is: “When are we going to vote to become Teamsters?”
We should not refer to the Teamsters as a third party, because we will
be a part of this union and its collective strength. The
Teamsters will not be an outside entity.
AMFA has
failed to gain the support of its membership because they have not
provided a sense of belonging to something bigger. There is no pride.
They have allowed apathy to build within our ranks, which has led to
voting levels as low as a shameful 12 percent. We are truly in a
dysfunctional state with the AMFA. The company is well aware of this and
has taken advantage at every opportunity.
The most
common statement I have heard from AMFA supporters is: “It doesn’t
matter what union you get in here, you’ll still have the same
membership.” What they
don’t understand is that AMFA doesn’t have the collective strength and
resources to rally the membership. We watched the AMFA take its members
on strike at Northwest with the promise to take that airline down, only
to lose all of their jobs. How do they think that makes us feel about
them here at United?
A proper
member/union relationship is one that works both ways. The union must
provide resources, knowledge, competence, and a plan of action; the
membership in turn must supply support for the union. This support can
come in many ways: voting, attending rallies, meetings, leafleting,
running for a position, etc.
The
Teamster model works because the various labor groups support each
other. In times of labor strife, other Teamster members will give us
whatever support and help they can provide. We will also get support and
help from other Unions at the Joint Labor Councils, something AMFA does
not have. When the time comes we will be expected to give support to
whichever labor group needs it. This mutual support is what will make us
strong, and only comes from member participation.
I’m very
positive that we can turn the apathy around and increase the
participation in supporting the union when we become Teamsters.
It’s time to become proud of our union. Remember, it’s not only what
your union can do for you, it’s also what can you do for your union. It
goes both ways. WE are the union!
Those of
us that are active in this campaign are already working together and
acting as a union; forming committees, going to meetings, talking to our
coworkers and educating them through newsletters, house visiting at
other stations, leafleting at the airports, and more. Our collective
efforts have got us where we are today. Imagine what we could accomplish
if ALL of us worked together.