February 11, 2005

Dear AMFA Member,

Hello, my name is Neil White, and I am the Local 38 (Memphis) Mesaba Airlines Representative and I am on the contract negotiation team. It never ceases to amaze me how much each of us know, how much each of us share with each other, and how little we know what the management of this company is planning next. If sleight of hand and back room discussion were the company’s goal, then they have exceeded tenfold.

We here in Memphis are a small group of AMTs with the same purpose as all aviation professionals: to keep the aircraft in a safe flyable condition, and move grandma and grandpa around the globe to visit the grandchildren. We are strictly a line maintenance facility, but from time to time we will unfold our 12 foot by 12 foot Wal-Mart hangar (I’ve been told people in other places call them tarps) for an A screen window change in a downpour. At last count we had three of these lightweight portable hangars available to us, and to my knowledge there are no plans to replace them.

We currently have 16 personnel and 2 supervisors. Not too long ago we had 3 supervisors and 1 station manager, so you can see that we had 1 boss for about every 4 Technicians. I’m not sure what you think, but I think at that time we were pretty much covered by management. With that many managers, good things were to come – right? Oh yes, I still remember management asking us what we needed to do our jobs. I can fondly remember the wish list generated and the cheerleading going on all around me. One large-ticket item we had discussed for a long time was a new man-lift. We had a lift truck, but now with the Saab’s operating around here, the lift truck was just too limited in its ability to maneuver in close. When prices for a new one were looked at, it was decided a used one might be just what the doctor ordered. When you considered how much we would need it, a used one seemed like the best bet. The plans were formulated, the tallies were taken, and the funds would be provided according to our managers. I’ll be the first to admit the improvement in morale was good to see, but I also warned that it’s one thing to talk – let’s see what happens when the request is sent on to upper managment. I’m not sure what all was purchased, but I do know that we got four new cordless drills. I never saw anything else from the list. WOW – imagine that – four new drills. We have a motto here in Memphis that states, “We’ve done so much for so long with so little that we are now qualified to do anything with nothing.”

The work here in Memphis can be very fast paced, with somewhere in the neighborhood of 15 or so aircraft rotating in and out three times a day. With the manpower being at four Technicians on duty, all those walks and oils and gate gripes, it can be very fast paced indeed. Now combine that with a call from maintenance control informing us that we have a road trip. There have been a few times when one Technician has been left to carry out all the required work. It is not uncommon for us to be doing it all with two AMTs . I wonder how management thinks this work gets done. I also wonder if it’s truly appreciated, or if they believe we should be doing that everyday. When you look at the creative ways they’ve found to get rid of some of us, I wonder.

As everyone should know, the contract talks have stalled. I know you’ve heard it before, but I’m here to tell you again that the company is responsible for that. We have stated for the record many times that we will meet anyplace, anywhere. But when you have a group in management as we do, you can understand why we’ve not been meeting. This company does not believe that communication is the key. A voice message or an article on mesaba.com just doesn’t cut it. I’m tired of hearing what a good job I’m doing; I know we go above and beyond what is required of us every single day.

I want to know what this company really has in its future plans, and do they plan to allow me to be a part of it. I’ve worked in an environment where secrecy is the key. I was in the United States Navy for nearly 24 years and all of that time was spent during the cold war, and we had lots of secrets, but we kept them from the enemy. Is that what we are? Are we a foe that must be dealt with? And if so, who are the company’s allies? And how can any group so allied be so misaligned? I cannot count the number of times I’ve had a boss come to me and state a problem and together we were able to work it out to each of our satisfaction. We cannot get that from the upper management in this company. I have no doubt that if we were to call them and say, “Hey lets get together and talk and we will let you do whatever you want, whenever you want,” they’d be at the table before we could get there.

These current talks are about language. The Company believes that any change in language costs them big time. They don’t want to talk to us until we are ready to discuss money or we are ready to submit. What they don’t understand or don’t believe is that you have told us you want a well-written contract with understandable language for both parties. The company doesn't believe me when I tell them I’ve never had a member ask me how much are we going to be paid. What they don’t understand is that it doesn’t matter how much you make if you’re not there to make it. It doesn’t matter how much you make if you’re the only one at your station working 20 aircraft. It doesn’t matter how much you have in vacation if you can’t take it. It doesn’t matter how much sick time if you're going to be fired because you got sick. It doesn’t matter how much you make if you’re never home to see your family and you end up paying out all those big wages in child support because your spouse left you.

I hope that if there are any management types sneaking a peak and reading this they can pass it along. It’s about the language first and foremost. In the very near future our members will be asked to make a very important decision. I hope that above all you cast your vote. Make your voices heard. This is your chance to take a direct path in the negotiating process. It's your decision to particiapte and express your opinion, and we have earned the right.

This letter was written by Neil White on behalf of the Mesaba Negotiating Committee, which fully supports the views expressed herein.