Unfortunately, as
Northwest Airlines mechanics begin their strike today, Bill Clinton (or any other Democrat for that matter), is not in office.
Clinton Moves to End Strike won't be the headline you'll see in the morning papers. Although, it once was.
This diary covers my experience as a flight attendant during the American Airlines strike of 1993. Without a Democrat as President, without Bill Clinton, my story would most assuredly be an entirely different one.
People often say, "Oh, it doesn't matter who's in office - Democrats or Republicans -- they're all the same." That's flat out wrong. Our votes are important, having Democrats in office really does make a difference, and a tiny group of united people can move mountains with the right people behind them.
My heart goes out to the mechanics of Northwest Airlines and their families. Sadly, the only one they can turn to for help now is President Bush.
Photo essay below the fold...
After two full years of difficult contract negations, American Airlines shuts down talks with its flight attendant union (the Association of Professional Flight Attendants/APFA), imposes a new contract, cancels December and November vacations for all flight attendants (a fatal decision which angered the senior flight attendants on the property -- they're the ones who normally hold those months off), and refuses to enter binding arbitration.
At 2 a.m. on November 18, 1993, 90% of AA's flight attendants struck. Virtually every station across the system was shut down. The managers at AA were caught off-guard.
Here I am, still hanging on to big `80's hair (even though it was already '93) and a tad bit younger -- just a tad. I'd been working for AA for 5 ½ years at the time...
We had a lot of company on our picket lines:
AA pilots (who supplied us with pizza, reconnaissance, and happily did what our union asked of them: go to work, and fly empty planes around the country for us).
They also pitched in on the picket line between trips:
Ok, that last photo was for the guys at dKos. I thought you might like that one.
Other crewmembers and airline workers from every carrier also helped to fill our picket line ranks. The Teamsters came, as did the Rainbow Coalition:
Heck, we even had these guys. I really like their style:
I was based at O'Hare at the time, and it was a colder than usual November.
The picket line chants and cocoa kept us warm, though. And determined.
- We're unified, we're strong, we won't be proven wrong.
- They lie to us, they lie to you - Now you know what we go through.
- American's lying - We're not flying.
- We don't have a CEO, we have an E-G-O.
Now, for the reality check:
Although this seems like we were having a lot of fun, anyone who's been involved in a strike knows that it is an incredibly stressful action to participate in. You're in danger of losing your job, as well as your other `family' -- the company that you've given your all to.
But, strangely, as stressful as going on strike can be, it can also be the most powerful thing to be involved in. Especially if you have someone like Bill Clinton in office to back you up.
On the fourth day of our strike (Nov. 21), the union representing AA's flight attendants, the APFA, contacted the White House to advise them that they were requesting the National Mediation Board to recommend a Presidential Emergency Board be convened. We needed them to help mediate the contract dispute that had by now created chaos in the nation's air transportation system. And our CEO at the time, Robert Crandall, was having none of it.
Early the following day, a flurry of telephone calls begins between the White House and both APFA and AA. From the Oval Office, Clinton ends up reviewing the situation, and calls both APFA President Denise Hedges and AA CEO Robert Crandall.
Here he is on the phone with Ms. Hedges. Doesn't this bring back good memories?
It does for me - and for every one of the 20,000 flight attendants who struck AA.
On November 22nd, President Bill Clinton delivered the following remarks to the nation during a press conference with Phillipine President Ramos, carried live on CNN:
The cheers rang up on the picket lines when we heard the news.
And the `little union that could' proudly celebrated their victory.
Returning to work, we found the following letter in our mailboxes from AA CEO Robert Crandall:
Oh, that must have been a hard pill to swallow for that Texas power player.
But, it wasn't only Clinton who supported our strike:
Happen to catch how many Republicans there are on that list, workers of America?
We were unified, we managed to shut down the airline, and we even had a good measure of public support from our frequent flyers.
But, it was having a Democrat in office that made all the difference.
My best wishes for the mechanics of Northwest.
Please give them the support that they deserve. If you're in MSP, or any other city where they're picketing, consider stopping by for a moment to tell them that they represent everything that's good in America: the common workers who keep our nation's economic machine well-oiled, smooth-running, and safe.
Things you can do to help:
1) Don’t fly Northwest. Tell them them you support the mechanics. NWA contact page.
2) Contact the President (I know, I know). Ask him to stop reading 'Salt' and convene a Presidential Emergency Board:
- Comments: 202-456-1111
- Switchboard: 202-456-1414
- FAX: 202-456-2461
- E-Mail comments@whitehouse.gov
3) Contact political leaders. Ask them to support the NWA mechanics. Congress.org Guide to Elected Officials
4) Write a Letter to the Editor. Extensive Media Contact Info
5) Let the mechanics know you support them. Contact info:
AMFA National Administration
Suite 208 A - 67 Water Street
Laconia, NH 03246
Phone: 603-527-9212
Fax: 603-527-9151
National Information Line: 800-520-2632
Email: admin@amfanatl.org
6) If you are a NWA employee, visit the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) website for strike information and resources.
7) If you absolutely must travel on NWA, the airline advises customers check the NWA website or call its flight information line, (800) 441-1818 in the United States, for details on individual flights.