TWU's Conley on leave following fuel comments

John Conley, air transport division director for the Transport Workers Union, has been placed on administrative leave by Jim Little, the union's international president, according to a memo Little sent to union members this morning.

It has no detail, but I'm hearing from several folks at the union that members are incensed over Conley's recent comments that the rising cost of jet fuel may hurt efforts at the negotiating table. Conley's comments were published last week in the Star-Telegram, after I talked with him at the International Aviation Symposium in Phoenix. He also echoed his comments during a panel discussion, calling the spike in a fuel prices a "seismic shift."

Joseph Gordon, the union's international secretary-treasurer, is taking over Conley's duties for now. Conley will continue working other operational assignments at the union for the time being, Little wrote.

The TWU is currently in negotiations with American on new contracts for mechanics and other ground workers.

- Trebor Banstetter

Comments

[twu-gotta-go]

http://conelymustgo.start-a-petition.com/

[TY]

Does this mean that if I tell the TWU members that the sky is blue, I'll be next to go? I thought the truth would set you free.

[Fw1421]

Even if what Conley said were true it's unconscionable for a union officer to say so in public,especialy to the press. Unions have so few friends in the US today that anything that is said in the press is damaging to our efforts to get a fair and equitable contract from a management group that will do anything to win. Most Americans today have forgotten that Unions are responsible for 5 day work weeks,and benefits like health insurance and paid vacations. Do you think big Corporations would provide those benefits if they could get away without not providing them? Just imagine the gained profits!

[Tom DFW]

Smoke and Mirrors !

[steve the seer]

I can hear Arpy now fellas,,,,and the #8 is ringing loud and clear
8 yr contract...8 percent raise...8 holidays...and 8 sick days you heard it here first from steve the seer.

[John S]

The emperor has no clothes, and Mr. Conley was demoted for saying so. Sadly his pragmatic realism is much needed and in very short supply at the moment.

AA's labor groups are beyond clueless and seem only able to pull PR stunts instead of taking a constructive approach to negotiations. If that doesn't change - fast - we're all in trouble.

[PlaneWatcher]

And most unions have forgotten that their time has passed.

Conley's in trouble for speaking the truth and not much more than that.

[Frank]

There was evidently much more going on than meets the eye - if there actually were an impropriety here, I'm sure the "T otally W orthless U nion" would not risk further exposure by passing out the text of Conley's remarks and Little's order of removal at American's facility in Tulsa.

Granted - the guy shouldn't have shot off his mouth, but if there's really an issue the papers needn't be all over the base for management to read at their leisure.

[Steve]

I support the Union's decision to remove Conley. Union members we dont need a union official to give AMR excuses why they cannot just give back what we gave up, to keep them solvent. But yet they continue to receive bonuses while our exsisting paycheck continue to erode. One can wonder was he payed to plant the seed why we cannot receive what we are due.