: (Excerpt from an op/ed piece by Robert Novak)

: -----

: LABOR DIVIDED

: Big Labor has been unusually restrained in criticizing
: President Bush's intervention in a potential strike of
: Northwest Airlines by mechanics because the union
: representing them is not part of the AFL-CIO.

: The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) displaced
: the AFL-CIO's International Association of Machinists (IAM)
: as bargaining agent for Northwest mechanics, and seeks to

: move in at other airlines. AMFA and its leader, O.V.
: Delle-Femine, are regarded at AFL-CIO headquarters as
: outlaws. AFL-CIO President John Sweeney has been
: uncharacteristically reserved about the Northwest situation
: and did not show up for AMFA's protest outside the White
: House March 12.

: A footnote: Senior Bush aides, including Chief of Staff Andrew
: Card and strategist Karl Rove, met this week to discuss
: possible legislation for blocking a strike at Northwest.

: -----

The term "outlaws" is grossly incorrect...to say the least. A.M.F.A. is a craft union whose members are adherents to the craft ideology. A.M.F.A.'s strength is found in the skills and knowledge of its membership. A craft union such as this uses its skill levels with which to bargain, and is constantly educating and nuturing its membership to maintain is strength. The end result is a more decentralized and more democratic union that is not dictated to by powerful omnipotent and odious internationals.
"Back to Basics" A.M.F.A. p.1