Airline, Attendants Ready For Concession Talks

[mweiss]

Will not Teddy attempt to influence the votes of the membership? I just ask because she seems to be quite popular with her constituents, and thus probably has a great deal of impact on their opinions.

If so, I sincerely hope she considers carefully the long-term impacts of her decisions. Is it better to have US FAs become unemployed in an attempt (misguided, in my opinion) to slow the shift of the industry to the LCC model.

 

[PITbull]

BLAH BLAH BLAH Please the members of afa will determine what they want to , NOT YOU! Please do us a favor and keep up the good talk because thats all its worth is talk and good soap opera scenes. Bark all you want to, but we all know the reality of it all , we dont need to be led like a bunch of mice by a country girl who sees a path with blinders on.

"Country girl"?, LOL.....

you need to find out what your UE benefits will be. That's the only benefit that has any real value to the "rank and file".

 

[PITbull]

Will not Teddy attempt to influence the votes of the membership? I just ask because she seems to be quite popular with her constituents, and thus probably has a great deal of impact on their opinions.

If so, I sincerely hope she considers carefully the long-term impacts of her decisions. Is it better to have US FAs become unemployed in an attempt (misguided, in my opinion) to slow the shift of the industry to the LCC model.

Mweiss,

You have been misguided to make the assumption that Teddy influences those decisions. PIT f/as voted as a majority "against" the winter concessions at the risk of Liquidation.

Do you honestly believe, that f/as, after living with the winter concessions and the new reserve system and sick penalties along with all the new sick policies that gear to terminate employees for chronic illnesses, that they would some how need to be influenced to continue to say "no" by the PIT Pres? Can you cite what f/as will have to look forward to by keeping this job? Future enhanced career? Or, are you implying that basically, its just say yes to more concessions, and then look to leave? That's what Siegel said, and that statment put him on the "outside" looking in.

Whoa, I'll let Teddy know you think so highly of her ability to "misguide".

 

[Hawk]

Teddy and other labor leaders should allow their membership to vote on any proposal that the company offers. Your membership deserves the right to voice their opinions with a vote. If not, then she should sit on the sidelines while others try to save the airline.

 

[USA320Pilot]

Management is trying to negotiate consensual agreements that put US Airways' labor costs on par with America West Airlines.

The following chart provides a W-2 and gross pay comparison for F/A's who 75 hours per month.

For US Airways F/A's the chart states on 1/1/04 for a 14-year F/A their hourly rate is $41.05, which equals $36,945 per year.

For America West F/A's the chart states on 11/1/02 for a 15-year F/A their hourly rate is is $37.59, which equals $33,831 year.

Therefore, for a 75-hour month the US Airways F/A earns $3114 more per year.

In this illustration, for a US Airways F/A to make their current annual gross pay at America West rates the F/A would need to fly about 7 hours more per month.

Click here for a chart and comparison for airline F/A's

Today the CWA meet with the company and according to the union Bruce Lakefield reviewed the company's financial circumstances and stated his view that a serious restructuring must take place for the airline to survive, to avoid bankruptcy and to thrive. He restated his view that all groups have to participate and said that he aims to form a partnership with each employee group to develop proposals for each group's participation in a restructuring.

In my opinion, the company will seek the America West pay rates, but their real objective is work rules changes for flight crewmembers. This is the only way the company can increase daily aircraft utilization from 10.0 to 11.5 hours per day with the current headcount. Thus for AFA members, the company will likely seek to eliminate the 55-hour, 75-hour, and 85-hour options. I believe one option that could survive would be the 55-hour option, if converted to a part-time position without benefits and with block sharing.

Respectfully,

USA320Pilot

 

[hopethingswillbeok]

I am sorry folks, but just several months ago, I watched Cohen and four of his friends traveling on the same credit card, we took oversales because of this.....it was the same credit card he always traveled on........same as other ex.....wake up folks until someone starts looking into this abuse why would you vote yes

 

[PITbull]

Teddy and other labor leaders should allow their membership to vote on any proposal that the company offers. Your membership deserves the right to voice their opinions with a vote. If not, then she should sit on the sidelines while others try to save the airline.

Hawk,

You just hold on to your salary and perks for as long as you can... kay?

The f/as WILL VOTE!

Management who is sitting at the table needs to focus on what to OFFER the group to pass the proposal of this magnitude.

Many of the f/as already know what it is to be broke, indebted, high medical costs. Many have put their houses up for sale. I don't think you know this very well in CCY.

They are preparing. If you pull a BK, we will not be sitting on any sidelines. Instead, we will all be sitting on the "outside", you included.

 

[PITbull]

USA320 pilot,

Hey Genius, please explain to the posters how AFA gets to $100 million with 5,500 f/as if all f/as are taking is a simple $3,100 pay cut.

I'll wait for you to do this math.

 

[Light Years]

PIT F/As have traditionally had a high voter turnout, and vote with the facts. Thats a testament to thier union leadership there.

As airline employees we've been conditioned to believe that a company's profits and existence are due to employee wages and that only. Its absoloutely untrue, as you can sit a US and WN employee side by side and compare thier pay (and thier corporate culture while your at it). Only in the airline industry do people making $20,000 a year to spend most of thier lives away from home, most of which is unpaid, performing a plethora of safety, service, and training duties unseen by the public- that they are overpaid. I know someone who stands behind a counter at Rite Aid and brings in more a year than I used to make. I've watched from the gate area as the airline hands out thousands in overbooking compensation while they tell me (two years later) that I only deserve $15,000 and no medical benefits. Give me a break.

Teddy sees the big picture and shares it with the f/as. Shadow of its former self or not, US Airways is a major airline and right now is the poster child/guinea pig that will set a standard for years to come in the industry.

Dont mess with a flight attendant, particularly an informed one that knows what they are talking about. Put me at that negotiating table, I'd tell them whats up.

 

[USA320Pilot]

Hawk:

There are two point to consider here.

Can US Airways and labor reach agreements that can permit the company to compete in today's new reality where the LCC's are taking over the industry?

According to ALPA MEC Chairman Captain Bill Pollock, "with Bruce Lakefield’s recent appointment as President and CEO, and Dave Davis as CFO, I have reason to believe that our discussions with management will be more open and more productive. Mr. Lakefield has pledged his commitment to the survival of the airline and to working with ALPA on the Plan. While this reengineering of our airline may require additional investment from our pilots, Mr. Lakefield has made it clear to the other labor groups that ALPA will not shoulder the burden for any other group."

"The Plan, in fact, will not work, unless all parties agree to participate," Pollock said.

Therefore, if true, I believe it would be in the best interest of all labor groups to negotiate the best deal possible and then let the membership decide their fate.

Separately, Pollock noted he expects the "Transformation Plan, if properly implemented, to solve US Airways’ structural and operational problems while achieving profitability. It must allow US Airways to evolve, survive and prosper in an industry that is facing increasing competition by the low cost carriers that are clearly preferred by both our business and leisure passengers," he said.

For those who are angry and would rather see the company “burn to the groundâ€￾ instead of accepting an America West type of contract, I believe Dave Siegel made a valid point during his recent webcast. He went so far as to encourage employees to leave the company if new work contracts aren't agreeable, rather than to fight the change. "If it doesn't work, I'd encourage you to support the change, and then go on and find something else," he said. "It's better to have a job when you're trying to find another job."

From this observer’s perch, Siegel’s comments in the paragraph above are valid. It’s better to have a job while you are seeking another job than to have just unemployment.

I'm not very entusiastic about the idea of further cuts, but Siegel's argument above makes sense because if the airline fails than the only winners are US Airways' competitors.

Respectfully,

USA320Pilot

 

[700UW]

Here we go again, same old crap differant day.

 

[Light Years]

I believe DAve Siegel made a valid point during his recent webcast. He went so far as to encourage employees to leave the company if new work contracts aren't agreeable, rather than to fight the change. "If it doesn't work, I'd encourage you to support the change, and then go on and find something else," he said. "It's better to have a job when you're trying to find another job."

And we encourage him to leave if he didnt want to change. After all, its our airline, we all do our jobs well according to the statistics and public opinion. Why cant anyone assigned to run the place do thier job?

 

[networking]

I was reading the update from the CWA It seems that the company is messing around with seniority dates. I also read that the company mention nothing about pay cuts but this seniority thing is scary............because they were comparing our seniority to air Tran and America west do you think they might want us all to cut years off our seniority this is getting ridiculous.

Why can’t they just come out and ask what they want …..Oh I know… they are to embarrassed …………..

Yes, this seniority thing has me stumped. I wonder what the company wants to do with the CWA seniority. Anyone have any ideas?

 

[USA320Pilot]

PITBull:

PITBull said: "Hey Genius, please explain to the posters how AFA gets to $100 million with 5,500 f/as if all f/as are taking is a simple $3,100 pay cut. I'll wait for you to do this math."

USA320Pilot comments: PITBull, thanks for the compliment. The major cuts will likely come from work rule changes to fuel expansion to average down unit costs, coupled with other changes in pay, benefits, and retirement.

It's up to each union to negotiate a deal or face the judge if the company files a Chapter 11 instead of a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. The company is making it known that management will work with labor to find mutually acceptable solutions, but management is prepared to file a S.1113 motion of liquidate, if necessary.

Respectfully,

USA320Pilot

 

[PITbull]

USA320,

Tell Pollock, that AFA will be waiting for ALPA to spring some of the stock options over to AFA. WE'd like to "share".