Airline Offers To Trim Bonuses

[700UW]

The bottom line is the unionized employees have given back several billion dollars in concessions all ready, seen half their coworkers jobs outsourced, seen their pay cut drastically, pensions terminated and stations closed.

The unionized employees took a 21% paycut on the average during the temporary court imposed cuts, yet management had a 5% raise, then got a 4% cut so in reality only a 1% cut.

Dave Siegel walks away with $7 million for failing, Cohen walks away with several million. Messrs Wolf, Gagwal and Nagin walked away with over $35 million.

Events like what I have posted is why the rank and file employees have a real hard time for anyone at CCY to recieve a retention bonus, especially anyone who is a director or above, they have run this company into the ground, two bankruptcies in two years and shrinking the company is all the evidence I need to support my opinion.

Maybe this will enlighten some folks out here.

 

[RowUnderDCA]

USflyer,

I can agree with you on this, surprisingly.

[post="274072"][/post]​

Wow, USFlyer, that's quite an accomplishment!

 

[calibrator]

Maybe this will enlighten some folks out here.

[post="274160"][/post]​

I doubt it. Morons are called MORONS for a reason.

 

[kid5mule]

Currently US Airways and it's "management team" is using BK to stiff hotels and van service companies out ot thousands of dollars in accounts payable to "save the company". Now this same "management team" wants $55 million to line their pockets. There is something morally and legally wrong with this picture. Judge Mitchell should be met by thousands of U employees on the day he is to rule on this motion and maybe we can shame him into doing the right thing.

 

[700UW]

Having seen Judge Mitchell in action he does not care about employees or any company that US owes money too, seems to me he is 100% behind this management team, for what reasons who knows, but sure sounds like he is in the company's pocket.

 

[robbedagain]

i do agree with you on this. and it is truly a sad mgmt team usair has.

 

[700UW]

Bob,

They cant just change the contract in regard to seniority or any other clause, the section 1113 process must be followed, that is the law and at this point I really don't care if the company liquidates, it might sound cold and callous, but the thieves at CCY must not benefit.

 

[El Gato]

I spoke with a friend of mine recently, who works in the "middle floors" at CCY. He tells me the attitude there consists of the following:

1. They know their many of their jobs are doomed. Once the initial integration is complete(December 2005?), they will no longer be employed.

2. There are job offers for them right now out on the street, many with better pay or bennies. Their attitude is one of, "If my job is done December, then why should I stay here and lose out on better job offers, instead of jumping ship now". Oh, it's the promise of a retainer that keeps me here. Ok.

3. I asked him about the "replacability factor" of these people, and he smirked over the phone. Go out, whether on the street or within the company, and you just try to find a replacement for them. No one else has the command level of their jobs at the present time. In addition, how can you get new people trained, if the ones there now refuse to train their replacements and say to the company, "tough luck, find someone better if you can". I asked him about taking people from below in level and moving them up, and again I got the same response. Any time a person takes on a new job, they need to be trained. The trainer is usually the person who previously held it, which would be the guy/girl who is at another company by that time. Thus, the company is screwed in spite of the screams of "they don't deserve it" from the rest of the workforce. Without the mid-level people, you don't have a company.

4. I mentioned the hostility from the unionized work force to him, and he said "If you think their jobs are easy, then why don't you use that four year degree gathering dust in your closet and take the job from them? Come on down here, start the job with no training whatsoever, and you better be an expert on everything or you are fired. I love the attitude of these people who scream that we somehow don't deserve a retainer. How about we all leave, then you can enjoy your unemployment benefits as the company WILL shut down if it loses all of these people. The critics out there don't think that the money being spent is necessary; they will realize how important it is once they don't have a job. The money is being used to keep the company alive for long enough so America West people can take over".

5. I mentioned PITBull to him. By your real world name of course. Woman, you do NOT want to know what he said about you!

I, myself, do not really care about this $54 million. I know that in the grand scheme of things, it is not a large amount, after all we just lost $30 million in April. Having worked at another company with a large mid-managerial group, I can say first hand that folks like that are not easily replaced. Losing a janitor or a baggage handler is not that big a deal, it's a job anyone can do really. Losing someone with years of system and administrative experience and know how is a MAJOR loss, since while there may be eligible candidates for the job, it takes a certain amount of time to get them up to speed on it. In addition, ALL people in that line of work value themselves high. It's not what the market price for a job is, it is more like, "What can you pay me for MY time?" Bonuses, retainers, and perks under the table are commonplace in hiring new people.

If you don't like it, that's fine. I hate it too. But what is more important, making sure that our feelings aren't hurt? Or causing the company to drop dead, even though we are so close to getting one of the best deals ever in the HP merger?

 

[PITbull]

El,

LOL...Like I give a flying $%@K what any one in managment thinks of me...really, get for real...

There are many folks who can take ther places from within through promoting. These managers know this , but our looking for the retention/severance as a bonus. They are not experts. The operation is steerless, and the folks that keep it together are your front line workers. We deliver the customer service that meets or beats the expectation for repeat business. If we dont do our jobs, those accountants, payroll, finance pencil pushers have no jobs.

Tell him to put that in his pipe and choke...

 

[insp89]

Gato, Ask your friend how much of a paycut they took during the "transformation"..

The "honest" answer will be next to NOTHING when compared to every Mechanic, Pilot, Flight Attendant, Fleet Service Worker and any other worker that has taken AT LEAST an 18 % pay cut...These people HAVE ALREADY recieved their severance....

I find it laugable you think these people are irreplaceable. This will be a great opportunity for Mr. Parker of America West to replace these people that are just waiting around for their "retainer" with people that want to be here..

It's pretty sad that you do not care about the $55 mil., This money, if put in a "real" managements hand, could make a difference between a profit or a loss for this company...for example, How about FUEL HEDGING ??

 

[El Gato]

El,

I dare you to call up anyone down there and repeat those words...

 

[El Gato]

Their salary is no great shakes to begin with.

They ARE replacable. Read the comment again. What is not replaceble is their presence here and now....are you going to do their job? Do you have the skills and references needed for it? Didn't think so either. We need them until replacements, such as HP people, can be brought in.

$55 million on fuel hedging right now? At a price of $51/per barrel? Are you kidding me?

 

[El Gato]

El Gato,

As a customer with a great deal more experience in the Non-union work environment then some of our esteemed brethren that post regularly here I do take exception to items 4 and 5 of your post.

You are absolutely correct that retention bonuses for mid level people are not only common but required in times of merger or aquisition.

Now as to 4 & 5. Management sets the tone, tenor and morale of an organization. The conduct of management towards the hourly worker is their sole responsibility. Unions are NOT obligated to instill or bolster the esprit de corp of the average worker. If the union workers are hostile toward you it's MANAGEMENT's fault, not theirs. Look at SWA and CO, does anyone credit the unions there for the morale of the staff, union and non-union alike? They credit MANAGEMENT pure and simple. CCY and front line field Managers do not have the words "Please" & "Thank You" in their vocabulary when it comes to interacting with hourly workers. Management by fear & intimidation leads a company right to where US sits today and that El Gato is a MANAGEMENT created ssituation. If you want to see who's is responsible for the current state of affairs don't visit the AFA office in PIT cart your assets over to 2345 Crystal Drive.

As for PITbull, her job is to represent her people not to please some 5th floor flunkie at CCY, so get over yourself on that. Your ASSociate is jealous that he/she doesn't command the respect that PITbull does from the people she was ELECTED to lead. My guess is your ASSociate couldn't get elected hall monitor in high school.

It's to bad that a lot of great people will lose their jobs because US Airways Management for the last 20 years couldn't organize a one car funeral. Have a nice day El Gato

[post="274223"][/post]​

For starters, your hostility was not earned and is not appreciated here. Using words like "ASSociate" makes you look like an incompetant fool who resorts to insults to make up for lack of character. Try not to do that, please.

I will agree with you about CCY's vocabulary skills. But place the blame where it needs to be placed here, not on the "pencil pushers" or accountants. The chief decision makers are the ones where the fault lies, not with mid level people. It the skills of those who need to be retained until later in the year that require we take measures to keep them. The current situation can be laid squarely on the doorsteps of a group of men(and women) who are VERY few in number. Saying that all in CCY are bad is cowflop.

Your comparison of WN & CO is correct as well. Simple fact, Bob, is that US has had negligent management for some time. The opportunity now exists to change that by getting people in there who know how to run an airline. Why screw it up? Just so a union leader can look "tough" to everyone else?

Take a look at UAL right now. The IAM is going to be tough in a few days, if things turn out poorly. Watch what happens there.

 

[El Gato]

Give me a number tough guy! I can't speak for PITbull she does to good a job doing that for herself. But you want me to tell someone I don't give a crap what they think of me?

Don't talk! DO IT! Grow some testicles El Gato

[post="274230"][/post]​

Obviously, someone forgot to take their Ritalin today...

 

[El Gato]

No need for Ritalin El Gato, you made the dare now back it up boy!

[post="274240"][/post]​

The dare was to someone other than you. Are you PITBull's doppelganger? Why are you involving yourself in someone else's business?

As for a number, I am sure PITBull knows who to call.