Another sh**ty contract proposal from our illustrious leaders

[iheartairbus]

As PHX F/A's we have some of the best insurance plans in the whole company. These insurance plans are the top priorities in this new agreement for most PHX F/A's. In most of our plans all the co-pays are $10 with no deductibles. My plan is for myself and cost me about $32 a paycheck and I only pay $10 for all Dr's visits, RX and specialists. Urgent Care and ER are only $25 and $50. In most cases the crappy raises they are proposing would actually mean a PAYCUT!! Higher healthcare costs easily offset the measly wage increases...leaving US to foot the bill, NO thanks! The Co. really thinks this is BK pt. 3 and want to take more from US and that simply is "Just Not Right". I invite all US F/A's to take a look at this FB page and plan on attending one of these important events!

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/event.php?eid=186160298079063

 

[Onestep2flt]

As PHX F/A's we have some of the best insurance plans in the whole company. These insurance plans are the top priorities in this new agreement for most PHX F/A's. In most of our plans all the co-pays are $10 with no deductibles. My plan is for myself and cost me about $32 a paycheck and I only pay $10 for all Dr's visits, RX and specialists. Urgent Care and ER are only $25 and $50. In most cases the crappy raises they are proposing would actually mean a PAYCUT!! Higher healthcare costs easily offset the measly wage increases...leaving US to foot the bill, NO thanks! The Co. really thinks this is BK pt. 3 and want to take more from US and that simply is "Just Not Right". I invite all US F/A's to take a look at this FB page and plan on attending one of these important events!

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/event.php?eid=186160298079063

You bring up some great points. First one is the pay raise. If you are west it is a slight pay raise, and as you state with your company pay proposal it is a pay cut. I believe for the east it is a pay cut on both ends!

A question you guys need to ask your union is what exactly is the insurance proposal from the JNC? What are the differences in care and cost line by line? Even if you have 100% coverage it does no good if coverages have been slashed along with all co-pays and deductibles being raised. Don't forget you have a controlling ringleader that does not share things with you all until things are closed. Ask lots of questions before you end up with something like the woderful reserve section you guys keep talking about.

 

[flygirl74]

. Don't like it? Quit or buy stock.

Umm, no thank you. I learned my lesson the hard way a la Enron. I put my old stock in with my Monopoly board.
Never put all your eggs in one basket, unless you want an omlette!!

 

[Glucose Intolerant]

No, I am not an FA. I would suck at it to be honest and I know that the pay is terrible. I am ACS.
I don't hear the outrage over the poor pay at McDonald's or Walmart.

Well anyone on the forum that read any of your posts - knows that your are not employed as a flight attendant.
What was your quote? "because you would suck at it", I dare say you are correct - and probably do in your current job - hopefully it's not on the front lines.

Notice I didn't say CAREER. It's now a job - thats because the company doesn't owe you anything.
There must be a reason you are so content with paying more and still working for the worst airline in the industry:

1.) Lack a college education, life experience , and don't know any better,
2.) Truly believes ignorance is bliss, and everything on FOX news
3.) Independently wealthy
4.) "Would do anything to work for an airline"
5.) Too old to start over - too young to retire


Point #1:

"I don't hear the outrage over poor pay an McDonad's or Walmart". Thats because people either needed A JOB - or they were looking FOR EMPLOYMENT in a chosen profession.

1.) Needing a job: ( and are looking for an entry level position) You go to work for ANY outfit regardless if it reputation and pay the worst in the industry because after all - you just needed a job

2.) Looking for employment in a chosen profession: (with a college education and competitive resume) You take a position with an outfit that's compensation and benefits that were competitive and relative to your experience and qualifications. Company that was in par with others in the same industry and peers. Management team. Will defer employment until you find the right company.

Which category are you?

Point #2

Do you really want to compare employee satisfaction at McDonalds and Walmart to US Airways?

If you chose number #2 above then you found yourself being merged with a company that was barely holding their own - views their employees as a liability, has a long contemptuousness history with labor relations, and who's business model could best be described as: CHEAP.

Now imagine yourself with 20-30-40 years happily invested into your once former "CAREER", pension looted, watching the bankruptcy court render "wealth redistribution" with your retirement, pay and work rules, and your seniority nullified or violated. To make matters worse, the AIRLINE you used to work has now morphed into the low rent version of a commuter airline managed by the clones of the likes of Bill Franke and Frank Lorenzo.

Would you be happy?

Now after all the concessions and givebacks management tells you "Thanks for your sacrifice but we need more" ..... Really?
Now some might say:

"Gee - I am just lucky to have a job - I ll be OK I can apply for food stamps and my son can go to community college"

others might say:

"I am lucky to be employed - and yes the economy is bad, BUT I don't trust a word you say, you have no credibility. No - no more!!!

other might say:

"SHUT IT DOWN !!!"

Now I don't agree with the sentiment of the latter, but I certainly understand.

I ask this: How does SWA, DAL, UAL, and JBLU do it?

The economy is bad right now - but it won't alway be. History proves that this management team can pretty much find a "one time accounting charge" or Crisis to stoke the rhetoric during negotiations.

This company is holding it's own - For two reasons: Employees and Bags. They seem to be the industry's new golden goose. Parker says we are only making money on bag fees and on the backs of it's employees. Still don't agree? Try availing yourself to any of the monthly propaganda meetings in CLT or PHX the past 4 months and listen to Parker's comments on compensation and profitability (while your slurping down a nice cold Kool-Aid). Hey Kid's were the airline's ATM. Ohhh Yeahhh!!!!

What really chaps me is this: Say for a moment that I had made the DECISION to take a employment at AWA instead of USAir 23 years ago, I wouldn't have any room to complain because I knew what kind of outfit it was. Chances are I would have already left.

If that had been MY CHOICE and would have no one to blame but myself for staying, but I DIDN'T and it WASN'T.

If your content at an airline that's compensation, work rules, and benefits for 26+ years have always been the worst in the industry (except management) - then I am truly happy for you that you require so little to be happy.

I on the other hand - I am not content. With the majority on the East with more than 20 years + committed to this company, an annuity instead of our negotiated pension and retirement, most on the East are stuck. Don't expect me and others to share your same euphoria about benefits and working here. I honestly don't believe a word Parker says. He has no creditability and is dismal leader.

Point #3

The fact that we are still referring to ourselves as EAST and WEST 5 years after this train wreck of a merger says it all. It wasn't even this bad after the PI / PSA mergers combined and we really screwed those up - but nowhere near the level at which this current one has been botched. All the employees / labor groups are fighting and blaming one another for whatever are missing what is truly going on around here. Divide and Conquer. How does it feel to be a puppet? Remember "The Art of War" by Sun Tzu? We are all in this together folks. "United we Stand - Divided we Fall." It's not just a 9-11 commemorative plate - It's really true.

It's time to educate, participate, and change the problems facing this airline and for start questioning the decisions being made operationally that affect us all.

To top of everything else we got the West LEC VP making derogatory comments publicly about USAPA and East Pilot's. Really? - this is an individual that is negotiating a JOINT labor contract? REMEMBER the Labor Alliance Coalition? You know the labor united front - what happened to that? Does the West MEC have a problem with the pilot's union? Conflict of interest? Who cares right????? Never in history has one labor group benefited by throwing another under the bus. For the simple fact: chances are that same bus runs every fifteen minutes and paybacks are stiff.

Where is the contract? West or East? 5 years later and we still are pointing fingers and still NO CBA. Now we head to Section Six with the same players involved? We going to waste another 5 years and be in the same position 2016?

"You are only worth what you negotiate." Wolf said that and he was right.
If you don't think your worth anything - you may be right. This place is a race to the bottom - don't help management achieve their goal.

Do you think you would ever hear Doug Parker or Scott Kirby say " Wow - I am really lucky to have my job"?
In reality - truer words have never been spoken, but NO you would never hear that.

Get caught up in the rhetoric, believe the propaganda, allow your self to pushed and harassed......or you can educate yourself and know your contract , question management when they are wrong or violating your contract, or FARS, or simply say "I am not able to comply with your request due to safety."

This is an airline - not an alfalfa farm in AZ.

Final Reply:

The reason people don't complain that take jobs at Walmart because they don't know any better and they just need a job, ANY JOB.

If Walmart employees are happy (a big if) - maybe their employer treats them well and makes for a pleasant place to work. Or maybe they don't know any better? But if Walmart can pull that one off, more power to them. Although these days the CLT airport does resemble Walmart on Saturday morning. Does that count?

Finally, I don't consider myself one of the "Drama Queens" you refer to in your post. Seriously before you lecture me or the forum on "quit or buy the stock", YOU need to put your money where your mouth is - I for one have already done so several times over.

I have been a shareholder since the late eighties and that decision (among many others) has cost me dearly. I am still a shareholder only $200K lighter in my portfolio thanks to U bankruptcy. It's got nowhere to go but up? I own the stock now to be recognized as a shareholder rather than an employee. Big difference between angry shareholder and a less than jubilant employee.

So as a shareholder do me a favor:
Keep your investment advice to yourself, whether or not you quit is up to you.

 

[john john]

Airport customer service. So my pay is just as bad as everybody else's.

If you were an America West agent you had some of the worst pay and work rules in the industry. USAirways agents put their jobs on the line to give you industry standard pay benefits and work rules

 

[700UW]

Put your jobs on the line?

Seriously?

Your CWA and IBT caved to what the company offered because they wanted a union vote and the CWA and IBT were afraid of that.

 

[john john]

Put your jobs on the line?

Seriously?

Your CWA and IBT caved to what the company offered because they wanted a union vote and the CWA and IBT were afraid of that.

CWA agents had to call a strike so to not be lower to HP pay work rules and benefits
Here is a little history lesion for you

http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Communications+Workers+of+America+prepares+for+US+Airways+strike.-a0125572458
http://web.archive.org/web/20041013063944/www.cwa.net/PDFs/ManagementProposal.pdf


http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/04336/419719-28.stm

 

[700UW]

You cant strike on a transition agreement, so please tell us the truth.

Under the RLA you can only strike during section 6 negotiations after the NMB has declared an impasse and the 30 day cooling off period ends.

US threatened both unions to make them hold a vote and a runoff, you both caved to what the company offered and they agreed to recognize the association, in lieu of making you vote.

Dont try to deflect and dodge with things that dont matter.

Now tell us the truth.

By the way, yours is the only "association" everyone else are under one union, not two separate with east being cwa and west being ibt.

 

[john john]

Now tell us the truth.

Here is the transition agreement snap backs




General increases to pay scales contained in the current Agreements will be replaced with the following
general increases: -
1/1/2009 3.0% increase
- 1/1/2010 4.0% increase
- 1/1/2011 4.0% increase
- 1/1/2012 2.0% Increase
Snap Backs Snap Back Date Snap Back
1. Sick Leave and Pay 12/31/11 CBA as of 12/13/1999
2. Holidays back to 10 12/31/11 CBA as of 12/13/1999
3. Premiums - Shift and Job 12/31/11 CBA as of 12/13/1999
4. Travel, training and per diem 12/31/11 CBA as of 12/13/1999
5. Holiday premium hours worked 12/31/11 CBA as of 12/13/1999
6. Holiday Option II and Pay 12/31/11 CBA as of 12/13/1999 10
7. Customer Contact Premium (increase) 12/31/11 CBA as of 12/13/1999
8. Increase Vacation Accrual/Schedule

The new Passenger Service Employee Association IBT + CWA has reached an Interim Transition Agreement with US Airways management on all the outstanding seamless service and transition issues, and we will accordingly withdraw our change of control grievance. After two months of negotiations by the committee (CWA Local Officers, attorneys and staff and IBT attorneys and staff) the agreement calls for the following:
1. End the pay step freeze for US Airways agents effective this coming April 1, 2006 – snap up to $18 per hour top rate from the current $17;
2. Reinstate the Vacation Option II (bid holidays as vacation) for US Airways effective the next vacation bid (Fall 2006);
3. Raise US Airways Mainline Express Agents to the Mainline pay scale in the following steps:
$.40 raise on 4/1/06;
four months later MLE Agents will be increased 25% of the difference between their current rate and the Mainline rate;
six months later MLE Agents will be increased to 50% of the difference between their then current rate and the Mainline rate;
five months later MLE Agents will be increased to 75% of the difference between their current rate and the Mainline rate;
five months later MLE Agents will be increased to 100% of the Mainline rate.
4. Raise America West Agents to the CWA US Airways Mainline pay scale in the same increments listed in #3 above.
5. Transition America West agents to all the other provisions of the CWA US Airways passenger service contract by 6/1/06, or send all unresolved issues to arbitration. 
6. US Airways recognizes the CWA/IBT Association as the legal representative of the agents and the existing CWA US Airways Passenger Service contract remains in full effect.
7. “Seamless Service” provisions for cross-utilizing US Airways and America West agents at overlap stations are established

 

[john john]

Put your jobs on the line?

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/04336/419719-28.stm
The Communications Workers of America (CWA) said its 19-member national executive board voted unanimously to authorize a strike by 6,000 passenger service agents against the airline in the event the court voids the carrier's union contracts.
Bankruptcy law has changed since then and views on whether a strike would be legal differ between company and unions.
US Airways views any possible strike as an illegal action and in no one's best interest, said spokesman David Castelveter.
If the judge rules in its favor, the airline contends a strike would violate rules of the National Mediation Board, which oversees bargaining in the airline and railroad industries.
Miller, however, said the CWA's attorneys believe that abrogation of the contract would allow the union's members to strike or engage in other job actions.


Like I said USAirways agents put their job on the line

 

[700UW]

Ok you are confusing apples and oranges.

First of all US was out of Bankruptcy when the companies merged.

Second, the courts have ruled you cant strike if your contract was abrogated.

Third, US and HP were merged after Chapter 11 and your union the CWA and the IBT both represented agents, the company wanted to force a vote, the IBT and CWA formed an alliance not to vote as long as both unions accepted the current CBA.'

So please show me how during a transition you took a strike vote that means nothing as you cant strike unless your in Section 6 and you werent.

You did not put your jobs on the line, that is total BS.

Now that I disproved you why dont you accept the truth and tell us what really happened?

Oh wait I did.

 

[john john]

So please show me how during a transition you took a strike vote that means nothing as you cant strike unless your in Section 6 and you werent.

I never said CWA call a strike during transition negotiations

 

[700UW]

What happened to the CWA in bankruptcy has nothing to do with the alliance instead of having a vote, both the ibt and cwa caved to the company.

 

[john john]

both the ibt and cwa caved to the company.

OK if that is what you want to think

Snap Backs and 13% pay increase over 3 years
And bring bottom feeder America West agents to industry standard pay benefits and work rules
And that was my point

 

[700UW]

I know what the company did ie Al Hemenway, you did not negotiate, and your west dues goes to the ibt and the east goes to the cwa.

The company wanted a vote if you wanted improvements in the Bankruptcy CBA, both unions agreed and didnt negotiate a whole agreement, placed the west under the east with a timetable and the company then recognized the association.

If you dont believe me, ask your higher ups in the CWA.