I think we can look for that to change. Autos (drops, time off with-out pay) are a proven money saver for the company.
Aw Tables Resolution-agrees To Doh
- Thread starter USAirBoyA330
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I think we can look for that to change. Autos (drops, time off with-out pay) are a proven money saver for the company.
New,
You need to understand the way it all happened. Once upon a time, we had the industry leading contract. Oh, those were the days! No furlough clause (almost laughable, now) reserves could pass trips. flying into days off was only during the most extreme inops, and basically people didn't even have to fly and got paid. That obviously couldn't continue, and once 911 happend the company had its excuse. Granted, we lost riduculous amounts of money after 911... more than any other carrier because DCA was our HQ and our most profitable airport... we operate 42% of DCA flights. When it was closed for three weeks, it was almost impossible to recover from that.
Getting back to the contract, even before 911 and after the United merger debacle, it was clear that our pres/CEO and chaiman of the board both needed to go. They spent almost two years paying no attention to the operations, only the merger which was doomed from the very beginning. During that period, our contract was negotiated and the company pretty much gave away the store rather than spend time negotiating when the figured they's all be gone after the merger anyway.
Well, they left and in walks "labor friendly" Siegel. His story was that he was going to try like hell to avoid bankruptcy by restructuring the entire company, every labor contract, aircraft mosaic, facilities, etc. It was a great song and dance, but I don't think he ever meant to avoid bankruptcy. He told the employees that if they come to the table and negotiate, we won't be asked to take deeper cuts in bankruptcy. This was concessions round number 1. The employees gave back millions and millions and million annually in reduced pay, benefits, and work rules. No sooner had the ink dried on the contract when we entered BK#1. Our supposed financial savior, one David Bronner who runs the Alabama public employees retirement system also said he knew it was important to be labor friendly, and the could not rebuild the company without the help of employees. During the bankruptcy period, Bronner told labor that they need more concessions. Labor resisted and so he put a gun to our heads and said "if you don't negotiate, we will seek abrogation of your contracts." Well, bankruptcy courts are not known to be fair to employees of a bankrupt company, so it's back to the negotiating table for the unions.
Oh, and by the way, leading the contractact negotiations all along the way was one known union busters, Jerry Glass. The man is absolutely ruthless and cares only about his checks and bonuses and probably gets a hard-on at the thought of ruining lives. Keep in mind, we have had many of our fellow employees lose houses, cars, and file bankruptcy. Some of them have even committed suicide. This is what US Airways employees have been through over the past four years. There have been untold numbers of unfair terminations.
So, back to concessions. All unions agree to concessions, we come out of bankruptcy, and everything is supposed to be hunky-dorey. Well, that didn't happen because the company spent the time between bankruptcies screwing employees rather than trying to run a profitable airline. We heard excuse after excues after excuse for their boneheaded decision which cost millions of dollars. They didn't budget money to clean aircraft, they understaffed ground ops to the extent that we had several huge baggage meltdowns (tens of thousands of bags not making flights over a single weekend) which cost millions of more dollars in claims paid, paying outside carriers to deliver them, etc. Well, they turn around and blame the baggage handlers and flight attendants, nationally, on television, saying that the flight attendants had a sick out. That was a downright lie, and as it turned out we were within three or four sick-calls from the same holiday weekend the year before. They never did apoligize to us, even after the FAA gave a scathing report about the incident, having failed to plan and then blaming employees. I can sit here all weekend and think of more boneheaded dicisions they made... get rid of pretzels, get rid of glassware. Before 911 we had a product that was the envy of the industry, and once these guys came onto the property, our product was pathetic.. filthy aircraft, shredded seat upholstry, a/c not properly provisions, etc, etc.,etc.
So, back to the bankruptcy courtroom we go and, of course, we were once again told that if we didn't submit to their will, our already bastardized contracts would be abrogated. So, round #3 begins. And believe it or not, our flight attendant contract fared pretty well compared to the other work groups because Teddy Xidas led a CHAOS strike threat. Before then, the company kept raising their demands on us, postponed negotiations, etc. They very much had a "make them sweat" attitude. Once the CHAOS strike concept was ratified, the company finally began negotiating in good faith.
So that's the past four years at US Airways, in a nutshell. But don't even get me started on the MidAtlantic situation.
Regards,
DCAflyer
PITbull
Veteran
- Dec 29, 2002
- 7,784
- 456
DC,
Your perspective of U hx is prettty much right on point.
You missed one factual piece of information...US Airways received $352 million dollars of "free money" from the government(tax oayers) in the form of a bail out for those airlines that were shut down immediately post 9/11, specifically because of their exposure to National airport. That was a nice hand out. By the end of December, 2001, Wolf was quoted in the USA Today that we ended the year with $1 billion in the bank. Gangwal confirmed that to AFA in a meeting. Within 3 months, Wolf hired the Union busters on our property to take the reigns.
B)
Your perspective of U hx is prettty much right on point.
You missed one factual piece of information...US Airways received $352 million dollars of "free money" from the government(tax oayers) in the form of a bail out for those airlines that were shut down immediately post 9/11, specifically because of their exposure to National airport. That was a nice hand out. By the end of December, 2001, Wolf was quoted in the USA Today that we ended the year with $1 billion in the bank. Gangwal confirmed that to AFA in a meeting. Within 3 months, Wolf hired the Union busters on our property to take the reigns.
B)
PitBull,
That just seems like ancient history with all everyone's been through. There is so much more I didn't touch on... broken promises and broken contracts. Asking the BK court to approved 65 million in bonuses to keep the "talent" from leaving the leaving the company (yeah, the same talent that put us twice into bankruptcy!). We could go on and on.
I didn't always see eye to eye with Teddy, but she sure will be missed, especially now that we are apparently going into negotiations again. Maybe we could hire her as a negotiating coach or consultant. At least we'll be labor friendly, unlike her last employer, LOL!
Best,
DCAflyer
TheNewLowFare
Senior
- Aug 31, 2005
- 394
- 0
DC and others,
I understand your pain, but now is the time to start out fresh! Alot of us who started in 80s and 90s felt the effects of that too! During the gulf war in 89 and 911; in order for America West to stay alive during bancruptcy, all of our employees gave up pay increases and other things too! So we've been through what you guys have been through, but we all have everything in common. We are all survivors and now is the time to let go of the past and start looking forward to a new start! Stay focused, positive and we will get back one of the best contracts in the airline industry.
I understand your pain, but now is the time to start out fresh! Alot of us who started in 80s and 90s felt the effects of that too! During the gulf war in 89 and 911; in order for America West to stay alive during bancruptcy, all of our employees gave up pay increases and other things too! So we've been through what you guys have been through, but we all have everything in common. We are all survivors and now is the time to let go of the past and start looking forward to a new start! Stay focused, positive and we will get back one of the best contracts in the airline industry.
elixir
Senior
- Jun 2, 2005
- 385
- 0
DCA, you forgot to tell our new US West friends about the 3 checks paid the morning of one of the BK's to the tune of $35million 15 to Wolf 15 to Gang 5 to Nagin...then the lawyers finished the drive to NYC and promptly files BK..I forget which one...here's to looking forward and not backwards...it hurts too much.
AWAskyprincess
Member
- Oct 3, 2005
- 37
- 0
I have NO issue in RE to the merger I love my job...so deal with it ...I just tell it how it is as for my Name well its the same one I use for my screen name so again deal with it ...I go to work I fly my line and I enjoy my job ...DP will do a wonderful job..I have faith that things will only get better so again deal with it ..and NO I did not one of the ONE's who had BM recalled I have never had a problem with him..so again deal with it ...and yes I do have a life ...ONE thing you will need to learn about those of us at AWA we enjoy our jobs and we are happy YOU are the one who seems to be bitter please work on that before we have to fly with you...
TheNewLowFare
Senior
- Aug 31, 2005
- 394
- 0
My goodness princess! I have to agree with our fellow F/As in the east on this one, your postings are a bit much! Please don't use "WE" because alot of us would like to integrate in peace, not discord. Thank you.
firstamendment
Veteran
- Apr 1, 2003
- 1,348
- 0
This is all correct, with a few new changes. DH's are now paid at 100%, still NO credit. That is retroactive back to Aug. 1, you will need to file a claim in order to have those paid. Also, beginning Jan. 1, your first sick call will be paid at 100%, if you choose to extend that sick call, each additional day/trip will be paid at 70%...For a reserve, your 100% will be for the first 4 days of a sick call, for a blockholder a max of a 4 day trip. It isnt much, but its something.
firstamendment
Veteran
- Apr 1, 2003
- 1,348
- 0
Proud f/a
Thanks for the info. Where have I been? I have alot of DH's. Do you know exactly which form I use?
Thanks
