Hello to all,
I have been following this board for around a year now and I finally wanted to join up and say a few things. I know there are many frustrations out there both east and west, but as a Westie, this has been unbearable to stand by. You eastie guys, yes the company owes you guys, but I am speaking for the Westies. How long should we have to wait in the balance to simply, become equal. Nothing more, nothing less. The whole contract is up for renegotiation in a year anyway. In the meantime, as a 9 1/2 year Lead out West, 11.50 is all that is available for pay. The T/A's have promise to bring us all on the same page. It shouldn't be about anything more, or anything less. I keep hearing about how "we" need to stick together and turn anything down, to get a better deal. In the meantime, There are employees in PHX that work at Chilis in the airport that make more than a 10 year lead for USair. (BTW, Chilis has only been open for a year in PHX) This is sad. It is worse that no-one seems to care. Yes, the company has shorted you guys out east prior to the merger, but we are hurting out here! When does this waiting pay off. My newborn will be in school by the time this gets sorted out. In the meantime, I can't afford daycare. I love my job and hate to leave it, but I can barely keep my family afloat at 11.50/hr. It is the light at the end of the tunnel that keeps employees like me around but, in this case, it is starting to look more like a vertical tunnel. (a hole) NO offence, but the T/A that should be written, should have no bearing on the East employees. I am not saying that you guys aren't owed anything. I am simply stating, the T/A should simply induct the West employees into the contract of the East to recieve identical pay and benefits. PERIOD Nothing more, nothing less. All of the issues that the East employees have with the company can then be settled AFTER this has happened. They will also then have the FULL support of ALL the fleet service. Right now, our separation is because the East has it's own issues and doesn't care about the West employee's pay, and the West doesn't care about anything but their pay. The company has no problems with the pay but they want to add riders. The IAM also has no problem with the money but they want to add their own riders and this will never end. The company has to love this. As long as we feud, the company will save millions! All on our backs. Here is a little quote for you all to keep in mind. "We must learn to live together as brothers or we are going to perish together as fools."
Sorry I babbled for so long. I will keep it short from now on. I am just absolutely to tears with what to do. Leave my 10yr job or stick it out in hopes that it will pay off. As long as I am sticking this out, I am suffering.
The changes in the mechanic scope language was a compromise between the union and company and there is no way you can compare the M&R proposal to the fleet group and what they need to protect there guys.
