Labor Rift Critical For Us Airways'

[USA320Pilot]

Labor rift critical for US Airways' subsidiary PSA Airlines

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The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reproted, "Separately yesterday, dozens of US Airways employees attended meetings at Pittsburgh International Airport to get information on what to do if they lose their jobs. US Airways may eliminate several thousand jobs at the airport by year's end as it ramps down its hub operations here, state and local officials fear.

The meetings, which will be held all week, are sponsored by US Airways and its unions. The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry is conducting the sessions, which last about 90 minutes. They provide information on a host of topics, including information on medical coverage and the Children's Health Insurance Program; how to file for unemployment benefits; and strategies for crafting a professional resume.

Most employees who attended a meeting yesterday afternoon said they were worried about their jobs but had no plans to bail out early. They said the job market in Western Pennsylvania made it difficult to find another job that paid as well as their positions with US Airways," the newspaper said.

Respectfully,

USA320Pilot

 

[airbiiguy]

PSA doesnt care about its employees , that is for sure!!

 

[delldude]

Labor rift critical for US Airways' subsidiary PSA Airlines

See Story

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reproted, "Separately yesterday, dozens of US Airways employees attended meetings at Pittsburgh International Airport to get information on what to do if they lose their jobs. US Airways may eliminate several thousand jobs at the airport by year's end as it ramps down its hub operations here, state and local officials fear.

The meetings, which will be held all week, are sponsored by US Airways and its unions. The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry is conducting the sessions, which last about 90 minutes. They provide information on a host of topics, including information on medical coverage and the Children's Health Insurance Program; how to file for unemployment benefits; and strategies for crafting a professional resume.

Most employees who attended a meeting yesterday afternoon said they were worried about their jobs but had no plans to bail out early. They said the job market in Western Pennsylvania made it difficult to find another job that paid as well as their positions with US Airways," the newspaper said.

Respectfully,

USA320Pilot

They said the job market in Western Pennsylvania made it difficult to find another job that paid as well as their positions with US Airways,"

but most are coping with the realization that life will go on after U if it comes to that.

 

[700UW]

At

PSA, gate and ramp agents may select their job and shift assignments based on seniority, Burns said. Management had asked the Teamsters to abolish this work rule. When the union refused, management said it would unilaterally do so.

The Teamsters are going to federal court to stop PSA from changing work rules without union approval.

Burns said that eliminating seniority issue would save little money because gate and ramp workers already are among the lowest-paid in the industry. Salaries start at $6.77 an hour and top out at $10.57, he said.

PSA "has no respect for the people who work for them,'' Burns said.

PSA's attempt to strip workers of their seniority rights is "pretty low down,'' said Chris Fox, president of Local 13302 of the Communications Workers of America. "It makes me feel they're not on the up-and-up.''

Great to see how this company treats its employees, and you wonder why no one except the pilots are talking to them.

The company has proved over and over again that they cannot be trusted.

 

[AP Tech]

[. They said the job market in Western Pennsylvania made it difficult to find another job that paid as well as their positions with US Airways," the newspaper said.

Respectfully,

USA320Pilot

Well I guess "several thousand" of the affected employees will have to move out of the area rather than accept any more concessions!! Thats in my playbook!!!

 

[matika]

The company has proved over and over again that they cannot be trusted.

Yes, PSA has gone ahead and posted the master schedule, (even though roughly 25 of 400 people bid at PIT), against the advice of its own attorneys. They simply assigned lines to whoever didn't bid.

The union has advised us to continue working the same schedules we have now. The new schedule is supposed to take effect Monday.

Just when I thought they couldn't sink any lower...they did.

 

[700UW]

I truly believe this company wants to liquidate. They have gone out of thier way to each employee group to steal, lie and cheat them.

I think the unions and the employees needs a massive media blitz to show the lawmakers and public how this management treats its employees as enemies.

 

[Prince of PAWOBs]

The day to pay attention to is Monday, July 19. This is the day that the new employee schedule is to take effect. It is also the day that the IBT plans to seek a court injunction against PSA if there are any violations of historic work practices in said schedule.

Is PSA trying to liquidate? Probably not, IMO. But it does seem like certain individuals in Dayton, OH are trying to advance their personal agendas in their little office fiefdoms without regard to profitability or morale.

It appears that trying to get PSA customer service agents, especially at PIT, to leave the company by throwing up barriers and creating a poor working environment is not working. After years of complaining about how the union isn't protecting its members, the employees have finally realized that they have to stick together with the union leadership and fight to protect their jobs, no matter how long or frustrating the process may be.

Maybe PSA management thinks that after they destroy PSA from within that they will all have nice, cushy jobs with MidAtlantic. Fat chance, kids! Mainline does not accept poor cousins into the family out of kindness and a feeling of responsibilty. It needs a reason to keep you, and it will exact a price for doing so.

Perhaps PSA management should consider that being happy where you are and with the work that you do makes your position all the more tenable when push comes to shove.

 

[delldude]

The day to pay attention to is Monday, July 19. This is the day that the new employee schedule is to take effect. It is also the day that the IBT plans to seek a court injunction against PSA if there are any violations of historic work practices in said schedule.

Is PSA trying to liquidate? Probably not, IMO. But it does seem like certain individuals in Dayton, OH are trying to advance their personal agendas in their little office fiefdoms without regard to profitability or morale.

It appears that trying to get PSA customer service agents, especially at PIT, to leave the company by throwing up barriers and creating a poor working environment is not working. After years of complaining about how the union isn't protecting its members, the employees have finally realized that they have to stick together with the union leadership and fight to protect their jobs, no matter how long or frustrating the process may be.

Maybe PSA management thinks that after they destroy PSA from within that they will all have nice, cushy jobs with MidAtlantic. Fat chance, kids! Mainline does not accept poor cousins into the family out of kindness and a feeling of responsibilty. It needs a reason to keep you, and it will exact a price for doing so.

Perhaps PSA management should consider that being happy where you are and with the work that you do makes your position all the more tenable when push comes to shove.

After years of complaining about how the union isn't protecting its members, the employees have finally realized that they have to stick together with the union leadership and fight to protect their jobs, no matter how long or frustrating the process may be.

excellent point!
they are comming to the realization of what unity and being a union is all about.
complaining for years and " let someone else worry about it" finally comes home to roost.

 

[Prince of PAWOBs]

Yes, DellDude. The CSA's have finally figured it out. And the bonus is that most of them are getting craftier and making sure that they don't cross any lines of propriety at work, lest management decide that it's a good day for disciplinary action for minor infractions.

And yes, that is occuring now on a regular basis at PIT. When management can't find enough hourly employees to harass, they go after supervisors for simply perceived policy violations. IMO, that is a work group that needs to organize and protect itself, because those poor guys and girls can get terminated whenever the whim crosses the mind.

I honestly believe this is a directive handed down by Dayton to punish the employees for standing up to the company. In a small way, I even feel sorry for the management at PIT express, because if they don't follow orders, they might be asked to resign for personal reasons. The last manager they did that to is now going to be Independence Air's station manager at PIT, and I'm sure getting even with PSA is high on the list of Things To Do.

And who did Independence hire for the PIT station? A lot of mainline and express employees, from what I hear.

 

[delldude]

PAWOB-hope you don't feel singled out...i assure you,your mainline counter parts have left no stone unturned when it comes to handing out disciplinary action.i actually think they have some type of reward system for the most employees fired .
pit hangars 1-2 and 5 have been particular little havens of discontent.wonder who the head honcho is here???

 

[Prince of PAWOBs]

DellDude,

I'm pretty sure the employees over at PSA do not feel singled out. I think the majority who were always told, "It's express vs. mainline" know much better now. The new mantra is, "It's the employees vs. the parasites".

I remember having a discussion with a gentleman who works for the mainline operation at PIT, and he was telling me how some of the employees there feel like it's all pretty hopeless at this point, so much that they don't even bother wearing uniforms to work anymore. They just wonder how long it will be before they get fired instead of laid off. That's kind of sad, really, because those are the people that made US Airways a great company.

US needs a benevolent dictator to take the reigns at this point. Somene who actually knows what it's like to work the different jobs at an airline would be the best choice. But alas! There is no such creature to be found in corporate executive culture. All that's left is a bunch of high-fiving frat boys and silver-spoon sucking miscreants looking to pack a golden parachute before they jump out of the doomed flying machine.

 

[matika]

Just a note - the new "company-compiled" bid and master schedule for CSAs at PIT, start date 7/19, has been retracted. Completely thrown out. This probably had something to do with that pesky little injunction.

 

[Prince of PAWOBs]

Matika,

Has the company decided what they are going to do for a bid yet?

Hopefully, the next one won't violate work rules and historic practices.

I wonder if anyone at PSA realizes this would have been a non-issue if they had just posted a bid like every other bid in the last five years.

 

[matika]

Prince - no, they just said that the bid is "postponed until the coming months" - so Catie Quinn's memo says.