Lga Today--the Pilot Takes A Stand

[MrAeroMan]

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You would not have what you have if it was not for the battles fought for by union members before us.
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The previous message was brought to you by the IAM where no single group has lost more, had less vision, taken the most from it's members and delivered substandard representation than any group in the history of time.

 

[usairways_vote_NO]

No bitterness here...just don't understand how you can almost support someone for not doing what they agreed to do in the signed contract!! Work under the new pay rate and work rules. Very simple!

No bitterness...not worth it!!

I'll do my job...only asking that others do the same, that's all!!

[post="256461"][/post]​

Did you see a post in here by me supporting someone not doing what they agreed to or was that "you" just generic and not directed at me and my bitterness post?

 

[usairways_vote_NO]

There are plenty of falsehoods going around on this board in particular.  The truth is that if a flight attendant gets injured helping a passenger place a bag in the bin, the employee needs to turn in a claim.  The company has workers comp insurance for this type of injury.  If the insurance carrier rejects the claim, and there are no mitigating circumstances (such as the flight attendant was not actually on duty, but non-reving) the claim would be payable.  If the claim isn't payable, the employee should file a lawsuit.  Insurance companies are slimy, very very slimy.  I have worked with a number of them and they sumarilly reject claims which should be paid.  But it is the insurance carrier, not US Airways, who decides what claims it pays.  FWIW, if a claim is rejected and the employee sues, they would actually sue US Airways, not the insurance carrier.  The carrier is required by law to defend the claim (costs of defense include attorneys' fees and expenses) and indemnify US Airways against losses, up to its limitation per incident.   That is to say, for instance, that if an employee wins a $2M judgment against US Airways, but the limit of US Airways policy is $1M per incident, AND if coverage is valid (i.e., US Airways paid its bill) then the carrier would have to pay the first $1M of the judgment plus the costs of defense, and US Airways would have to pay the amount over $1M.

It is noteworthy that these policies are written to include generalities of a job.  For instance, they don't generally disclude certain functions.  In other words, there won't be an exclusion for helping passengers place items in an overhead bid.  So, if you are working, that is, performing work for the company, your claim should (and absent some bizarre set of circimstances, would) be covered.  It is very elementary law.  Period. 

As for whatever flight attendant didn't get paid for what, I can't tell you without knowing the circumstances.  It could, like I said, somebody nonreving.  But these boards are replete with false information from somebody who heard from somebody who heard from somebody else.

Regards,
DCAflyer

[post="256470"][/post]​

You seem to know a great deal about how these polices are written can you provide a reference for all this information? I would like to do some research into it and don't want to be accused of repeating false information from somebody who wrote it on internet message board who heard from somebody who heard from somebody else.

 

[usairways_vote_NO]

That said, there is no excuse for the rampers not being there.

[post="256497"][/post]​

I do not understand how you can make this statement. Are you saying there is no excuse at all ever?. That if they are short staffed, all unloading somewhere else, all doing their job, that there is no excuse for them not to be in two places at once? Is this just a statement for this specific flight or a blanket statement saying there never is a excuse for workers not to meet a flight and unload it even if it means working and being in two or three or more places at one time? Are you blaming the workers for being short staffed and telling them there is never a excuse not to be "Multiple man" able to divide at will and be in more then one place at once!!!

 

[Art at ISP]

I do not understand how you can make this statement. Are you saying there is no excuse at all ever?. That if they are short staffed, all unloading somewhere else, all doing their job, that there is no excuse for them not to be in two places at once? Is this just a statement for this specific flight or a blanket statement saying there never is a excuse for workers not to meet a flight and unload it even if it means working and being in two or three or more places at one time? Are you blaming the workers for being short staffed and telling them there is never a excuse not to be "Multiple man" able to divide at will and be in more then one place at once!!!

[post="256608"][/post]​

It was not a peak time. There were few if any flights being worked. They were not short staffed--as soon as the pilot started moving the bags they came out of the woodwork--zero to six or more in about 15 seconds. I distinctly heard the agent tell the pilot they were in the break room.

You are all missing the point. It isn't about blame, responsibility or anything else. There are another 37 potentially lost customers on that flight who think that the operation can't get its act together and who witnessed tangible friction between employees. Perception is reality to most uninformed people. How many do you think would never fly US again??

This whole thread has become a perfect illustration of what's wrong with the picture. I am not pointing fingers at anyone, union, management or otherwise. If this company is to make it you have to move beyond the blame game and find a way to make it work.

 

[usairways_vote_NO]

[post="256620"][/post]​

Actually you could have answered my question with a simple " I was referring to a specific flight that I have knowledge on"

That being said it has been stated on this board too many times by people out of the loop and looking in (this includes employees) questioning why a such and such wasn't done immediately and to their satisfaction. My point was there may be a legitimate reason and it doesn't necessarily mean anyone/everyone wasn't doing their job to the best of their ability at that time. It just seems everyone is so ready and willing to start pointing fingers without knowing the whole story.

 

[BoeingBoy]

Art,

I've stayed out of this thread till now, just watching with amusement while it turned into another "IAM/union bad - IAM/union good" bashfest.

I've just got a couple of questions.

1 - It appears you were on an Express flight - which carrier?

2 - Which carrier's employees were working this flight, specifically the ramp workers?

3 - Which, if any, union did those employees belong to?

Jim

 

[CaptianBoomer]

I am a furloughed U pilot. I used to work for Mesa. I ROUTINELY unloaded bags and brought them to the customers. Why?

Nothing sucks worse than flying on a cramped little RJ for 3 hours, landing in DCA or PHL a mile from nowhere, with 15 minutes to get to your connecting flight, and standing on a jetway or out in the cold waiting for someone to get your carryon luggage out of the hold and into your hot little hand so you can get to your meeting/home. Nevermind that U mangement could give a rats arse about it in any fashion.

That 700 considers me a scab....I'll wear that badge with honor coming from you. Passengers come first. Without them, there is no U. Until the unions and the members of those unions get that through their thick noodle, I am afraid that U has little chance.

Boomer

 

[usairways_vote_NO]

So were you talking about you being cramped up? Just kidding. You need to remember also without employees (at least one ) there is no company and the way things are going with USAirways and how they treat their employees there won't be any left and we can lay it all to rest.

 

[FM2436]

Don't forget rampers won a huge victory when the DOT Inspector General determined the so called "Christmas meltdown" was management's fault. Wouldn't be surprised if some rampers are milking that for every opportunity they can take.

 

[N924PS]

The previous message was brought to you by the IAM where no single group has lost more, had less vision, taken the most from it's members and delivered substandard representation than any group in the history of time.

[post="256599"][/post]​

Geez, and I thought ALPA held that crown!

 

[Kev3188]

I am a furloughed U pilot. I used to work for Mesa. I ROUTINELY unloaded bags and brought them to the customers. Why?

[post="256637"][/post]​

Interesting...I also used to work for YV, and never once saw a pilot helping with the bags. In fact, most of them wouldn't help expressly out of respect for the rampers (and the ramp's efforts to get more help) . That to me is another way of looking at "working together."

For what it's worth, no one was ever in the break room "watching TV," either; we didn't have one. We always met every inbound, even if all we did right away was get the carry on bags off (in the case of 2 or 3 flights landing at once).

 

[diogenes]

Bob,

Your posts on this thread made your thoughts clear. The reason the rampers weren't on the ramp was they were nasty ole union employees.

And when it turns out that while they were irresponsible, but NON-UNION, the tenor of your posts did not change.

I don't think 700 is the only single-minded person on these boards.

I am well aware of the union's faults. But you have to understand; with the management at U, we decided a union was a necessary evil.

I am a union member, and I deeply resent being painted with such a broad brush.

 

[ClueByFour]

He took his pay cut on day one and is below industry standard pay.

But above LCC pay. Since the rank and file are below LCC pay, why should Lakefield be any different?

In regard to Siegel and Neeleman, I only posted information on his salary. In regard to Neeleman, go look at all of his incentive based compensation, instead of leaving out information.

What you left out was that the $20 million that Neeleman received was stock and equity. The only reason he made the $20 million is because B6 makes money.

If Lakefield were confident, he'd take $1 in cash, and a whole slew of stock. If he turns US around, he'll be rich, but based on his performance as the CEO.

 

[Art at ISP]

Art,

I've stayed out of this thread till now, just watching with amusement while it turned into another "IAM/union bad - IAM/union good" bashfest.

I've just got a couple of questions.

1 - It appears you were on an Express flight - which carrier?

The flight was on Piedmont

2 - Which carrier's employees were working this flight, specifically the ramp workers?

I assume Express at LGA is handled by Piedmont as well.

3 - Which, if any, union did those employees belong to?

I do not know, and the point is not relevent here. I have since learned that this was a lifeguard flight and that the ramp had been notified 15 minutes out to be ready to meet the flight, and still no one was there when we arrived.

It does not matter whether the rampers were union or non union--and it also does not matter whose fault it was--the fact is it should not have happened, and when it did, at least someone took the initiative to resolve it and take care of the customers.

I am beginning to feel sorry I brought the whole thing up--the thread itself says volumes about how dire the situation really is.......