JAMAKE1
Veteran
Herkav8r:
I commend you for having the balls to state your position on these message boards. And I happen to agree with you. It's the classic labor-management class warfare rhetoric over and over on these boards.
I don't drink United Koolaid and I am not a United cheerleader, but when one is in a position of leadership, such as Tilton is, one sets themselves up for criticism. Not everybody is going to like you. Especially when tough decisions have to be made. I happen to think that Glenn Tilton earns every penny that UAL pays him. I don't think it has been easy to lead a Fortune-500 company with 60+ thousand employees around the globe, while in the midst of bankruptcy, a war in Iraq, SARS, spiking oil prices, not to mention the harsh domestic operating environment. Most people do not possess the skill-set required to lead such a corporation. If you recall, nobody wanted the job of CEO at UAL and Jack Creighton pleaded with Tilton to accept the job. I personally find it irresponsible and self-destructive when my union leaders call for his resignation.
I personally don't feel "screwed" by United. It is all a matter of perspective and in my experience, even though I happen to be on the labor end of the equation, I do not feel like United has "DONE" anything to me. I don't have anger and resentment or feel victimized by management. I tend to be a realistist and have accepted the realities of the market place. It is the price I have paid for choosing to work for a large company in a deregulated free-market system.
A lot of the perks that we enjoyed prior to Chapter 11 were remnants from a bygone era (a regulated market place). In my 10 years with UAL, I have learned to make the job work for ME. Having pensions gutted, benefits reduced, and pay and workrules cut DOES suck, but, at the end of the day, it's still not a bad gig. I have been on voluntary furlough for two years with FULL benefits...medical, dental, travel, and seniority accrual.... Before bankruptcy I was able to have the luxury of 20 days off per month and attend school 5 days a week...with full pay and bennies. I am not saying that the past few years have been easy, it HAS been painful, but even with two rounds of givebacks, when I return to the line in August, I will be stepping into a job that pays between 40 and 45k per year. For me, it's still workable.
Labor doesn't seem to GET that a bonus program for certain managers, who are hightly credentialed and who bring unique marketable skills to their positions, is part of their compensation package. Traditional collective bargaining agreements do not contain negotiated performance bonuses as part of the compensation package.
I think it is very easy to sit in our armchairs and make comments and judgements about whether or not Glenn Tilton and others are doing a good job when most of us have no clue as to what these managers have to go through day in and day out. Furthermore, I did not have to attend years of college and get an advanced degree to get hired in my position at United. Most people in positions of power have a drive and a strong work ethic and are willing to put in up to 12-18 hours a day at work. They do not have the luxury of being able to play on internet message boards.
Enough said....flame away!
I commend you for having the balls to state your position on these message boards. And I happen to agree with you. It's the classic labor-management class warfare rhetoric over and over on these boards.
I don't drink United Koolaid and I am not a United cheerleader, but when one is in a position of leadership, such as Tilton is, one sets themselves up for criticism. Not everybody is going to like you. Especially when tough decisions have to be made. I happen to think that Glenn Tilton earns every penny that UAL pays him. I don't think it has been easy to lead a Fortune-500 company with 60+ thousand employees around the globe, while in the midst of bankruptcy, a war in Iraq, SARS, spiking oil prices, not to mention the harsh domestic operating environment. Most people do not possess the skill-set required to lead such a corporation. If you recall, nobody wanted the job of CEO at UAL and Jack Creighton pleaded with Tilton to accept the job. I personally find it irresponsible and self-destructive when my union leaders call for his resignation.
I personally don't feel "screwed" by United. It is all a matter of perspective and in my experience, even though I happen to be on the labor end of the equation, I do not feel like United has "DONE" anything to me. I don't have anger and resentment or feel victimized by management. I tend to be a realistist and have accepted the realities of the market place. It is the price I have paid for choosing to work for a large company in a deregulated free-market system.
A lot of the perks that we enjoyed prior to Chapter 11 were remnants from a bygone era (a regulated market place). In my 10 years with UAL, I have learned to make the job work for ME. Having pensions gutted, benefits reduced, and pay and workrules cut DOES suck, but, at the end of the day, it's still not a bad gig. I have been on voluntary furlough for two years with FULL benefits...medical, dental, travel, and seniority accrual.... Before bankruptcy I was able to have the luxury of 20 days off per month and attend school 5 days a week...with full pay and bennies. I am not saying that the past few years have been easy, it HAS been painful, but even with two rounds of givebacks, when I return to the line in August, I will be stepping into a job that pays between 40 and 45k per year. For me, it's still workable.
Labor doesn't seem to GET that a bonus program for certain managers, who are hightly credentialed and who bring unique marketable skills to their positions, is part of their compensation package. Traditional collective bargaining agreements do not contain negotiated performance bonuses as part of the compensation package.
I think it is very easy to sit in our armchairs and make comments and judgements about whether or not Glenn Tilton and others are doing a good job when most of us have no clue as to what these managers have to go through day in and day out. Furthermore, I did not have to attend years of college and get an advanced degree to get hired in my position at United. Most people in positions of power have a drive and a strong work ethic and are willing to put in up to 12-18 hours a day at work. They do not have the luxury of being able to play on internet message boards.
Enough said....flame away!
