Mechanics' Strike Could Shut Down Us Airways

[flythewing]

Dill,
Welcome to FT! Oh, sorry, they don't do that here. From one lurker to another, well done!

 

[PITbull]

Dilligas,

Welcome! Nice to see you. Thanks for your view on "life at U". Your insight is profound and true.

We suffer here, but collectively, we will pull through this together. Lot at stake on both ends of the spectrum. Management just doesn't want us to perceive such a notion. YES. All agree, they have a plan, and many employees will be "collateral damage".

For me, I can't just watch on and allow these management visitors and Lorenzo offsprings to destoy our human spirit and dignity with no protest., and unchallenged. Its not OK.

Something has to give here. WE as labor cannot continue down this path fighting against our management. This fight will be exposed in the meda and the public will know. This type of publicity does not help our business or the stock price.

Someone better step in and make nice, nice with labor quick. Otherwise, the ship will surely sink. And as you say, there is definitely life beyond U.

PS: BTW, what part of my diatribe is emotional and you don't agree with? Not that I am taking offense or anything.... no way, not me.....not thinking about that...

Just explain?

 

[fatburger]

I, for one, would love to see all unions come together to support the IAM and their ensuing battle with management. It's time to go toe to toe with Davey boy and the rest of the carpet baggers in CCY.

When management pulls the liquidation card on us we can't flinch. Not like the weak sisters of ALPA. (my union). I have the utmost respect for the AFA, IAM, TWU and CWA. Is anyone else tired of getting kicked around?

I just hope ALPA has the brass ones in their pants to pledge their full support for the IAM. I wouldn't count on it though.

peace.

-fatburger-

 

[Fly]

perhaps a different word would be in order and an apology to any Jewish folks who might post here.

That would be me! But never fear, I can take it. It's those dang shysters running the airline that tick me off. 😛

 

[High Iron]

Piney Bob:

"Just playing devils advocate on the outsourcing!"


Why??? This is too important an issue to those directly involved...it's not just mere discussion to sharpen our debate skills.


"I think I've been pretty clear on my support of labor on this issue"


Can't we just leave it at that? Hence, my original question "why?"

I feel like some grunt in a foxhole on the front lines fighting for my existence...in this case victory, not for the thrill of the chase, but because it's the only chance for survival here...only to hear those removed speak casually about the battle as if it were a spectator sport.

 

[TheLarkAscending]

I don't know about where you live Cavalier, but where I live the word "Shyster" is considered an anti-semetic remark. As the self appointed bastion of morality & ethics perhaps a different word would be in order and an apology to any Jewish folks who might post here.

Since Mr. Siegel is of Jewish extraction, I think the "Shyster" comment is totally and completely inapropriate.


Gee, I'm sorry, but it really doesn't matter what part of the country or world you happen to live in, it does matter what the dictionary defines the word to mean:

shy·ster
Pronunciation: 'shIs-t&r
Function: noun
Etymology: probably from German Scheisser, literally, defecator
Date: 1844
: one who is professionally unscrupulous especially in the practice of law or politics : PETTIFOGGER

The word is usually used to describe a shady attorney, and in no way delineates with, toward or near a particular religion or cultural slant. 

Bob, do you absolutely, positively KNOW which religion Mr. Siegel practices, if any???

Since you're the self-appointed bastion, you might want to have that conversation with yourself.

 

[Dea Certe]

I, for one, would love to see all unions come together to support the IAM and their ensuing battle with management. It's time to go toe to toe with Davey boy and the rest of the carpet baggers in CCY.

When management pulls the liquidation card on us we can't flinch. Not like the weak sisters of ALPA. (my union). I have the utmost respect for the AFA, IAM, TWU and CWA. Is anyone else tired of getting kicked around?

I just hope ALPA has the brass ones in their pants to pledge their full support for the IAM. I wouldn't count on it though.

peace.

-fatburger-

With a great deal of sadness, I completely agree with fatburger. This management has gone insane. There's no respect for our product, our customers or the employees. What's left?

I say we all stand together as one. If it's Eastern revisited, so be it. We won't stay in business with Jerry and Ben at the reins. Let's give our customers the very best service we can until the last day. I cannot trust third party maintenance with my life. I may end up slinging cokes at Lucy's Cafe, but at least I know I've always done my best. I'll have my integrity and I will sleep OK in the cardboard box.

Won't the Daves mothers be so proud of their boys? 🙁

 

[mrplanes]

Lavman wrote: "Not to defend Dave, but niether of those crashes were US Airways planes nor maintaned by us or farmed out.

Air Midwest is owned by Mesa Airlines, flies as codeshare express partner

Colgan is a privately owned by the Colgan family flies as codeshare express partner."


Just for the record lav, the fatal Mesa 1900 accident has been attributed to a misrigging of an elevator cable during a maintenance procedure. That procedure was NOT performed by Mesa Airlines. It was farmed out (outsourced) to a maintenance firm whose name escapes me at the moment. We don't know the cause of the fatal Colgan accident but from what I have heard they outsource some of their maintenance also. You are correct these aircraft had nothing to do with USAirways other than being flown under our express contracts.


mr

 

[cavalier]

I don't know about where you live Cavalier, but where I live the word "Shyster" is considered an anti-semetic remark. As the self appointed bastion of morality & ethics perhaps a different word would be in order and an apology to any Jewish folks who might post here.

Since Mr. Siegel is of Jewish extraction, I think the "Shyster" comment is totally and completely inapropriate.

See it's just like today, one of Rev. Donald Wildmon's group was arrested for kiddie porn. When you set yourself up as the moral arbiter then you'd best be squeaky clean yourself.

I feel it is EXACTLY on target and you of all people should not be commenting on morals and ethics, right and wrong. You and Dave have common ground. You and I are as far apart as East is from West. I will not get personal, except to say: your opinions are erratic, coming from a self ordained ego that believes it's a pillar of knowledge, and these boards are where you find your self esteem, how sad indeed! You are a lost and confused soul.

ATTENTION MODERATOR: I will no longer reply to this person’s babble, no need to worry.

 

[LavMan]

I meant US Airways did not farm them out, I know Air Midwest did to Raytheon who in turn farmed it out to another company.

 

[ata36bg]

"We believe it is not a violation of any contractual obligation with the IAM," US Airways spokesperson Dave Castelveter said. "It is not work that is currently being done by US Airways employees, nor would it affect the staffing level of employees."

This sounds a lot like what came first-the chicken or the egg. True we have never done heavy “Sâ€￾ checks on the Airbus, but we never had to either. But we have always done heavy checks on any new aircraft type. It not affecting staffing levels is arguable at best. As the Boeing aircraft are replaced by Airbus as the company wants to do (or is that a lie too Dave) then what do you do with the people who used to do these checks?


The company said it must determine whether buying hardware, training employees and buying a new maintenance facility is cheaper than outsourcing to a third party.

I have never worked in heavy maintenance, but I assume that since the junior mechanic in the system has 15 or so years of experience training might not be as big an issue as Dave C. thinks it is. I work in the new Line Hangar at CLT. At the risk of upsetting my fellow crew members by saying this, I know a samll bus fits in nicely there. I think the nose might stick out if a tail dock is installed. If so, modify the doors to allow for this; don’t build a whole new facility. Or better yet fully utilize the existing heavy maintenance hangar in CLT. Or even better yet, don’t shut down facilities in TPA and IND in the first place. Or was this Dave and Dave’s plan from the start? Sorry, just speculation there, my bad.

 

[LavMan]

ATA, in the PSA CF56 arbitration, even though we lost there was a partial victory, the arbitor ruled they cant close or sell facility and tooling to avoid the work.

We have hangar space in CLT and PIT as you know and we all ready have tooling, and we have pictures and documents of the said tooling, the company will put their spin on it, but I think Dave has failed to realize the strength of the members, every union group on the property is tired of Dave's shenanigins and I believe Dave will be in the fight of his life when they sign a contract or fly the first plane to an MRO.

It reminds me of the following cliche:

Dave is like the little kid who walks past the fenced in dog and pokes at with a stick, one time he is gonna walk past it poke the dog and the gate will be open and the dog will come out and bite him in the ###.

 

[ata36bg]

I hope that helps LavMan. It's a shame the "big picture" is never displayed till it's dry.

You might be able to answer this LavMan. Has someone gotten there hands on a "S" check tooling list? If not do we trully have "all" the tooling required? If we already own this tooling I'll be interested to see the spinners at work.

 

[LavMan]

I know the S-Check package was completed, I don't know if we have a copy or not.

 

[diogenes]

Lavman wrote: "Not to defend Dave, but niether of those crashes were US Airways planes nor maintaned by us or farmed out.

Air Midwest is owned by Mesa Airlines, flies as codeshare express partner

Colgan is a privately owned by the Colgan family flies as codeshare express partner."


Just for the record lav, the fatal Mesa 1900 accident has been attributed to a misrigging of an elevator cable during a maintenance procedure. That procedure was NOT performed by Mesa Airlines. It was farmed out (outsourced) to a maintenance firm whose name escapes me at the moment. We don't know the cause of the fatal Colgan accident but from what I have heard they outsource some of their maintenance also. You are correct these aircraft had nothing to do with USAirways other than being flown under our express contracts.


mr

For me, this is the nefarious part of code-sharing and outsourcing. Although the passenger buys the ticket from U, U 'escapes' the responsibility they OWE THAT PASSENGER.

I was raised to be responsible for my endeavours. I guess that's why I'll never be a Fortune 500 CEO.