meltdown in PHL

[Hope777]

In the pervious USAirways, THERE WAS NO BENIFIT to moving on in the company. And currently, there still is not. Heck, anyone can be a shift leader in the Hubs, only to get fired in a few months. Heck, in my station the average senority for the Ramp is 25 Years. You get what you pay for. Several are now leaving to start careers elsewhere. Yes, most of us have college degrees but have fell in Love with this industry years ago. When it gets in your blood it's like a drug.......
The flexibility of working for an Airline has also allowed many of us to start our own businesses....

 

[john john]

Anyone that wants to be a ramper for a career is probably not the kind of person one would want to employe anyway.

Anyone that wants to be a flight attended for a career is probably not the kind of person one would want to employ anyway.
Anyone that wants to be a agent for a career is probably not the kind of person one would want to employ anyway.
Anyone that wants to be a crew scheduler for a career is probably not the kind of person one would want to employ anyway
Anyone that wants to be a stock clerk for a career is probably not the kind of person one would want to employ anyway
Anyone that wants to be a administrator for a career is probably not the kind of person one would want to employ anyway

GET OFF YOUR HIGH HORSE

 

[PITbull]

I think that is kinda sad that thier own expectations are so low. No dif. IMHO than the French Frier at Mickey Ds who never wants to be a shift lead, sup, asst. mngr, Mngr or District Manager or take their exp. at some point to corporate. No they want to fry the fries for 30 years and raise a family have a house and a retirement. It just isn't smart nor reasonable to expect that.

We do have a VP that started as a ramper, we have lots of Directors & Managers that worked CS or Rez but they didn't settle, that is what I am talking about. I also understand that we need ditch diggers too and some people just may have some real limitations also, but there are way to many in this industry that think a basic job is the begging and the end of their career. I also belive that is one of the reason the industry has such a bad CS repitation in general. After 15 to 30 years being on the front line will harden anyone. Through in Seniority issues that make moving around even in the same company difficult only makes things worse. We would all be better of striving to improve our own lots in life and if we had a industry structure that encouraged that.

So, if your ideology is correct,and ramp is such a low level job, HOW does any airline keep ramp folks long enough to ensure customer confidence. As a customer, getting your bags ON TIME, is as important as getting to your destination on time. If an airline can not deliver this very important part of customer service...guess what????

Customers will go with the airline THAT CAN DO!

A wage that can only attract the youth looking for summer work, or college part-time employees who call off cause school exams are MORE important, will continue to have A PROBLEM!!!! No one will take a job seriously, or be committed to showing up consistantly whose wage never rises above $10 OR benefit costs to the employee are SO HIGH, that the wage is really reduced to below min. wage. If your staffing for Ramp is mostly PART-TIME, because the airline doesn't want to pay any benefits, you will have folks that take these jobs, along with OTHER JOBS THAT DO GIVE THEM THE BEANIES. And that's the job they will be most loyal to the one that offers the wage and benefits.

My question is...WHAT DOES THIS COMPANY WANT TO BE WHEN IT FINALLY GROWS UP??? Because its not deliverying consistant, reliable customer service! And until the airline management MOVES saway from YOUR SAD ideology,and disrespect for what ramp agents do, and until they begin to recognize the value and reputation they add to customer service, the airline will never acheive any real long-term success.

This airline is surely not an airline stock any logical insightful investor in their right mind would want to invest in long-term, if the PHL operation; the crown-jewel of the airline, is any gauge.

 

[PITbull]

Bob,

Southwest is the best guage I can offer. A Company that has met that challenge for 32 eyars. SW management, according to our AFA analyst when he was working our conessionary contract implied, SW views every labor group with the utmost importance to their reputation and to the customer experience. This management values their employees work as much as they value their own. They are all an equal intricate part of the customer service delivery equation. He also had the same view for CO management.

 

[PITbull]

Bob,

I am speaking for the here and now...and PHL operation, once again is the topic of this discussion.

According to some members of the MEC that I have spoken with, DP is not moving in a positive direction with labor; not AFA East or West.

Your view maybe positive, but its not labor's view.

 

[X-U]

[deleted}

 

[REACC1]

CO pays less and keeps a generally happy workforce which is really the point that I've been saying all along.

CO employees were abused for a long time (a'la Usairways) and had some of the lowest wages for a long time. What turned it around for them was Gordon Bethune (formerly Piedmont) (I know you know this) He knew the impact that the perception of being respected and valued would have on the employees ( tried something different)and their pay and benifits are now near the top in this industry. This is a way of showing respect. Their performance and profitability improved. It is not a direct correlation, but just a big part of their turn around.

 

[isthisok]

I am so tired of these all high any mighty aholes that think there s!!t don't stink. I am a ramper and proud of it. I have worked supervisory positions in the past and could have entered the management ranks many many times. But with this airline in order to stay in management you are expected to be an a$$ kisser and treat your employees like dirt. I have more respect for myself and my fellow employees. I have also been associated with many other work groups and the rampers in most cases are the greatest people in the industry because they are real people and not plastic robots. The rampers in PHL are unique and not representative of the work group as a whole. Those of you that look at rampers as low level or entry level probably never had to earn an honest buck in your life and to think that you are any better just shows how big an A you are. I sleep good at night and am proud of what I do for a living. You will never change PHL. It will only get worse and the company deserves every thing they get by putting all there eggs in one basket.

 

[sharktooth]

CO employees were abused for a long time (a'la Usairways) and had some of the lowest wages for a long time. What turned it around for them was Gordon Bethune (formerly Piedmont) (I know you know this)

Actually, it was not Gordon. It was the previous dude. Just to keep the record straight.

Gordon was an ass and could not manage the local Sonic. So I am told. Money managers took Schofield over Gordy.

Sorry.

 

[kao]

I am so tired of these all high any mighty aholes that think there s!!t don't stink. I am a ramper and proud of it. I have worked supervisory positions in the past and could have entered the management ranks many many times. But with this airline in order to stay in management you are expected to be an a$$ kisser and treat your employees like dirt. I have more respect for myself and my fellow employees. I have also been associated with many other work groups and the rampers in most cases are the greatest people in the industry because they are real people and not plastic robots. The rampers in PHL are unique and not representative of the work group as a whole. Those of you that look at rampers as low level or entry level probably never had to earn an honest buck in your life and to think that you are any better just shows how big an A you are. I sleep good at night and am proud of what I do for a living. You will never change PHL. It will only get worse and the company deserves every thing they get by putting all there eggs in one basket.

sorry to quote you....I too have worked both supervisory and non positions...i stepped down because I did not like the things I was expected to both expect and do....the game...it got old...and I got burnt out....those of you that are stating that the ramp can not be a career...hmmm...they work harder than some suits I have seen...suits that are quick to critisize....ISTHISOK-I am proud to have you as a career ramper and co worker....while I do not walk in your boots daily I am sometimes cross utilized--shhhh-don't tell the comapny!-and I know what you are worth and what you do....

 

[sharktooth]

sorry to quote you....I too have worked both supervisory and non positions...i stepped down because I did not like the things I was expected to both expect and do....the game...it got old...and I got burnt out....those of you that are stating that the ramp can not be a career...hmmm...they work harder than some suits I have seen...suits that are quick to critisize....ISTHISOK-I am proud to have you as a career ramper and co worker....while I do not walk in your boots daily I am sometimes cross utilized--shhhh-don't tell the comapny!-and I know what you are worth and what you do....

Excellente!

The only suits I have seen are ridiculous. That goes from VP flight all the way down.

They are really good spouting koolaide, but anything else, wasted.

As long as the company thinks they can "make money" by spewing BS to their employees, I guess that is how we will operate.

It would be really great if they would spend a little time actually trying to increase revenue, not that they would be successful, but, it would give a general direction to something rational, instead of depending on making revenue off their employees.

 

[Dog Wonder]

Excellente!

The only suits I have seen are ridiculous. That goes from VP flight all the way down.

They are really good spouting koolaide, but anything else, wasted.

But, but, management drones are the heart and soul of this company. Just ask them.

 

[EricLv2Fish]

Ahhh...the armchair CEOs. Gotta luv them for their passion.

US is on the verge of posting OUR 2nd straight quartely profit amid record fuel prices. True that ticket raises have held and is a huge part of the equation, but without this merger US Airways would be history and the fate of AWA...well IMO would be unkown. I'll take the combination of US Airways and AWA over AWA alone...coming from a westie perspective. Some westies wouldn't agree, but that is my opinion. Sure things could be better, but they could be a hellofalot worse. Now, how would you make it better?

 

[REACC1]

Actually, it was not Gordon. It was the previous dude. Just to keep the record straight.

Gordon was an ass and could not manage the local Sonic. So I am told. Money managers took Schofield over Gordy.

Sorry.

What previous "dude" do you speak of? And, why was Gordon an "ass"? IYO

 

[Kev3188]

But, but, management drones are the heart and soul of this company. Just ask them.

Hey it takes a lot of energy to send endless e-mails, and "workshop" new ideas!