As many have already heard of read, Dave is approaching us with language requesting the rights to outsource a number of positions currently filled by USAirways Employees.
Outsourcing in itself is contrary to Labor Friendly pursuits Dave approached the rank and file with..and will only cheapen our product , instead of making it cheaper to operate as he desires.
Regarding Maintenance...Outsourcing of routine line maintenance will hamper day to day domestic operations. This will ultimately rain havoc on clearing MEL''s during thru-flights as well. This in itself is bad for a company operating in Chapter 11..Issues such as our MEL count are watched closely by the FAA..along with other things that current maintenance staffing keep in check to perfection. The flying public deserves and should demand nothing less!!
Contract Maintenance rarely if ever..delivers quality work , muchless timely results while doing so. This could prove a very hampering issue to Hub and Spoke flow-thru operations which USAirways is very dependant upon.
Many times contract labor has been used in stations where we either had maintenance at one point..or where we never had our own maintenance before. The results with the exception of Overseas operations have often led to delays or outright cancellations of flights. Some of this can be attributed to the contract work getting in the way of thier own companies obligations...or the complete lack of ability to handle the given task. This runs into costly Roadtrips from our major hubs , so the job can be done properly to begin with...So why multiply this issue any further?
The lessons of outsourcing are painfully obvious when one takes into account the issues brought about with the 1995 ValuJet accident and thier use of a company called SabreTech. Then consider the issues that occured from Engine repairs being performed by suspect third parties in Turkey for example. This type of scenario may have cost them less money for awhile..but look what it did in the not so long term. Sure ValuJet was able to roll thier remaining assets and cash into another carrier called AirTran...and eventually resume operations at a profit..but what they were is no longer as we knew it. That''s not a bad thing..but it''s a horrible way to learn a lesson , when lives are jeopardized and lost while doing the learning.
This issues regarding ValuJet''s problems is something that should continue to strike fear into every U employee..and the flying public as well.
Non-Maintenance related issues.
Studies and stories done by the media in the post Sept 11th world have been very critical of outsourcing...and rightfully so I might add.
Numbers of Subcontractors with AOA (Aircraft Operating Area) clearance have been found to be direct sources of potential security and safety related issues. The numbers of Sub-Contract Companies found to have forged documentation regarding ID issues and Citizenship is staggering. This is but another open invitation to allow enemies of our nation to exploit our weaknesses driven corporate concerns about profit..instead of public flying safety.
Subcontractors are also noted for having poor training programs..or little to no expierience with dealing with Acft themselves period. In many if not most cases , You have a person of limited education , suspect skills making a career choice. They ask themselves, Should I flip burgers or work at an airport? The fact that those options are financially inter-changeable should horrify John and Jane Q.Public to no possible end.
Issues of introducing more people like this into our work enviroment will ultimately lead to increased numbers of Ground Damaged Aircraft...thus chopping into our companies bottom line even farther. The securtity and training concerns only deepen the concerns that everyone should have.
I am always leary of companies that employ people to perform jobs..that a given company should be doing themselves...I have seen this in regard to many service related industries..Cable Television and Sears are two operations that quickly come to mind when I ponder lack lustre service from what it was prior to outsourcing it''s labor.
Weak comparison? Maybe?...but at least they are not working near or having free access to Aircraft that the general public and our combined families are flying on.
The aircraft operating area is no place for added Sub-Standard people..look at the turn-over among Sub-Contractors in Aircraft Fueling , Cleaning, and Frieght Handling...it''s beyond any acceptable reason. A given Subcontractor would go broke trying to keep things honest ..or keeping people properly trained with the revolving door of people they have. This is an area that major airlines never have to contend with...and this is related to getting the quality that they are , or should be obligated to pay for.
I suggest that all employee''s and valued customers register thier concerns with our leadership. The savings thier ideas pose will not be passed along...but what you will see or get on the surface , will be comprimised out of sight.
Enough is Enough...This company had better get cracking on fixing the real problems of revenue...instead of looking for placebo fixes that will create deeper problems for everyone in the end.
Outsourcing in itself is contrary to Labor Friendly pursuits Dave approached the rank and file with..and will only cheapen our product , instead of making it cheaper to operate as he desires.
Regarding Maintenance...Outsourcing of routine line maintenance will hamper day to day domestic operations. This will ultimately rain havoc on clearing MEL''s during thru-flights as well. This in itself is bad for a company operating in Chapter 11..Issues such as our MEL count are watched closely by the FAA..along with other things that current maintenance staffing keep in check to perfection. The flying public deserves and should demand nothing less!!
Contract Maintenance rarely if ever..delivers quality work , muchless timely results while doing so. This could prove a very hampering issue to Hub and Spoke flow-thru operations which USAirways is very dependant upon.
Many times contract labor has been used in stations where we either had maintenance at one point..or where we never had our own maintenance before. The results with the exception of Overseas operations have often led to delays or outright cancellations of flights. Some of this can be attributed to the contract work getting in the way of thier own companies obligations...or the complete lack of ability to handle the given task. This runs into costly Roadtrips from our major hubs , so the job can be done properly to begin with...So why multiply this issue any further?
The lessons of outsourcing are painfully obvious when one takes into account the issues brought about with the 1995 ValuJet accident and thier use of a company called SabreTech. Then consider the issues that occured from Engine repairs being performed by suspect third parties in Turkey for example. This type of scenario may have cost them less money for awhile..but look what it did in the not so long term. Sure ValuJet was able to roll thier remaining assets and cash into another carrier called AirTran...and eventually resume operations at a profit..but what they were is no longer as we knew it. That''s not a bad thing..but it''s a horrible way to learn a lesson , when lives are jeopardized and lost while doing the learning.
This issues regarding ValuJet''s problems is something that should continue to strike fear into every U employee..and the flying public as well.
Non-Maintenance related issues.
Studies and stories done by the media in the post Sept 11th world have been very critical of outsourcing...and rightfully so I might add.
Numbers of Subcontractors with AOA (Aircraft Operating Area) clearance have been found to be direct sources of potential security and safety related issues. The numbers of Sub-Contract Companies found to have forged documentation regarding ID issues and Citizenship is staggering. This is but another open invitation to allow enemies of our nation to exploit our weaknesses driven corporate concerns about profit..instead of public flying safety.
Subcontractors are also noted for having poor training programs..or little to no expierience with dealing with Acft themselves period. In many if not most cases , You have a person of limited education , suspect skills making a career choice. They ask themselves, Should I flip burgers or work at an airport? The fact that those options are financially inter-changeable should horrify John and Jane Q.Public to no possible end.
Issues of introducing more people like this into our work enviroment will ultimately lead to increased numbers of Ground Damaged Aircraft...thus chopping into our companies bottom line even farther. The securtity and training concerns only deepen the concerns that everyone should have.
I am always leary of companies that employ people to perform jobs..that a given company should be doing themselves...I have seen this in regard to many service related industries..Cable Television and Sears are two operations that quickly come to mind when I ponder lack lustre service from what it was prior to outsourcing it''s labor.
Weak comparison? Maybe?...but at least they are not working near or having free access to Aircraft that the general public and our combined families are flying on.
The aircraft operating area is no place for added Sub-Standard people..look at the turn-over among Sub-Contractors in Aircraft Fueling , Cleaning, and Frieght Handling...it''s beyond any acceptable reason. A given Subcontractor would go broke trying to keep things honest ..or keeping people properly trained with the revolving door of people they have. This is an area that major airlines never have to contend with...and this is related to getting the quality that they are , or should be obligated to pay for.
I suggest that all employee''s and valued customers register thier concerns with our leadership. The savings thier ideas pose will not be passed along...but what you will see or get on the surface , will be comprimised out of sight.
Enough is Enough...This company had better get cracking on fixing the real problems of revenue...instead of looking for placebo fixes that will create deeper problems for everyone in the end.
