To Our Union Membership

[chele5]

I have seen posts here that reflect "fear" talking. People will settle for something at any cost, when they should be standing for something at all cost.

Don't back down.
Even at the cost of my job (and I am the main provider in my family at this time), I will not give in. I will not cross a picket line and I will not let division among my group succeed.

We may all lose our jobs, yes that is true. And it very well may happen no matter what we do. But we have to stand up to this - if we don't - no one will and this behavior from corporate America will continue and the unions will lose in the end. Divided we will fall.

Our fathers, grandfathers and great-grandfathers did not give up everything - including their lives (see Western Pa history on unions/strikes) for us to give up on our unions and cross picket lines.
They gave up their lives so we could have a union!

What happens to U and our unions will be repeated by other companies if U is successful in breaking the contracts. You can take that to the bank.

Negotiate - not demand. Compromise, ok. Work out a FAIR AND REASONABLE contract - ok. I would like to see us survive, yes. But not on the backs of the unions only. All should have taken a 21% cut, not a few and that was one of the biggest mistakes the company made.

 

[Trin03]

Here, Here! Well said!

CWA ( and the other the other unions) need to stand up and be firm. Last night I was talking to a family member of mine. We were discussing how "quiet" cwa is in all of this.

By saying that I mean, the articles in the paper on the news reports do not fairly indicate the struggle and sacrafices that the empoyees are making to support the hundred(s) thousand dollar salaries of CCY's elite.

Sure they report the baggage problem in Phl and report the 21% paycut, where is that in an article connected with the big bonuses and salaries being given upstairs?

More of this should be shared in the court of public opinion, so that it is known that baggage problems are not the results of employees calling in sick, but short staffed shifts.

 

[usfliboi]

Back down from what? Unions are in no position to demand anything... Time will tell but this management team (like it or not) will suceed in revamping this airline , with or without labors help.......

 

[twoturnin]

If all the unions had anything to bargin for it might be different--we dont. Dignity of the job at all costs wont pay bills or put food on the table or make mawmaw's house payment. Pretty tall talk unless your a milllionair or have another job to run off too--or better yet might be a good thing to do--just leave if the job is this tough. Just my thoughts in todays airline climate.

 

[insp89]

Back down from what? Unions are in no position to demand anything... Time will tell but this management team (like it or not) will suceed in revamping this airline , with or without labors help.......

[post="199530"][/post]​

-OR the possibility exists this airline could be forced into liquidation [like it or not] with or without managements help..You're right about one thing, Time will Tell.

 

[firstamendment]

The bottom line is if management wants US Airways to survive, it will. They have the courts on their side if contracts fail. They continue the "capitulate or liquidate" mantra, which tells me they really DON'T care about the remaining employees and their families. If this group REALLY cared, they would have cut management's salary 21%, but they made every excuse under the sun and they love when people some how come up with ways to support their arrogant notions. This has highly p###ed me off and I still haven't and will not get over it.

And USfliboy, why NOT fight? Like I said, they are going to do what they want to do, so what does it hurt to plea one's case and put up a fight? Like I said, if they want it to survive, it will. They DO have the power.

Ever watched the movie "What's Love Got To Do With It" about Tina Turner and Ike? Ike would beat the crap out of Tina over and over and then throw a gift at her with a this is the last time...But guess what? There was never a last time. It repeated itself over and over and over until Tina had ENOUGH!! She lost everything but her namesake, but rose back as one of the all time greats.

Well, US Airways is Ike and the employees are Tina. Individually many have had it and left. Why not stand together collectively and fight back and take a stand? If we keep letting them come back with their logic of we need no more, and then come back beating us for more, we become no better then Tina Turner living in her fear and letting the arrogant Ike Turners, a.ka. US Airways smuggly get their way by coming back and beating her (us) up for more. It is abuse. One is domestic and the other is coorperate and the later should be illegal because it is just as bad.

So why not? Had Tina not fought back and stood up for herself, she would probably be dead. With about 90% of analyst giving us a 10% chance to survive, at least MAYBE we can stop or attempt to stop the tide of coorperate rape and abuse. If we're going to go under anyway, I would at least like to know that maybe I helped stop the tide of lies and coorperate rape so that our brothers and sister's at the other surviving carriers stand a chance.

This fight is no longer about money and contracts, but greed and the ability to scare labor, union and non-union alike that they should just shut up and take what they get when across the world our working standards and conditions (i.e increase rise in reguired overtime) are falling behind the rest of the civilized world.

But then again, I have never seen much civility in the American business model.

 

[WestCoastGuy]

The bottom line is if management wants US Airways to survive, it will.

This fight is no longer about money and contracts, but greed and the ability to scare labor, union and non-union alike that they should just shut up and take what they get when across the world our working standards and conditions (i.e increase rise in reguired overtime) are falling behind the rest of the civilized world.

But then again, I have never seen much civility in the American business model.

[post="199547"][/post]​

 

[WestCoastGuy]

You are so right about the above post. This company is out for one thing only now...grab as much as they can from labor. They could have very easily just asked for a 23% paycut across the board from all groups, but Glass decided to divide and conquer groups against each other and the stronger groups got less taken and the weaker groups are being picked over like vultures over prey. How can he possibly justify almost a 50% give back, or more, after the benefits are taken in, from one group and not the other? If you can not survive and feed your family for his poverty wage level, what difference is it, if you fight and take a stand and possibly have the company liquidate? Either way, your life with this company is finished.

 

[aafsc]

Back down from what? Unions are in no position to demand anything... Time will tell but this management team (like it or not) will suceed in revamping this airline , with or without labors help.......

[post="199530"][/post]​

Before the EAL strike, EAL was losing $1 million dollars a day. After the strike, with minimum wage scab help, they were losing $3 million dollars a day. And this was in a much better economic enviroment. Usfliboi, if everyone walks, except for the pilots of course, U is gone.

 

[twoturnin]

If the job is this bad just leave--why worry and get caught up in all the hopla. Get those resumes typed up .

 

[firstamendment]

If the job is this bad just leave--why worry and get caught up in all the hopla. Get those resumes typed up .

[post="199563"][/post]​

TwoTurn In,

Why is it that when one has an opinion it is always "just leave"? The issue isn't the job being bad. I love what I do. If you work for a company who values you and treats you with the utmost respect and encourages you instead of insults you, wow!!! That is great!! Send me an application. But this is not a US Airways thing. This is a big business thing and as we see, the most successful companies are those who treat their employees AND customers well.
The airlines just so happen to epitomize the worst of this,except for say SWA. It is so easy to tell people to just leave but I have been a human being for a good 42 years and most humans have the need for a tad bit of encouragement and reward. But now we have all these jobs that the "president" that the other 50 million voted into office who claims to have created , but most pay $8-$9 an hour...half of what use to be...plus healthcare that is out of control.

Do you work for US? Has your company lowered your pay 21%? Well, right now we are upset and have the right to be upset when our management team takes a 5% decress after a 4% increase. Maybe your company does that and you find that appropriate. I do not!!

I always enjoy watching the History Channel when they talk of the Holocaust. It is such a lesson in humanity and how easy it is to let people manipulate, humiliate, and anialate a group of people. Sorry if this offense anyone, but silence does equal death. In this case, the death of quality of life and we all walk around with the "well I should just shut up cause I gotta job". It is Cooperate Nazism and a true labor Holocaust.

I am glad you are happy where you are. If the right offer comes that satisfies me, hey, I would love to say buh bye, but the market IS tight. Why portray folks like me as bullies or ungrateful workerbees because we want to make life better for the American worker?

 

[Rico]

Yeah, you guys are probably right, the chance to work together to salvage something together is too far gone. Might as well just shut down, and skip all of the hassle and headache.

It seems that this is far too personal to many, when in reality it is just business. Too hard to get that point across, so might as well just end it now. No more complaining, no more concessions, nothing, just over.

I realize that the planes and gates can be used in a far better fashion. But I still feel sad to add US Airways to the notorious list of failed carriers such as TWA, Eastern, Pan Am..., But hey, if this place cannot be salvaged now, why bother trying anymore...?

Why not place all of us out of work as soon as possible, so we can all get away from the needless stress and hassle that recent times have brought, so we can all enjoy the upcomng Holidays with our families at home not having to go to any job anymore.

Why not move aside, so someone new can come in and take our place? Some cheaper. newer, less encumbered airline that can fly our passengers instead.

Afterall, if there is no flexibility left in the remaining workgroups, then there is no seems to be no need to drag this affair out any further, is there...? So enough talk, let's dive head first into the new reality of our future without US Airways. Vote-Smote, Strike talk is babble talk, lets drop the pretense and start looking for new employment as soon as possible.

Does that sound better...?

 

[usfliboi]

Everyone isnt going to walk, first of all it continues to amaze me the denial that some on here have. THIS ISNT A USAIRWAYS issue. This is industry wide. All airlines will have major major changes before its over with. That is reality. All airline employees have a choice. If you do not like it here LEAVE. Go find another job paying better rates and benefits. Fire the Unions...... they are worthless now. They were good at one time, but no longer...... Any one wanna argue that?????????????????????? Its sickening because most people at this company work hard and are loyal. Then theres some union employees who were so spoiled and so lazy, now they are being called out. WORK more for less or leave, or be ejected. I have every right to speak my mind just as some of you do because im right there. There are employees and ill say the majority of them dont feel the way a few in the minority do on here.Proof? If they did we would already be shut down.......... Like it or not , change has come and more tooo come.... No amount of bs from a certain afa leader in pit will change that. Its politics now in the union. Shes wanting the pres job. He is going out for what? He didnt say what some wanted him to say. I urge all employees who hate it here so bad, to leave. Otherwise, your motives are obvious. Do you not have confidence in your ablities to gain a higher paying job? Maybe another airline will pay you more.... NOT! Gloves are off folks, Im tired of the likes of a certain few who love nothing better to blame everything on mangement. This is industry wide, and it just gets worse.

 

[firstamendment]

Rico

I feel most would just like an honest answer as to what US Airways REALLY wants to do. If you want to liquidate, just do it. Just stop all the lies about caring about us and then making decisions that contradict what is said. I can live with not having US around, but it's kidnapping someone, tying them up, gagging them and threatening a slow death just to do it anyway. SO, just make up your mind so we can get on with it. We aren't THAT fragile. I would like to do what I do but if it is going to come to and end, just make up your mind.

My apps and resume's are out and if the right thinng comes along, it will be adios.

 

[firstamendment]

Everyone isnt going to walk, first of all it continues to amaze me the denial that some on here have. THIS ISNT A USAIRWAYS issue. This is industry wide. All airlines will have major major changes before its over with. That is reality. All airline employees have a choice. If you do not like it here LEAVE. Go find another job paying better rates and benefits. Fire the Unions...... they are worthless now. They were good at one time, but no longer...... Any one wanna argue that?????????????????????? Its sickening because most people at this company work hard and are loyal. Then theres some union employees who were so spoiled and so lazy, now they are being called out. WORK more for less or leave, or be ejected. I have every right to speak my mind just as some of you do because im right there. There are employees and ill say the majority of them dont feel the way a few in the minority do on here.Proof? If they did we would already be shut down.......... Like it or not , change has come and more tooo come.... No amount of bs from a certain afa leader in pit will change that. Its politics now in the union. Shes wanting the pres job. He is going out for what? He didnt say what some wanted him to say. I urge all employees who hate it here so bad, to leave. Otherwise, your motives are obvious. Do you not have confidence in your ablities to gain a higher paying job? Maybe another airline will pay you more.... NOT! Gloves are off folks, Im tired of the likes of a certain few who love nothing better to blame everything on mangement. This is industry wide, and it just gets worse.

[post="199567"][/post]​

I agree with much of what you have said, but please...oh please...never let management off the hook for their failures, for it is US Airways managment skills that are taught in university business schools as to how NOT to run a company...AND it is Herb Keller who gave three reason's for the success of SWA...
1. USAir
2. USAir
3. USAir

I have seen no where anywhere on the failure of labor except that we keep loosers around that should have been fired ions ago.

I know this is an industry problem but we are the Grand Price Winner Blue Ribbon in that department.