US Airways threatening to strike - should we support them?

[WorldTraveler]

Godspeed, bro (or sis)

 

[silverbird007]

This is for WT!! Enjoy!!

 

[WorldTraveler]

help us understand how a baby bottle has anything to do with labor cooperation between two merger partners.

 

[MetalMover]

help us understand how a baby bottle has anything to do with labor cooperation between two merger partners.

hmmmmmm : WAAAAAAAAAA! I WANT MY SIR RICHARD!!!!!!!!  WAAAAAAAAA! I WANT DL TO BE THE BIGGEST IN THE WORLD....

 

[MetalMover]

I think the point is that he is focusing on the topic at hand. I doubt if DL cares one iota.

 

If DL doesn't care....Why do you?

 

[WorldTraveler]

because I am not DL.

So, will the AA unions support the US unions and vice versa?

 

[Bob Owens]

because I am not DL.So, will the AA unions support the US unions and vice versa?

My vote is yes. If the IAM strikes we all go out. Whatever they get as far as wages we get. Their fight is our fight.

 

[MetalMover]

My vote is yes. If the IAM strikes we all go out. Whatever they get as far as wages we get. Their fight is our fight.

Good luck with that....

 

[MetalMover]

Good luck with that....

Wow,,a down vote on my rep.....wow...who cares really?   
 
Anyways, this comment of mine may not be with you think.
 
Mr. Owens, do realize that most people, especially the younger crowd that are getting into this business may feel fortunate enough to just get a job? Like we all did when we first began? While many might say "yea, strike", how many do you think would really walk? I recall being "informed" on the business that I chose when I first started, and like many of my peers, did not care or did not listen to the senior guys. I was young and had a good job.
What happened bad contract after bad contract? People still came to work, did their job.
I don't know about you, but my generation was quite different than todays.
 
Strike is not in their vocabulary. Social media, laptops, smartphones are more important from what I see. Taking "selfies" all day long, telling their Facebook friends how important they are by giving a detailed account of their day at work. 
 
We are in a different world with vast different priorities.
 
just my $.02

 

[Kev3188]

You may be right, but the better question is this:
 
America's working class has been conditioned to believe they're "just lucky to have a job" for years. Capital has leveraged that into gain after gain. How do we correct that mindset, and start reclaiming lost ground?
 
As for the millennial generation, I think they "get it" more than we think. Remember, they may be taking selfies all day, but they also watched their parents go through an economic wringer...
 
Just a thought...

 

[WorldTraveler]

Millennials and Ys and everyone else are smart enough to realize that there are hungry competitors out there who will take your company's business when they get an opportunity to do so.

Standing on principles is great and necessary but when you compete in a market where there are companies that can provide what their employees want and don't have labor unrest that can cripple the company, then those other companies have one more reason to win in the marketplace. If companies can't compete in the free market, then employees won't win.

If AA/US employees want to threat to try to receive what was promised to them and/or get back what they have invested to make their companies work, then they need to consider that there are airlines who will be standing in the wings ready to pounce at the least opportunity to win AA/US' revenue.

 

[Kev3188]

^ A roundabout way of saying "you're just lucky to have a job." ^

 

[WorldTraveler]

if you want to see it that way, go ahead. Most people are smart enough to know not to pick battles you can't win. And if your support of your principles has the potential to take bread off your table, most people think more than twice.

IN the case of labor representation in the airline industry, it doesn't take long to realize that the principles of labor might be great but labor unions have delivered next to nothing that non-union employees don't already enjoy.

Thus, it isn't hard to see why few are willing to take the risk.

It also doesn't change that a highly consolidated industry will make it much harder for labor to achieve what it wants since the impact of any strike will force action to prevent it and because stronger companies make it easier to squeeze customers and suppliers.
The DOJ took the revenue side of that equation.. there was no one who took the case of suppliers but supplier squeeze will happen.
Given that airline labor is the most controllable expense, you can bet that there will be enormous pressure to push labor rates further down.

 

[Kev3188]

^ A roundabout way of saying "you're just lucky to have a job." ^

 

[Flying low]

Wow,,a down vote on my rep.....wow...who cares really?   
 
Anyways, this comment of mine may not be with you think.
 
Mr. Owens, do realize that most people, especially the younger crowd that are getting into this business may feel fortunate enough to just get a job? Like we all did when we first began? While many might say "yea, strike", how many do you think would really walk? I recall being "informed" on the business that I chose when I first started, and like many of my peers, did not care or did not listen to the senior guys. I was young and had a good job.
What happened bad contract after bad contract? People still came to work, did their job.
I don't know about you, but my generation was quite different than todays.
 
Strike is not in their vocabulary. Social media, laptops, smartphones are more important from what I see. Taking "selfies" all day long, telling their Facebook friends how important they are by giving a detailed account of their day at work. 
 
We are in a different world with vast different priorities.
 
just my $.02

Not only that, but there are many that live beyond there means and living paycheck to paycheck. Those people can't afford to walk out and not receive a paycheck even for a day.