tvl64
Well now I know why you wanted a YES vote. So you can fly for less cost than it would be to drive. The cheap airfares translate into more bonus money for you, babe.
The working people of the airline industry, work odd hours, holidays, and weekends. They work in all sorts of weather. They keep you safe. In order to keep you safe they work under dangerous conditions. I'm not talking about a paper cut or carpel tunnel, I'm talking about real serious injuries that every mechanic has to think about while performing his duties. Flight controls, doors and other moving parts can easily kill. Just a few weeks ago the meat-wagon took one of our mechanics out who was nearly cut in half, except for the quick reaction of his coworker. We have several workers who are presently out with serious injuries in just this one station. They deserve a fair rate of pay and its unreasonable to expect them to bear the burden of providing you a cheap trip.
Why does it concern me? Well in order to answer that I'd have to explain how things, especially contracts, work in this industry. Quite frankly I don’t have the time but if you really want to know try reading; Hard Landing by Petzinger, Turbulent Skies by Heppenheimer, Airline Labor Law by Thomas, Airline Labor Relations by Cappelli.
Basically what it comes down to is that Airlines usually operate with thin margins. The downward movement on wages at USAIR will have a negative effect on the wages of other workers throughout the industry. With the industry pushing hard for S-1327 wages will be determined by an arbitrator instead of through negotiations. While that might not sound that bad, the guidelines that the arbitrator is to use include the profitability of the company and the ability to provide an ROI. So now the liability for the performance of the company is put on the workers instead of management. Ok toots? Now do you see?
