PITbull said:
Use Your Head, (Poster)
Nice try. I'll tell you what this union member gets.... Please don't tell me about your reality. Reality is this, IF you are a rank and file unionized employee, you are still on the property because you hold the seniority to do so. So I can understand how you want and need to be SAVED! And then again, if you are management, more than likely, you have been on the proeprty 18 months, again I emphatically understand how you want to be SAVED to continue your employment on the backs of who ever you can convince, or eliminate.
Just when will mangement "get it" that you can't shrink to profitability, and that they need to start addressing the revenue part of the equation, instead of labor costs over and over and over again. Or don't they know how? Or in your estimation, are they not to be held accountable for this matter we as a company find ourselves in????
PitBull,
I am a line employee, just like you, not management. I view the prospect of a job loss for me as a second choice as far as what I would prefer. It wound not be the end of the world. I do think my first choice, is a much better option. The reality is, although many say that there are other jobs out there, and that’s true, there are, the reality is they are no where near as good as the one we have here. I am honest with myself and others when talking about this jobs, job prospects, etc.
I hear out on the line, because I am a line pilot who flies a full schedule every month, that there is no plan; there is no leadership, etc. When I ask if they listen to the analyst conference calls, transportation conferences, and so on, the answer 99.999% of the time is no.
Well, the plan is (as reiterated as recent as yesterday) to park mainline aircraft down to 279 (which is done), and get a bunch of smaller jets flown by other pilots, and worked by other ground folks. 185 70-seat jets will pick up much of the market share that has been dropped since 9-11. And then there is the other 300 50-seat jets coming online as well. That is the plan, the mainline shrinking is largely over, except shrinking headcount due to attrition, the slack picked up by work rule changes. The growth is MidAtlantic, and wholly owned Jets4Jobs participants, as well as contract carriers.
Do I like this? I hate it! I have been adversely affected in a BIG way. What are my options? Our options?
Well, I could just quite, or take a LOA. I have already re-enrolled in College getting a new career started, if I need to go that direction.
I could also do my part to make US Airways a success, by continuing to be a professional, and not lower myself to the level that management has seemed to sink to. Do I believe we should enforce our contract...YES, Do I believe management should live up to their promises...YES!
On the other hand, do I see the economic realities clearly? You know, college has really opened my eyes, in a big way. In my late 40s, I am in school with others my age, younger and older...one thing is clear listening to everyone’s experience...it is a very cold and difficult world out there. Ours is not the only industry to have gone through times like these.
The bottom line is we adapt or die, no one cares...except maybe...us. We will be a party to either making US Airways a success, or joining our place in history next to Eastern, PanAm, Braniff, Midway, and the list goes on.
Now, do I think management can do better on the revenue side...yes, should they be held accountable...yes. It is not all labor costs, which is proven by watching our prior management teams flounder through the last two decades.
Labor costs are but one (the largest) piece of the pie, probably explaining the big bulls eye on them. NWA, DAL, UAL, AA, they all have their hands in labors pockets. The sad sad truth is, the ones who are successful in getting lower costs, through both management execution, as well as labor cost reductions are the ones who will be left standing. Conversely, the groups who "hold the line" are going to become members of the chapter 7 club. AA and UAL have already drastically cut, washing out much of the effect of our givebacks to date, the others are a year or so behind. And the already low cost providers are headed our way just as quickly as they can take delivery of aircraft.
I wish things were different....
BTW, I will add a comment to those who would like to see Siegel and team thrown-out. I remember when the call was to throw Gangwal out after the failure of the UAL-US merger...my comment was then, "Be careful what you wish for, you might get it." That seemed crazy to many at the time, since then, I have heard many on this forum wish Gangwal was still here...he was a man of his word, and so on.
While I will be the first to telegraph this group as extremely labor unfriendly, probably largely lead by Glass, but certainly endorsed, if not designed by Siegel, I think we should realize that there are far worse out there...Iccan for example.
I will say it again today, we should be careful what we wish for....
