Webcast Thoughts?!?

[OldGuyinPA]

Sure alot of Newbies..Tonight...

David doesn't seem to have the same confidence that he had when he first came onboard. It's clear that he has no plan and is grasping for straws. Most people will stay to the end, and look for other employment while awaiting the final days.

No more David.....No More. The employees have had enough.

 

[youngblood]

What details are you talking about. All I heard was the same mantra that's been shoved down our throats from day one. They've been talking about productivity, fare structure, better internet site and we have yet to see any of it. The fact is I already make less than someone at Southwest and that includes benefits. Only idiots can't see that the problems go beyond labor costs. We have done our part.

 

[Phantom Fixer]

There are two very difficult choices to make:

1. Surrender further pay and work rules to a management team that appears to
lack the vision and direction needed to execute a successful turn-around plan.

OR

2. Politely refuse Mr. Seigal's request to open contracts and risk the real possibilty
of USAirways selling assets and liquidating.

As a former USAir employee, I really feel for you all. There is no easy or right answer. I can understand the misgivings some of you have about reopening your contracts. Mr. Seigal hasn't presented a compelling case. He alienated his target audience with remarks such as "if you don't like it, then quit" and references to ALPA. I get the sense that most of you are realistic about USAirways' plight, but are reluctant to conceed further to a management team that you no longer have confidence in. I wish you guys the best of luck.

Signed,

Jamake former PSA/USAir (CCR)

Hmmm,

It's not as simple as playing along with Dave or not?...and you forgot an aspect of the options that may sway people away from even considering what he's presented. The "deal breaker" being the word Furloughs.

Those at the ower end of the senority scale will have a number of reasons to not support these requests.

(1) A furlough is still looming , whether you play along or not? I think Dave made a direct shot as to the future of those in the reservations department alone. Remember the question posed by the 25 year veteran of that department..and Dave's technology replacement reply to the question...or the Kiosks and the alike that will replace more and more people over a shorter period of time than most can find any comfort in.

(2) A potential furloughee will also be motivated to collect higher un-employment compensation based on a higher (current wage) Vs. a concessionary level. Why would someone on the low end of the senority list vote Yes to shooting him or herself in the foot? , unless you just have an overwhelming loyalty to those whom might be able to stay and play until it dies from lack of oxygen to the brain anyway.

(3) PIT's future now seems more up in the air than ever....link that to the ability of walking away from the Res Center leases and Dave's comments about Reservation functions of the future...and you can get a picture for a potential end game there.

(4) Fleet tweeking , Outsourcing of Maintenance and the ability to walk away from PIT high cost structure , also spells out clearly how bad it can get for maintenance there....then you will see a ripple effect that will equal a tidal wave throughout the rest of the system. "The Domino Effect"

(5) Scheduling adjustments will lower the headcount for Pilots , Flight Attendants and etc. God help those whom are already hurting based on the new FA reserve system....how much lower can they afford to stay for?....or even want too? How many toward the bottom are going to eagerly vote themselves lower un-employment compensation for the good of the team? I think many see the team as being only those whom are at the top or within arms reach of retirement.

The issues are limitless...and the ramifcations of the choices don't bid well for the future either way , as it was pointed out in the webcast , Dave's ability to see the future or react to it , has not had the best track record to date. I wonder if some would feel differently if they knew Dave was going to be exercised out as a condition of accepting their terms?

 

[jack mama]

I wonder what Dave's real wish list would look like if there were no union contracts.

 

[sentrido]

I collected unemployment In PA. It maxes out at about 22K. Anybody who gets laid off from U would max out, even after a pay reduction.

 

[crazyincanton]

Last one to leave, turn out the lights.




HERE'S THE PLAN!
WHERE'S THE BEEF?

 

[NCFL]

These posts make me more depressed than the airline in general.... Can I hear a HERE HERE

HERE HERE!!! These folks all sound like they are entitled to their jobs and that if their company goes out of business, there are a jillion jobs available in the airline industry that will match their seniority, pay, vacation time, etc. It's really disgusting. I'm sure my commentary will draw some sort of fire from the bully pulpit, but so be it.

 

[youngblood]

I collected unemployment In PA. It maxes out at about 22K. Anybody who gets laid off from U would max out, even after a pay reduction.

I received unemployment in PA too. Difference between us? I make 22k a year at U. If I take more pay cuts and stay, my unemployment wouldn't max out. Don't assume, get the facts first. There are more people in my position than you think. Not all of UAIR's employees are topped out.

 

[savyinvestor]

Where is Pitbull ? Cornfield? Hurry Back! Savy

 

[sentrido]

Sorry,
If you dont mind me asking, what do you do there that pays so little?

 

[El Gato]

Greetings, I am new to this board. I have been a lurker for several years now, just reading the posts of everyones thoughts and opinions. I have joined here, because I feel now more than ever some alternate points of view are needed here. I cannot say exactly who I am or I work for, due to recent corporate rules, but I think you get the idea. PIT is my home(for now), and I have been here for a few years now.

I just finished watching the webcast, and I have derived from it two thoughts:

1. Siegel seems to be genuinely interested in saving the airline. I would say he pulled no punches, gave the brutal facts as they should have been given and did not attempt to sugar coat anything. It can all be done, but everyone is going to bleed at once.

2. I am convinced, from gauging the thoughts of people on here such as OldGuyinPIT, PITBull, DellDude and others, that it is more than likely that the company will fall prey to what I have learned to call "The Pittsburgh Mentality". This train of thought is that a union man is entitled to having a wage or benefit structure that is higher than the actual value of the work performed, and that it would be better to "kill the company" than to give in based on principle. Examples of this abound in PIT and PHL. A ticket agent, or a baggage handler, or even a flight attendant is by, and large, an easily filled or replacable worker. It takes a day or two to train a new worker for the job, and consequently should be a low wage job at that..."A monkey's job deserves monkey's pay". In addition, no self respecting individual should consider trying to make a career out of that job. But that is exactly what US seems to have....32 years as a BAGGAGE HANDLER, now retiring...60 year old f/a's...ticket agents who were once selling tickets on DC-3's, etc. This is part of the problem.

Southwest and JetBlue are cheaper, more productive, and superior products. Ever wonder why? Let's compare some workers: We have ticket agents getting $20.00 an hour for the EXACT same work that a WN agent is getting at most $14.00 for. The same holds true for their rampers and f/a's. In fact, at Jetblue and Southwest, there are only 3 groups of people who get significant wages - and they are all licensed workers. Pilots, mechanics, and dispatchers. Only the upper echelons of management come close. Thus, they are cost efficient in the sense that their labor costs are cheap. The number of pilots is small when productivity is taken into account, the mechanics and dispatchers are small in number. The rest of the airline comes up with a lower, but fair wage cost structure.

This is the goal. Siegel in my opinion wants to go to a Jetblue type of airline, with all the bells and whistles to attract customers thrown in. Whether the unions will play ball with the idea or not remains to be seen. Killing the company is not the answer - destroying the jobs and hopes of co-workers just so you can feel good is not right, not fair, not good. Somehow, people need to come to their senses, wake up and realize that there are no jobs ou there right now(Otis elevator is NOT hiring wrenchers!), other airlines don't want our people because of the "full pay to the last day" reputation we have gained thanks to overzealous union voices, and once your out of a job and unemployed, you have about ZERO hope of ever gaining a job that comes close in pay or benefits.

Ok, I am done ranting and spouting. Feel free to flame me or take me to task, but I stand by my words here.


-El Gato B)

 

[savyinvestor]

And what is your job? Curious minds would find this helpful. Savy

 

[Phantom Fixer]

I collected unemployment In PA. It maxes out at about 22K. Anybody who gets laid off from U would max out, even after a pay reduction.

OK....but U's reach and impact on the employee group extends past the borders of the Commonwealth of Pa. ...and accordingly the rules vary from state to state , then you have the issue of drawing less in severence pay when the furloughs are handed down to the lower end of the senority scale....and we have NO idea how far this will reach into any area...but as Dave noted , It will impact every aspect in one fashion or another.

The issue is....The lower end has no reason or motivation to vote themselves a lower exiting salary.

 

[ITRADE]

So they want to do away with F class? Say goodbye to about 3/4 of the very frequent fliers. This is one of the few things which distinguishes them from the LCC's they want to fight--if they pull it they really have their head in the sand.

They did not say they were. They were looking at options - that happend to be an option.

They want to reconfigure the aircraft? How? ADD seats? If that happens say goodbye--like someone said they should use the HP or AS model NOT WN.

They said they were look at AS and HP. Dave specifically praised both carriers.

Where is the plan? Where are the rational fares? Let's see it. The problem is it doesn't exist. All this did was bring morale lower than it already was.

Dave said the fares are coming. So, cool down.

PDT had Q200's not 300's in the past--and I rode them a few times. What a difference!!!

Yes, they did have 300s. I took one from TYS to CLT.

 

[oheck]

I wonder what Dave's real wish list would look like if there were no union contracts

More Kiosk machines.