Webcast Thoughts?!?

[pitguy]

Whoop..........whoop.............Crystal City is in panic mode..........Maybe they can start hiring consultants to post on here next......


Tic......toc........tic......toc............

 

[sentrido]

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.

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

I agree.

 

[Phantom Fixer]

Sorry....Damned double post. :huh:

 

[youngblood]

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

Reservations. And to give you a little insight........

My job is much more than just selling seats. We are literally doing our best to win the customers or keep them. On a daily basis I correct mistakes, protect passengers, find passengers, listen to some of the most vulgar things, help people with lost baggage claims, etc etc et etc.

I understand the need for technology and improvement. We've wanted it for a long time. There is nothing wrong with that; however, this company still needs us. Why? Because we still outsell the internet and we pull in the revenue. Let's say Dave does get e better internet site. We have an average of 150 to 250 calls on hold from approx. 8am to approx. 11pm 95% of the time. Any other time, its an average of 10 to 100 calls on hold. We are wroking with a skeleton crew and revenue suffers because of it. Simplified fares would be nice and would make us more productive; however, I truly don't believe it would make such a drastic change to account for more furloughed employees.

I listened to Dave target reservations. He's been doing it for some time now. For some reason he can't stand us. In all likelihood I will lose my job but until I do I won't work for less. If what I'm doing now pans out, then the rest won't have to worry about my "NO" vote. You see, I beat Dave to the punch. I've been looking and expanding my horizons in preparation for a brighter future.

 

[2BorNot2B]

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.)

Good Post! Makes me think of an old Ballad ....... let's see .... how did it go? ... "Where have all the Steel Mills gone? ..... Long time passing ..." or something like that!

 

[Kev3188]

Gato--

The fact that WN rampers and gate agents make more than most legacy carriers has been discussed on these boards ad nauseum. By the way, there are several 20yr.+ "baggage handlers" working for WN at my station. So when looking at in reverse, they are actually make over $3.00/hr. than I am for doing the same work.

 

[sentrido]

Good! From your description working in reservations isnt worth the low pay anyway.

 

[uza]

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

Not true

Lower end that are old enough can and will draw retirement, voting no makes that go away or at least diminish substantially.

 

[youngblood]

Good! From your description working in reservations isnt worth the low pay anyway.

I've come to realize that sad truth and when it does happen I will miss my coworkers dearly but dancing a jig inthe street knowing I had the fortitude to make a better life for myself and family.

 

[sentrido]

How do you know? I havent seen what would be voted on, have you?

 

[EyeInTheSky]

Hello Cat, I understand where you are coming from, but I don't agree with you.

Siegel seems to be genuinely interested in saving the airline.

If he is, we need to know THE PLAN not his thoughts. Employees aren't sheep.

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.

Au contraire.. anyone who has spent 32 years at this airline HELPED BUILD IT. If the company didn't want these people, they would have taken care of that decades ago.

Southwest and JetBlue are cheaper, more productive, and superior products. Ever wonder why?

Simply put, they learned what not to do from the big airlines and made it work for them. I don't think they have a superior product. We have higher costs because our employees have on average 20+ years. I guess taking care of a senior work force is a burden to some. I look at it differently, a senior work force is an asset not a liability as you state.

Siegel in my opinion wants to go to a Jetblue type of airline, with all the bells and whistles to attract customers thrown in.

Siegel needs to stop trying to model US Airways into other carriers and just get down to the business of making US Airways profitable. There are ways of doing that without demoralizing the work force.

fall prey to what I have learned to call "The Pittsburgh Mentality".

I don't know what you do at US Airways but look around Pittsburgh, these are good people, hard working and loyal to a fault. I would rather be around this "Pittsburgh Mentality" than in other areas of the country full of fake people. I admire the people of Pittsburgh (I was not born and raised here) these are the finest folks I've ever lived around in my life. Believe me, I've lived everywhere working for airlines. You are entitled to your opinion. However, if that's how you see it, I feel sorry for you. Just my opinion.

 

[tadjr]

You asked, so I'll be happy to oblige.

I love it when people talk what they know about.

WN agent scale ATO 21.50
WN agent scale Rez 21.17
US agent scale 20.30

Any comments?

You can also train an agent to "pull" tickets in 2 days, but good luck getting them to be able to use Sabre. I believe a new hire usually takes about a 2 week class to get to know Sabre. This isnt to become proficient, just to learn the basics, not to mention all the other rules and regulations, pass the required FAA training, etc.

Given these two INCORRECT statements alone, I'll take the rest of what you said with the same idea that you are aware of what you speak.

 

[youngblood]

How do you know? I havent seen what would be voted on, have you?

Is that directed at me? If so, how do I know what? Please elaborate.

 

[Phantom Fixer]

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

Not true

Lower end that are old enough can and will draw retirement, voting no makes that go away or at least diminish substantially.

Wrong loUZA,

The discussion was for those at the low end of the senority scale....not those within arms reach of retirement.

Try reading before replying for a welcome change.....and you ae supposed to be an example of managment? I think our condition is self-evident if so?

 

[sentrido]

"Is that directed at me? If so, how do I know what? Please elaborate. "
not you, uza