Why Did They Come Back?

[USA320Pilot]

Twicebaked:

Twicebaked said: "Being pi**d off 80% of your life is not healthy."

USA320Pilot comments: Excellent point!

Respectfully,

USA320Pilot

 

[Mike W]

Being Pi**sed on 80% of your life ain't healthy either!

 

[ktflyhome]

Being pissed off period in your life is NOT healthy. Anyone needing Anger Management classes??????? :huh:

 

[Light Years]

I think we all need to sit back and take a breath here. US Airways MidAtlantic division has been in operation for what, a week? and look at the drama already.

We are already fighting each other. The very title of this thread is insulting. I wouldnt have dared turn to my CSD on a flight to Rome and say "Why is your fat ass still working? You need to go home. Your taking up space, both in the galley and on the seniority list." <_< I dont ask anyone why they commute, why they work where they do, or why they are with who they are with.

So what gives anyone the right to question a co-workers motive in going to work? MidAtlantic employees are US Airways employees. Many of you who are US Airways employees may end up being MidAtlantic employees. I'm going to ask that the attitude towards the MAA people stop right here. We could just as well ask some of you why you still work at US. The MAA people can do without the holier than thou attitude or advice as to what career choices they make... particularly from anyone at this company. <_<

I will return to MAA. I guess by going I am lowering my standards, but again, those standards were chosen FOR me by my senior peers. Guess they dont think I'm worth much. I am worth much more, we all are. I will go to MAA with a positive attitude, but I'll also work towards positive change however I can.

Fighting and sniping at each other here is fruitless. We're on the same side. What we're fighting is a conflicting ideology of the flight attendant profession. We feel our job is a proud profession with a rich history, a culture and identity in itself- we are airline people. Flight Attendant is a career, and a rewarding and challeging one.

The public, airline management, and our competition dont seem to feel this way. We are fighting the LCC and commuter flight attendants (not the people, but the idea) who will do our jobs for frighteningly low levels of compensation and work rules. Ironically the Southwest F/As are starting to feel differently. We're competing with the people who are willing to work for the Mesas of the world, willing to make less than they did working at Wawa. I've never seen an airline have trouble hiring F/As- keeping them, maybe.

They have been made to feel unworthy by slick management. Historically, F/As have always been made to feel that they are lucky to have thier job. They must commit to years of sacrifice of a family/social life, thier time and even preference of where to live in return for the thrill of being a F/A. You will never convince this stew that I should be making less than a high school dropout at a fast food joint. In the real world, 20, 30k is nothing. Matching 401(k) and free medical are nothing. We have been conditioned to feel that we are not worthy of the things that trained professionals in other fields take for granted. Spouse abusers do the same thing. I love what I do, but thats been taken advantage of. Its ironic that love of your job and seniority are the two things that cause the most pain and keep us in these awful positions.

I'm rambling again. I just dont understand how people fall for divide and conquer strategies so easily. Lets work together. Its worth saving.

 

[PITbull]

Sacrifice???Try saying that to 15 year Reserves in Pit and all over the Mainline right now. Parking Passes. Mainline gets passes to those airports at which they are based. Period. Commuting??? Reserves are living in hotels everywhere on Mainline paying upwards of $300 a week, sitting OPR and not flying. The average flight time these days for Mainline reserves is MAYBE 40 hours a month. Hardly anyone is breaking guarantee. It is costing many to come to work!!!!!

Sorry, it was a choice to go to MAA. I personally will, as I said before burn a red-light on my front porch. Same thing.

Medical!! I personally paid 80/20 for years until we got Blue Cross. Actually, for many people who did not live in areas like Pit that had Health America, our coverage was very poor and costly. Unfortunately, for me, I had major medicals during that time. Wish I would have had then what I have now.

I myself and others hardly can get a trip, then IF we do, we are reassigned. I am sorry, I have a hard time being real sympathetic towards MAA. That was a choice and even with 5 years, there are many, many reserves at US Mainline who have taken tremendous pay cuts and hardship. Trying saying anything 15 years and under.

Southwest is hiring. I know of a Mainliner that just got hired among others.

Kt,

You talk about not getting your time in and paid only a guarantee...try MAA who have baically the same system (First in/First out) and only get their guarantee at HALF you pay. My HMO was much better and cheaper than the PPO today. And MAA had option #1 ONLY. No choice.

From my perch...MAA f/as have the worst condition.

 

[ktflyhome]

Twicedbaked: As a good friend of mine who just got hired on with SW said. It is in her blood and she likes the lifestyle that being a F/A provides. When you are young to the industry you don't often question or delve in to all the particulars. You are happy that you were accepted. Plain and simple. You are naive in many ways and just Happy to be inluded amongst the rank and file. I know I was. When I first started years ago, all I heard was bitching, moaning and complaining from all the F/A's right and left. I was just happy to be there and working and looking forward to having a career. Do I feel differently today. Sure Do. Would I go to MAA. Sure NOT. Do I look down upon MAA F/A's for accepting this??? No. I give them alot of credit. They have something still in there hearts that I have seemed to have lost. But as former mainline F/A 's they are somewhat more savvy to the industry then the brand new hires off the street. In many respects they knew more what they were getting into this time around then maybe when they were first hired off the streets by US for mainline. I know I would.

 

[PITbull]

Twice,

Great, now you have USA320 pilot agreeing with you.I

What is wrong with this picture? Oh yea, I forgot it must be me <_< Forgive me, I forgot to change.

One thing I want to say to you Twice and I'm done...your human condition has changed, and you changed with it. Maybe that is good and I know its good for you.

But, you forgot the others.

 

[ktflyhome]

Pitbull, now you have me worried. I believe it might become a conflict of interest for the Pit LEC President to try and represent 2 different entities at this time. Mainline should not be held responsible or feel badly for what has been put upon MAA. I know< I for one had nothing to do with the goings on of MAA. I did not vote for anything regarding MAA. Mainline is NOT responsible for them not having medical at this time or for their pay.

All, I can say, from my perch is that my medical is better and those accepting a position with MAA KNEW what they were taking.

I want to make this clear, that it is very pertinent at this time that Mainline is represented with clear thought and energy that is deserving of the many who have dedicated their lives to this industry and to their jobs.

It may be getting a bit difficult to wear 2 hats. <_<

 

[PITbull]

LIGHT YEARS,

Your post above is so well written and so very on point, my friend.


YOU, keep the faith alive for all of us

 

[PITbull]

Pitbull, now you have me worried. I believe it might become a conflict of interest for the Pit LEC President to try and represent 2 different entities at this time. Mainline should not be held responsible or feel badly for what has been put upon MAA. I know< I for one had nothing to do with the goings on of MAA. I did not vote for anything regarding MAA. Mainline is NOT responsible for them not having medical at this time or for their pay.

All, I can say, from my perch is that my medical is better and those accepting a position with MAA KNEW what they were taking.

I want to make this clear, that it is very pertinent at this time that Mainline is represented with clear thought and energy that is deserving of the many who have dedicated their lives to this industry and to their jobs.

It may be getting a bit difficult to wear 2 hats. <_<

Kt,

This is where you have forgotten the historical perspective.. And I need to make clear, .the majority of the f/as voted in MAA and the workrules, benefits and wages in the summer and winter ratification. (Reread your restructuring agreements).

You also fail to understand that MAA is a "division" not a wholly owned and not separate. They are just "B scale", that we all voted in. Whether you personally voted "for" or not, the majority did.

You also fail to realize that we are on ONE seniority list. The wholly owns are not on our seniority list. These are our f/as that have gone to MAA as their jobs on mainline have been eliminated so that we may keep our jobs on mainline. Seniority right?

With regard to the PIT Pres. you don't know her energy. She has been wearing many hats for 3 years, you just hadn't noticed.

The f/as at MAA need Local 40 just as much as mainline, and WE ALL PAY THE SAME DUES. AND DESERVE REPRESENTATION. MAA is not large enough yet to have their own local. But they will in about a year or so if U still remians.

MAA does have 2 appointed Reps as well.

 

[ktflyhome]

Kt,

You talk about not getting your time in and paid only a guarantee...try MAA who have baically the same system (First in/First out) and only get their guarantee at HALF you pay. My HMO was much better and cheaper than the PPO today. And MAA had option #1 ONLY. No choice.

From my perch...MAA f/as have the worst condition.

First of all Pitbull, we do not have such thing as First in, First out. We have LTO. That basically means first in last out. Secondly, most all mainline F/A's would have twice as many years in the industry than MAA would have at this time. How can you possibly justify your statement about min. quarantee being 1/2 of ours????? Most MAA probably would just only be reaching "A" pay by now.

This just one more thing to divide and conquer and you are getting wrapped up in it. I am surprised.

 

[PITbull]

I am attempting to take you from your "us and them" and bring you in the realm of together and one senority list. The Vol. furlough list has 3200 f/as still out on furlough. If all were to come back, this would create an INVOL furlough of back to 1988. Where would many of us be then?

That is what is humbling and what we all need to ponder. You should not be surprised. I do not take my station in life, and not see where others are in the parameter.

PS: I bring up 1/2 the guarantee pay to give you a prospective. Don't take this somewhere else.

 

[ktflyhome]

I want to know, How in the world have the people who went to MAA allowed me to keep my job. The company offers them the option. If No one takes this option they hire off the street, which has been the inference many times on these boards. MAA is not keeping my job at mainline.

Furthermore, when I was first starting out on "B" scale, I would gather that my min. quarantee for the month would just about what MAA is making right now. Actually, less.

Furthermore, I understand wholly owned vs. division and all you just said. I understand the voting of the majority, and seniority.

As far as the historical perspective, sorry, but most people do not go about their day to day lives thinking or absorbing the "historical perspective".

I am sure the Pit AFA Pres. has worn many hats, but I think in this case there could be a conflict of interest if things are not kept in perspective.

 

[PITbull]

Kt,

Well, no matter what President sits in Local #40, MAA if based in Pittsburgh will be under local 40. If another base opens in CLT or PHL, those presidents will have to represent respectively. That is a "division". Like it or not.


When the PIttsburgh Pres took office in 2001, there were 3,000 in PIT, largest crew base in the system. We are now 1,117.

Actually, to be blunt, those more senior folks who are on VF have permitted many of us to remain on mainline, otherwise it would go back to seniority 1988 on the street, MAA or not.

 

[ktflyhome]

Exactly, MAA, or not. My point being. MAA just started this month. Those that chose it, chose it. Also, case in point. It is the VF that are keeping Mainline jobs, not MAA. If the company shrinks more, If concessions are not met and more layoffs are forthcoming, MAA will not save my job on the Mainline.

I am not against MAA, I am just saying that these people were given a choice to go there. I know this for a fact, because my best friend was given the package. She was one of the ones jerked around with this last 200 involuntary fiasco. Yes, she still has her job, BECAUSE AFA won the expedited arbitration from the Company on VF being first offered. She still has her job because of that. NOT MAA.