- Aug 20, 2002
- 889
- 0
Folks,
We have all made major concessions here and at other airlines to "save" our airlines. We've swallowed many bitter pills in the form of pay cuts, loss of benefits and loss of jobs. During this time, many of us were forced to move or commute to preserve our jobs so we could continue to feed our families and pay our bills. As much as we may have hated it, we thought we were doing the best thing, hoping our shared sacrifices would stabilize the company and those laid off would be recalled.
We struggled to maintain a level of service that wasn't making us proud of the product but at least keeping the company afloat until it could be turned around. We apologized to our most valued customers as many of the things they had come to expect from US Airways disappeared. In my experience, most of our VFF's understood and were supportive of us, the employee. While our management appeared to muddle its way through these tough times, we tried to keep a stiff upper lip and did the best we could. Understaffed, undermined and kept in the dark about all things except "certain liquidation" we ran ourselves ragged, still hoping better days were ahead.
Yes, it's been embarrassing to serve FC with plastic cups and paper napkins. It's been disturbing to have to wait for the jetways to be pulled up as the airport was so understaffed there was no one available to drive it up. We all know those cut backs have been annoying, but hoped they would be temporary.
We have strived to maintain some level of customer service, while at the same time certain members of the bright and talented management team drove away guaranteed travelers by alienating them with really ill-conceived new policies. In the quest for profits, War seemed to be declared on two fronts, the employees and the customer. No one is happy about it.
We have now reached the back breaker, third party aircraft maintenance. The one thing that must be held sacred is safety. Do you trust the FAA? I don't. Most of us have seen this passe bureacracy up close and personal. We know its mandate is not as much about safety as it is about "promoting" air travel.
All of us must put an end to the insanity of our industry. There's a huge game of chicken going on among the airline executives. It's a game of brinkmanship that can only end when all of us, at every airline draw the line at meddling with issues of safety.
Everytime I go to work I am putting my life in the hands of someone else. I trust our pilots and our mechanics to protect me and my pax with their skill and training. If our maintenance is out sourced, how can any of us have that confidence?
Now is the time for all true professionals to stand up together and say No More. This isn't just a US Airways issue, it's happening industry wide. How can it be acceptable? Corporations don't suffer from guilt, they will walk away, wallets fat while those of us who truly care will have to live with the shame and guilt that we didn't do our part while we had the chance.
I think it's time to start informational picketing and leafletting. Give the public a chance to know who cares about their safety. Let them choose who they want to fly on: Gillian's Airlines or one seen to by professionals. They deserve the right to know. We have a moral imperative here. We can't back down.
Dea
We have all made major concessions here and at other airlines to "save" our airlines. We've swallowed many bitter pills in the form of pay cuts, loss of benefits and loss of jobs. During this time, many of us were forced to move or commute to preserve our jobs so we could continue to feed our families and pay our bills. As much as we may have hated it, we thought we were doing the best thing, hoping our shared sacrifices would stabilize the company and those laid off would be recalled.
We struggled to maintain a level of service that wasn't making us proud of the product but at least keeping the company afloat until it could be turned around. We apologized to our most valued customers as many of the things they had come to expect from US Airways disappeared. In my experience, most of our VFF's understood and were supportive of us, the employee. While our management appeared to muddle its way through these tough times, we tried to keep a stiff upper lip and did the best we could. Understaffed, undermined and kept in the dark about all things except "certain liquidation" we ran ourselves ragged, still hoping better days were ahead.
Yes, it's been embarrassing to serve FC with plastic cups and paper napkins. It's been disturbing to have to wait for the jetways to be pulled up as the airport was so understaffed there was no one available to drive it up. We all know those cut backs have been annoying, but hoped they would be temporary.
We have strived to maintain some level of customer service, while at the same time certain members of the bright and talented management team drove away guaranteed travelers by alienating them with really ill-conceived new policies. In the quest for profits, War seemed to be declared on two fronts, the employees and the customer. No one is happy about it.
We have now reached the back breaker, third party aircraft maintenance. The one thing that must be held sacred is safety. Do you trust the FAA? I don't. Most of us have seen this passe bureacracy up close and personal. We know its mandate is not as much about safety as it is about "promoting" air travel.
All of us must put an end to the insanity of our industry. There's a huge game of chicken going on among the airline executives. It's a game of brinkmanship that can only end when all of us, at every airline draw the line at meddling with issues of safety.
Everytime I go to work I am putting my life in the hands of someone else. I trust our pilots and our mechanics to protect me and my pax with their skill and training. If our maintenance is out sourced, how can any of us have that confidence?
Now is the time for all true professionals to stand up together and say No More. This isn't just a US Airways issue, it's happening industry wide. How can it be acceptable? Corporations don't suffer from guilt, they will walk away, wallets fat while those of us who truly care will have to live with the shame and guilt that we didn't do our part while we had the chance.
I think it's time to start informational picketing and leafletting. Give the public a chance to know who cares about their safety. Let them choose who they want to fly on: Gillian's Airlines or one seen to by professionals. They deserve the right to know. We have a moral imperative here. We can't back down.
Dea
