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On 2/11/2003 5
56 PM PITbull wrote:
what is the "sparkle" for the employees at U? Did you ever doubt that we would not qualify after round #1?
Notice, pension issue not resolved? Still got approval.
We are in these agreements for many, many years to come, even if this co. makes zillions. Many of us are struggling with medical expenses and putting food on the table and financing it to boot on credit. All this chaos in 6 months only to qualify for a damn loan guarantee (so we've been told repeatedly as this gauarantee was the impedus.)
Now, ponder this...if all the airlines do this same, exact plan, what advantage is it to anyone. We will all be competing now as Low cost carriers, instead of high cost carriers. All relative.
Now, who will have the competitive edge???? Anyone????
Hate to say this, but I believe this industry needs "regulated" again.
Someone said that we should strive to be #1 now.
Ok.
And if we do that, will anything change for us here at U?
If we achieve #1 status, could some of us STILL be looking at possible liquidation of our own assets because of the severity of the concessions? Does being #1 change anything for the "rank and file" employee, other than the pride status of achieving #1? Do you think this management will really sit down with us before our amendable dates if we made millions or billions? Do you think they have honorable intentions?
Someone, please enlighten us....
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As you can already see PITbull, the airline industry as a whole is under going a massive overhaul. As little as ten years ago, the majors were tracking but not worried about the low cost airlines, because the majors dominated the sky. Instead of reducing cost and asking for cut backs the moment the low fare airlines really started poping up everywhere, the majors were creating new airlines within themselves,giving raises, and placing large orders for new aircraft. The plan of sufficating the low fare airlines failed beyond belief come September 11th. It basically took away all it's savings and has now left no room to compete against the low fare airlines.
US Airways has led the way up to this point from being a cash cow to ultra conservative. It has to, not only to be able to compete at all, but to remain in business. It is all very sudden and terrible for employees and would have been much easier to scale back cost slowly starting a decade ago. Unfortuantely, for the majors, that time has long past.
The options left for employees a few and far between.
1. With US Airways leading the way at restructuring, you can bet all the other major airlines will follow in the coming year(s). The larger the airline, the harder they will fall most likely though.
2. You could leave the majors for a low cost airline that is profitable. Although, think about it, they are low cost for a reason so I wouldn't expect the pay to be much different. Plus much less of a route system if consider that an employee benifit.
3. Finding a job in another industry. Although, if you are in the industry there must be a reason why.
Being the first out of the gate is often the hardest, but best place to be in. If all the majors will follow US Airways tracks in the near future, this will become U's competitive edge compaired all the other major airlines. It also would be the first actual threat to current low fare airlines. In seven years, when contracts are up, all other major airline employees will still have years to go on their contracts.
I don't see pay rates at or above pre-September 11th figures no matter what airline you work for many years to come. In seven years, if they company is still around and doing well, there will be a jump, but don't expect a leap. So, if your stuggling to put food on the table but want to keep your carrier in the industry, it is difficult to do and say but the time has come for you drastically change your lifestyle and try to shrink to profitabilty.
05 PM DLFlyer31 wrote: 
17 PM autofixer wrote: 
