The reason I believe that mechs aren't given jump seat privileges is that the pilots and f/a have those jump seat rights in their contract and are not willing to share them with us. A pilot explained to me that, he does not want to deny a fellow pilot from say UAL to sit in the jump seat so a mech can get on board and have their pilots deny AA pilots jump seats on UAL flights. I know that at Jetblue, all employees have access to jump seats.
The thing is it was part of our contract as well, the company took it away, blamed the FAA, then blamed the pilots but in the end we never got anything for it.
AA bends over backwards for our flight crews and flight crews from other airlines. I don't see why management would want to deny us at the line stations the ability to have a schedule that makes our home life that much more compatible with our work life. I think they are scared to manage.
When I was on the floor I took full advantage of the CS policy and over the years that I've been in office I've had management repeatedly threaten to take away the CS policy to which I've always said "Go right ahead". I've alaways been willing to sacrifice flexibility for a stronger united workforce that would concentrate on maximizing our pay.
The CS policy works to the companys advantage even more so than it does to the workers. It motivates the workers to keep their training up to date, reduces attendance problems and keeps enough of the workforce content enough so they not only continue to show up but actually go above and beyond to get the planes out. The flexibility allows the workers to pursue other means of income as well as cover for their spouses so they can work. The end result is the company is able to pay us less than they would otherwise get away with.
Additionally, at these rates of pay and under these conditions do you really think that most people are going to miss out on Weddings, Graduations, and other important events, almost all of which occur on weekends, with their families? We used to accept those sacrifices as the trade off for the good pay and benifits we used to get, but not anymore since they've taken everything away, its unrealistic for them to expect what they used to get from us when they give us less, flexibility is just about the only thing that they still offer, take that away and they have nothing. This is especially true for our younger workers where the Airline worker is the secondary income provider, (which even some of us older workers are becoming as our real pay continues to decline). It aint going to happen, take away the CS policy and they will simply call in sick when they need the day off, and since we lose half pay for the first two they will probably take a week even though they only need a day. Take away the CS policy and abstenteeism would skyrocket.
Basically the company has nothing to gain and everything to lose by messing with the CS policy. Sure they may act like they are giving us a great deal, and try to use it as leverage to make more gains as they make threats about cracking down but they know that its the only thing that has kept this place going for the last six years.
To me taking away the CS Policy would be the best thing management could do to unite the workforce. We would have no problem bringing this place to a complete standstill. Lousy pay, working conditions, and now add in no flexibility and you would have the perfect catylyst to push even the most loyal company men into the rebel camp.
