Did I hear Doug right?

[whodoiworkfor]

OK, watching the crew news on the web, did Doug really tell the pilots he was only looking out for the management and stockholders and we were not getting raises and our contracts would be cost neutral? I mean he sugar coated it but did he really have the balls to say that???

This is incredible when are we going to demand change! I mean REALLY demand change!!!!???? Our senior folks at west have not had a raise in FIVE years and our junior folks at west qualify for food stamps....what the HE11 is going on?

Isn't anyone else p1ssed off?!?!?!?!? Pilots need to start burning more fuel and we need to SLOW down the boarding process folks, it is time for ACTION.

 

[BoeingBoy]

Actually, it's not surprising at all. Doug is an employee - he works for the stockholders. If he doesn't perform (measured by the stockholder's investment return), he can be replaced.

Doug has obviously convinced his bosses that he's doing a good job - the stockholder's representitives (the BOD) just gave Doug and the rest of upper management a nice raise.

our job (your's since I'll be gone shortly) is to convince your boss (Doug) that you deserve a nice raise. Just demonstrate who really "makes US fly".....

Jim

 

[wings396]

This sounds all to familiar to me. I still remember Wolfie and his little cronies telling us all the importance of
"Shareholder Value"...That was all they cared about, as they were all major shareholders. I doubt that anything has changed with this management team, except for the names and faces... The Hell with the employees, as long as those shareholders are happy...For a little while at least, until things start to fall apart at the seams...Then it is time to sell and run before the roof caves in.
None of these clowns are in it for the long term anymore, and that's why they could care less about morale and a happy productive workforce. This is the real difference between LCC and SWA....

 

[LCC_#1]

None of these clowns are in it for the long term anymore, and that's why they could care less about morale and a happy productive workforce. This is the real difference between LCC and SWA....

I couldn't had said it better. Well the thought that management cared about the morale of the company last for, what, a nanosecond? Thanks DP for showing your true colors. 🙁

 

[N903AW]

Actually, it's not surprising at all. Doug is an employee - he works for the stockholders. If he doesn't perform (measured by the stockholder's investment return), he can be replaced.

Doug has obviously convinced his bosses that he's doing a good job - the stockholder's representitives (the BOD) just gave Doug and the rest of upper management a nice raise.

our job (your's since I'll be gone shortly) is to convince your boss (Doug) that you deserve a nice raise. Just demonstrate who really "makes US fly".....

Jim

I hope every union employee is ready to strike, or honor the strikes of those of us who do! Maybe when the stockholders see the stock go to single digits with the threat of a shutdown they will be apt to think less of themselves.

Cost neutral = STMFD

 

[DorkDriver]

Doug also said that just because you fly a bigger airplane doesn't mean you should be paid more!

 

[autofixer]

Just dig your heels in and do your job...just YOUR job and only as they trained you to do it. Watch the whole operation come to a grinding halt. It is the employees who keep this pig flying and only management reaps the economic benefits. We get a new CEO, what every 2 years? And they usually leave with what, $40 million? Doug is on his merry way to his meal ticket. I for one refuse to do more than I was trained to do by the company in their class and their simulator by their proceedures.

 

[luvn737s]

Isn't this operation in a perpetual state of grinding halt by design?

 

[PHL]

Here's a thought. All 36,000+ employees buy as many shares as they can afford. Even if it's 1 share @ $46.55 (today's price). Then organize yourselves as one whole group of shareholders and go be heard as shareholders at the next shareholder meeting.

Otherwise, it's always going to be you against "them" when it comes to agreeing on costs and how the company should be run.

 

[bigman60]

Here's a thought. All 36,000+ employees buy as many shares as they can afford. Even if it's 1 share @ $46.55 (today's price). Then organize yourselves as one whole group of shareholders and go be heard as shareholders at the next shareholder meeting.

Otherwise, it's always going to be you against "them" when it comes to agreeing on costs and how the company should be run.

But then you will have the problem that the goal you seek (higher wages) will result in your stock losing value. Not a big deal if you only have one share, but if you somehow accumulate 5 or 10 thousand your goals will be mutually exclusive.

Also, if there was a combined effort by employees to acquire shares, demand for the stock would increase causing the stock to increase in value as a group of investors work to decrease the value of the stock. In other words, market forces will make it more expensive to lose money on your investment.

If the LCC board is elected by cumulative voting, with enough people you may get a chance at getting 1 person on the board that is aligned with your interests. If it is non-cumulative, you won't have much of a chance.

Does anyone know offhand whether the LCC BOD is elected through cumulative or non-cumulative voting?

 

[FWAAA]

But then you will have the problem that the goal you seek (higher wages) will result in your stock losing value. Not a big deal if you only have one share, but if you somehow accumulate 5 or 10 thousand your goals will be mutually exclusive.

I agree that you're probably correct, but the paragraph is kinda funny. After all, Costco and Southwest are constantly held up as examples of companies where the sharelholders supposedly win in part because the employees are treated fairly with respect to compensation.

So now you're admitting that wouldn't happen at LCC if the employees got raises? Hard to convince your bosses to give you raises if all you got is "we get more, shareholders get less."

Can't your negotiators promise (and deliver) that higher wages will cause greater job satisfaction, greater productivity, greater customer satisfaction and ultimately higher profits?

If not, I wouldn't give you a raise. And management at LCC knows that. They've already got theirs. Shut it down and it hurts you more than it hurts them. They aren't bound by an antiquated seniority system.

The CEO doesn't start at the bottom if he goes to another airline. He probably goes straight to CEO. Everyone in a union at LCC (if they shut it down) goes straight to the bottom of the seniority list at their next airline (assuming they even get hired - lotsa upstarts don't want the employee poison that can come from hiring the disgruntled ex-failed airline employees).

My advice would be to organize and have your organization buy lotsa stock. Then you own the joint and can pay yourselves whatever you think you're worth.

Cumulative voting at LCC? I doubt it.

 

[diogenes]

"Just call me Dave" = "Just call me Doug."

 

[BLACKSUNSHINE]

"Just call me Dave" = "Just call me Doug."

Happy Employees = Happy Customers

Happy Customers = Repeat Customers

Repeat Customers = Happy Shareholders = Long term success.

It's not rocket science

 

[bigman60]

We all know what happened when United tried Employee ownership.

The fact that employees are locked in does indeed make it a Catch-22. Like it or not, there are thousands of regional pilots and FA's out there who would gladly take a job from LCC at 1/2-2/3 the pay right now. So it is also tough to argue that they are irreplaceable.

The only solution I see would be the union groups taking job actions to get what they desire. It really appears to be their only leverage, but it comes at great risk to all involved and when push comes to shove, paying the rent and eeking by win out nine times out of ten.

As for Costco, they receive a lot of criticism from stockholders and Wall Street for their policies that limit net income, such as paying employees above market rate and limiting the mark up on products below industry standards.

I've read that Costco employees are often let go seasonally to avoid making them full time employees with full benefits.

Food for thought.

 

[The End]

I hope every union employee is ready to strike, or honor the strikes of those of us who do! Maybe when the stockholders see the stock go to single digits with the threat of a shutdown they will be apt to think less of themselves.

Cost neutral = STMFD

Never happen! Airline employees, except a rare few, are wimps and cowards when it comes to standing up for a cause. History has proven this to be true. The End