I almost always agree with everything that you say, however this is yet another case of stockholm syndrome. Our new management team for the most part is from AWA, while I'm pretty confident that they know what they are doing in the business field, they have no clue how to treat the employees (yes they put on this act to everyone that it's just all hugs and kisses for everyone on the outside, but that's not the case), sure maybe top management means well but these middle folks from Tempe are pushing it. How can someone justify over 40 flight attendants per month leaving the "West" operation? That is an insane number given that "West" only has like 2600 flight attendants. Even in US Airways darkest hour I do not think that we were losing that much, it just seems to me that some of this AWA management looks at it like a free for all and does whatever they want whenever they want. Well sorry but they've come knocking on the wrong door and I hope that type of attitude with this company changes. I try to look at the "big picture" as well but even I am getting somewhat aggravated with this bunch. We can be low cost but we do not have to be cheap, tacky and turned into a laughing stock.
Just because an airline is making a profit does not make them successful. Mesa makes a nice profit, so does Republic but they also make it at their employee's expense just like AWA did. While I do not mean any offense by that (I happen to LOVE the "West" folks)I'm just saying that AWA made a profit for the last few years and their employees were making substandard wages and not really being treated like the professionals that they are hence the extremely high turnover like Mesa and Republic (maybe not that bad but hopefully I made my point).
I don't think it's all management. They may just be turning a blind eye or may not care.. Not sure. I have several friends at West and know that conditions are horrible. Contract has so many grey areas, scheduling does what they want with no regards to the contract (there is no ability to see when a trip opened, where you are on the list for call, and what time the opened trips were covered), the East people that are over there cannot get a return call from the "West" union and when they do they just get blown off. just stuff like that. I know that it got really bad with us for a while but at least our contract was black and white and you didn't have crew scheduling on some power trip just doing whatever they deem necessary. I understand protecting the operation but that outfit out there is out of control. All in all it's a pretty difficult place to work from what I gather and we need to gather alot from our East folks out there so that we can stop that madness. Also they are having trouble with their pass travel. With this new ETC when they travel on the East aircraft they have to travel on their AWA Date of Hire (which is 1, 2 or 3 months for them)when people junior to them were recalled and will board before they do. No offense to the more junior people (we've all been there)but these people have given however many years to US Airways and are now told that they are New Hires (usually by some AWA person in the pass bureau) and until integration that's the way it is. Well I've got a news flash-----THEY ARE NOT NEW HIRES. The only thing that they are considered a New Hire for is when they are bidding as a Flight Attendant and nothing else. Anyway enough of that rant. Hope all is well with you PITBull. Take Care.
