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On 3/12/2003 11:06:58 AM 410OhOne wrote:
WXGuesser,
Well Said and Good Luck. Rather than take someones position who would gladly give it up, wouldn't you rather have taken someones job who doesnt belong there, ie. the trash who slipped through probation due to union and company ignorance. I started a thread awhile back about a merit point system deciding who stays and who goes. Seniority alone just doesnt work. What do you think? I am thinking about pushing for it on a national level. To get something like this through will take extraordinary communication, and I think we can achieve this on a personal level. The unions have proved that they can't communicate effectively to their paying membership. A little effort on the junior, the future, the youth of this airline can go a long way.
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410OhOne:
I do recall reading your merit-point program post, but I do not agree with you that it would work. Why? Because your program assumes an impartial point-assigner. Unless you are going to give this job to some sort of computer or robot, it isn't going to work, because it involves a human giving points. There is not such thing as an impartial human being. Every human being operates from some sort of a position of self-interest, even if it is enlightened self-interest in cases. And, once you get humans together in a group larger than two, politics of some sort come into play (hierarchies develop, positions of leadership and submission, etc.) And as soon as politics come into play, any merit-based system, no matter how well-crafted will be compromised, if not destroyed.
Example: Say you have a point-assigner who likes bass fishing. That person is going to be (either consciously or unconsciously) more likely to give more favorable ratings to those employees of his that they know like bass fishing, and who talk bass fishing with him than those who think it is barbaric and silly, or even those who don't care one way or the other. Why? Humans are xenophobic by nature; they prefer the company of those who look/act/think like they do.
Seniority tends to be a great lever against politics; it makes it impartial. Yes, incompetence can slip through the system. But if you want to prevent that, IMHO, improve the probationary screening process. And, I also know in my particular aspect of the airline biz, seniority=experience=being able to do the job better, almost as an absolute. I know that is not the case in all areas, so I can understand some people's frustration.
I would much prefer to return under circumstances where someone has left for a better job, or has decided to retire. But if someone leaves because they feel the pay/bennies are not sufficient for them, I will gladly take that job. It is their choice...
TANSTAAFL.