Anticipating a worst-case scenario, local unions and public officials are preparing now for big job losses this fall as US Airways downgrades Pittsburgh from a hub to a focus city.
The state's Rapid Response team is scheduled to meet with US Airways employees during the week of July 12. Rapid Response, part of the Department of Labor and Industry, helps laid-off workers learn what benefits and retraining are available so that they can quickly rejoin the work force.
Usually, Rapid Response reaches workers after a layoff. By doing it now, workers will know their options, and won't be caught flat-footed when bad news does arrive.
"We know there is going to be some job loss. What we don't know is the extent," said Linda Detzel, regional Rapid Response coordinator. "We want people to start thinking about what they would do if they lost their jobs."
The guesstimate among those who attended a meeting on the issue Wednesday was that as many as 1,000 jobs could be lost in Pittsburgh, Beaver County Commissioner Joe Spanik said. US Airways now employs about 7,000 people in the Pittsburgh area.
That guess is based on the number of flights that typically operate from a US Airways focus city. Pittsburgh, which is still a hub, now offers 379 US Airways flights daily. Focus cities such as Boston, for example, offer 102 flights daily; Reagan Washington National Airport offers 179.
Cuts are expected to begin in November and continue into the first part of 2005.
Wednesday's meeting included representatives from US Airways and US Airways Express, unions, legislators, schools and job-training programs.
There will definitely be layoffs, but US Airways hasn't decided how many yet, airline spokesman David Castelveter said. It all depends on the results of cost-cutting negotiations with unions.
US Airways is negotiating with the pilots union, and met earlier this week with the Communications Workers of America. The Association of Flight Attendants is pondering whether to begin negotiations, while the International Association of Machinists has declined to reopen talks.
Airline officials hope negotiations will be completed by the end of summer, and new deals ratified by September. Pittsburgh's transition from hub to focus city will happen over time.
Meanwhile, workers can only hope for the best and prepare for the worst.
Because so many US Airways workers have already lost their jobs, the upcoming round of layoffs could hit workers with as much as 20 to 30 years of experience, Detzel said.
"Losing their jobs is going to be very traumatic for them," she said. "We want to set the tone for people, so they know there is assistance out there. At least we've done all we can for them."
Stephanie Waite can be reached online at [email protected].
The state's Rapid Response team is scheduled to meet with US Airways employees during the week of July 12. Rapid Response, part of the Department of Labor and Industry, helps laid-off workers learn what benefits and retraining are available so that they can quickly rejoin the work force.
Usually, Rapid Response reaches workers after a layoff. By doing it now, workers will know their options, and won't be caught flat-footed when bad news does arrive.
"We know there is going to be some job loss. What we don't know is the extent," said Linda Detzel, regional Rapid Response coordinator. "We want people to start thinking about what they would do if they lost their jobs."
The guesstimate among those who attended a meeting on the issue Wednesday was that as many as 1,000 jobs could be lost in Pittsburgh, Beaver County Commissioner Joe Spanik said. US Airways now employs about 7,000 people in the Pittsburgh area.
That guess is based on the number of flights that typically operate from a US Airways focus city. Pittsburgh, which is still a hub, now offers 379 US Airways flights daily. Focus cities such as Boston, for example, offer 102 flights daily; Reagan Washington National Airport offers 179.
Cuts are expected to begin in November and continue into the first part of 2005.
Wednesday's meeting included representatives from US Airways and US Airways Express, unions, legislators, schools and job-training programs.
There will definitely be layoffs, but US Airways hasn't decided how many yet, airline spokesman David Castelveter said. It all depends on the results of cost-cutting negotiations with unions.
US Airways is negotiating with the pilots union, and met earlier this week with the Communications Workers of America. The Association of Flight Attendants is pondering whether to begin negotiations, while the International Association of Machinists has declined to reopen talks.
Airline officials hope negotiations will be completed by the end of summer, and new deals ratified by September. Pittsburgh's transition from hub to focus city will happen over time.
Meanwhile, workers can only hope for the best and prepare for the worst.
Because so many US Airways workers have already lost their jobs, the upcoming round of layoffs could hit workers with as much as 20 to 30 years of experience, Detzel said.
"Losing their jobs is going to be very traumatic for them," she said. "We want to set the tone for people, so they know there is assistance out there. At least we've done all we can for them."
Stephanie Waite can be reached online at [email protected].
