Let me toss this out there. Is it REALLY the pay scales that are causing the problems in PHL, or is it poor hiring decisions by management, and poor work ethic by the workers along with slack oversight by the managers? I may be the exception, but I once worked for $8.65 per hour loading aircraft for PSA in PIT, and not once did I equate my wage with the amount of work I accomplished during my shift. I gave 110% regardless of the situation, as did the majority of my co-workers, because we actually had pride in our work and wanted to meet the peformance parameters that were set for us. And.... before you try to blame PHL problems on equipment and staffing issues, I can tell you that we were always short staffed and had inoperable equipment on the USE ramp in PIT, but we still handled 195 flights per day in an efficient, effective manner. Remember this if nothing else, nobody is holding a gun to your head and forcing you to work for US Airways. There are many doors that lead to the airport exit.
Amen Spin Doc. Where the heck are the vaunted unions in all of this mess? The union silence is deafening. Where is the pride, and where is the work ethic? I have worked thousands and thousands of hours in my career for far less that I thought it and I was worth. I always had the option of voting with my feet and leaving. Instead I have always chosen to work at 110% and eventually I was rewarded for working my but off.
If the unions stepped up to the table and offered some real constructive solutions and incented a real work ethic along with peer pressure for everyone to work at 100% the PHL problems would go away. If the unions became part of the solution, future negotiating positions would be immeasurably stronger and LCC and all employees would be better for it. If unions acted to benefit the company in situations like this they would have more power than they have ever known. Instead, I hear the unions bemoan about what was instead of acting on what is.
Every employee needs to think like a shareholder.