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On 12/31/2002 8
02 AM diogenes wrote:
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On 12/31/2002 12:08:33 AM trvlr64 wrote:
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Actually, WN pays their agents more than U ever paid theirs. U topped out at 21.66 (preconcessions), while WN tops out at $25.
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WOW!! Don't bite my head off but that's a nice pay for a job that's doesn't require a degree or too much skill. No wonder the airlines want that money back.
Again, just stating a fact, don't bite at me. Sorry U I love ya but jeez!?
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And what would you know, as opposed to think, about what I do?
If I 'just' loaded bags you might be on to something.
1. We perform the security check on your a/c every morning, just as TSA checks your baggage and person. They start at 30k a year. We start at 14K. TSA doesn't require a degree, either.
2. In most locations, we deice the airplane. I've watched $8 an hour wonders do this job. It ain't pretty, and it's not safe. Where mech's perform this job, they get paid considerably more than I do.
3. It's not just loading the flight, it's how much and where. Wanna ride a plane that's overgrossed or out of balance? You'd be surprised how easy it can happen. We check behind the load planning desk, and catch these kinds of things. We also don't like leaving revenue (passenger, baggage, freight) behind. We frequently load what we KNOW is tolerable, but exceeds the load plan. After an initial tizzy, the planner will run the numbers and go, "Gosh, that will work." There's no subsitute for experience in the field.
4. We've added value to our work group. Ten years ago, we merely loaded planes. Now we secure, deice, air start, R and D, and clean (no task too lowly) - all with LESS staff than we had ten years ago.
Somehow, WN manages to make money paying their guys $25 to do this.
And I'll guarantee I could belittle what you do, but that would be wrong, wouldn't it? And bye the bye, I have a degree - I just happen to like this job.
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First, I wasn't belittling anyone. I just stated a fact that maybe your company is looking at reducing costs no matter what.
Second, since there is a degree of added responsibility that goes with most jobs, why not point these out to management. It is common practice in my company during our Performance Appraisels (sp?) to remind not only our immediate boss but the upper management [who decides our raises, bonuses and pay scale] exactly what it is we do for our company and what a valuable resource we truely are. Uppermanagement looks at the numbers only, not what is it you actually do or how good you are at it. Or how you've become an asset. Maybe a more aggressive reminder to U's management needs to occur that explains what you do is not the same as someone that works at Wal-Mart (excuse me again for the poor analogy).
Third, I'm sure you could find some reason to belittle my job. Hell, I do it whenever I'm pissed off. But in a company of over 80,000 employees worldwide, there are only 14 of us that can do my job. So yes, I get paid well for my abilities because not many people can do what I do. And I've been told not many would want to.
Fourth, I do respect the employees of U or I wouldn't be flying U every week of the year for the last 6 years of my life. Remember, it's those passengers of yours that "live" on U that know what you do. But the regular joe who travels maybe once or twice a year doesn't give a damn that you might be out of a job soon. I do. I help to pay your salary.
Believe me, I don't like to see a lot of my "friends" in PIT gone. The kiosks are not friendly but they hope it saves U a ton of money. And that's all your management cares about.
