Piedmont Airlines

[robbedagain]

thank you prince i know that we have elections in january and hopefully the majority will vote for it but i have to wonder if there anything that the union can do to stop if we do become union officially? iam a stickler to following union rules versus mgmt arrogance but overall safety comes first no matter what

 

[Prince of PAWOBs]

thank you prince i know that we have elections in january and hopefully the majority will vote for it but i have to wonder if there anything that the union can do to stop if we do become union officially? iam a stickler to following union rules versus mgmt arrogance but overall safety comes first no matter what

If you certifiy the CWA, your going to get a union that knows how to negotiate a decent CBA. The company is going to try and argue every part of your agreement in negotiation. Stick together, because every battle is winnable. There are certain items that you cannot do without in a contract. Your CWA negotiating committee will know what to do, but if there is any question to what is not negotiable, PM a member of this board you believe you can trust who has knowledge of CBA negotiations regardless of union affiliation (i.e. 700UW or PitBull). Or better yet, post a new thread and ask a general opinion after asking the question in private. Getting a full view of what you can or cannot do without goes a long way toward crafting a decent agreement that the membership can live with for the life of the CBA.

 

[CLT CS AGENT]

Fascinating. Since I don't know what station you're talking about, I have no idea why there was no union representative to relay information to the employees. Odd that they would be allow to work at a station without signing up for IBT representation after training, considering that would be a condition of employment under the current or previous contract.


I am a former mainline agent who left PSA Express only to return now that it is Piedmont. WE NEVER HAD AN IBT AGENT COME TO OUR STATION. We had a few agents who never signed up.



Are you management or not? Or are you refering to the employees being "technically" in the IBT? Either way, you need to read the contract no matter who you are. You would then know what I stated in relation to the prior quote.

No, not management here.



So, your management knew what to pay according to the CBA, but yet there was no union representation to handle dues collection, no contact from the union prior to a switch to Piedmont, et cetera, et cetera...like I said before...fascinating, considering the out-stations under the prior CBA started wages at $6.27/hr.............you seem to want to digress into other marginally related subjects. You refered to PIT PSA employees as "Mafia", which is not only patently offensive but also completely false. We do not blindly follow our IBT representatives and stewards. We are not strong-armed into voting a certain way. We have had plenty of arguments in the past concerning CBA's, but you get what you give, and that includes respect from opposing viewpoints. Free-thinkers we have a-plenty. Liars and embellishers tend to become ostracized quickly by everyone, no matter what the current view is of union business......

PIT PSA HELD EVERYONE OF THE OUTSTATIONS HOSTAGE. You don't like the term MAFIA? Get real! PIT PSA banded together and ruined it for everyone. Every contract that came up PIT PSA voted down while most of the out stations voted in favor of it. PIT PSA had the largest PSA Ground Agent work group and because of PIT PSA GROUND AGENT GREED, we all ended up with 6.27 an hour with no insurance options for part time employees. You can get on your "better than thou", "how dare you" high horse all you want but PIT PSA SCREWED US ALL. ANYTHING WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER THAN WHAT PIT CAUSED US TO END UP WITH. I for one am glad that ya'll have been broken up so that you can never do that again.

You complain that "talented PIT agents" are having to move to keep their jobs. Well guess what, WE DID TOO because We could not work for 6.27 and hour with NO BENEFITS because of PIT PSA! Ya'll are getting a taste of your own medicine and it don't taste good.

You can post whatever you want to and I don't care what you say on here, I was PSA Express and I know the REAL TRUTH. I wish the PIT PSA Agents the best for what ever their future holds for them.

 

[SegmentKing]

Robbed,

Just look what the union did to PSA.

How many stations do they have in their future? How many did they have before the merger?

that's right.

Zero -- and I think 17 at its highest.

I think it sends a message when even DAY is going from PSA to Pdt.

a Union isn't going to help with the Piedmont issues. The turnover at PDT is about 13 - 15% for ground crews, higher in the hubs. So the union won't be able to get or promise you too much as its just a "training ground for mainline". and Pdt mgt won't be willing to give you anything better than what you got now. So any raise is going to be eaten up by union dues. Only issue now is you'll be able to grieve, and by the time its settled you'll be working at mainline or for another carrier.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Mesa pick up more ground handling. Go look at what Mesa pays agents.

And PAWOBS, my beef is with the UNION, not the JS employees in PIT. I'd have a much different outlook if I -> 1. didn't know people in PIT 2 -> saw the last contract offer and the results (hmmm.. PIT turned it down by huge #s, outstations supported it with very very few outstations rejecting it!) 3-> yes, I was in mgt with JS.

Its unforunate that Tempe axed PIT and all the other JS cities, but do you blame them?? PSA ground was the laughing stock of every airport due to the pay issues. I know in my station we had to take 4 full time positions and chop them into part time because we couldn't even get the homeless to apply!

 

[dexter]

Segment King has exposed what he/she truly is...MANAGEMENT. What else would you expect when an airline is getting ready to vote in a union. It is quite amusing watching Pawob and Segment spin.
Respectfully, we truly feel sorry for PSA agents in Pit, but realistically they were the ones that bargained what they wanted in their contract.
Management has offered NOTHING to any express carrier and if they can they will keep TAKING. Lets hear from Piedmont agents on this thread and how they have been tortured by the sandcastle.

 

[Prince of PAWOBs]

Segment King has exposed what he/she truly is...MANAGEMENT. What else would you expect when an airline is getting ready to vote in a union. It is quite amusing watching Pawob and Segment spin.
Respectfully, we truly feel sorry for PSA agents in Pit, but realistically they were the ones that bargained what they wanted in their contract.
Management has offered NOTHING to any express carrier and if they can they will keep TAKING. Lets hear from Piedmont agents on this thread and how they have been tortured by the sandcastle.

I'm glad you're entertained, Dexter. I always aim to please when I "spin".

And SegmentKing, I thank you for your response. We got a much better contract in 2006 because we held out until we all got something we could live with, or at least a majority of us. I doubt we were considered a "laughing stock of the industry" simply because we worked for low wages. If anything, we might have been pitied because of the sorry rate of pay, or envied by other airlines because we continued to work with such zeal despite our pay rate.

What is disturbing is CLT CS AGENT responding to a post that wasn't directed toward them, and then touting the same mafia-esque garbage that I argue against. I find it hard to envision C C A, as a former Mainline agent, doing nothing to make his/her voice heard during negotiations or a supposed lack of IBT attention at their station. Where were you? What was so important that you couldn't speak up? You may not care about what I have to say, but it seems as if you don't care about what YOU have to say, either.

Did I complain about PIT agents having to move? I better recheck my posts. Did I say they were talented? Yes, I did. That's why they're getting hired at Piedmont stations. I'll add that they are also being offered positions in management, which says a lot about their value in the US Airways system's workforce.

Bottom line, C C A, you were PSA, just like you were Mainline. You're starting to sound like a has-been. We're not getting any sort of "taste of our own medicine", and frankly you should consider upping yours since it doesn't seem to be working.

 

[dexter]

.....How long did it take to secure a contract at PSA anyway? I remember Pit PSA agents walking one day because the "company" only wanted to raise there wages by .05(cents) an hour and I believe, but stand to be corrected, 13 PSA agents were terminated. It would be nice to see the PSA CBA that was bargained though no one can seem to pull it up anywhere. A contract with no furlough clauses? Makes us wonder if it were ever ratified! We did hear rumors of PSA agents moving to Clt so it makes sense the "anger" over C C A's responses. Good work Pawob...and yes, you are always very entertaining!

 

[Prince of PAWOBs]

.....How long did it take to secure a contract at PSA anyway? I remember Pit PSA agents walking one day because the "company" only wanted to raise there wages by .05(cents) an hour and I believe, but stand to be corrected, 13 PSA agents were terminated. It would be nice to see the PSA CBA that was bargained though no one can seem to pull it up anywhere. A contract with no furlough clauses? Makes us wonder if it were ever ratified! We did hear rumors of PSA agents moving to Clt so it makes sense the "anger" over C C A's responses. Good work Pawob...and yes, you are always very entertaining!

I have a copy in my bag. It was ratified last December after a four year wait and the threat of being released to strike from the NMB. There is a furlough clause with two years of recall rights, but if your ground/gate handling is being disbanded, the chances of being recalled are slim to none. A similar occurence happened with most of mainline's junior utility agents in PIT after 9/11. Their positions were eliminated, and the company waited out the time period for recall, thus avoiding the recall clause in their contract.

The walkout was due to a member of the negotiating committee leaking incorrect information via telephone to an agent at the station. A six percent offer miraculously transmogrified into a six cent offer, sending agents into a frenzy for no reason, causing the walkout and the termination of several employees who had excessive disciplinary infractions. A low period in PSA history, to be sure.

Some agents are going to CLT, some to PHL, and some have already left for other stations in the system. Once again, the anger is being misdirected at PIT agents. Piedmont HR is hiring them and making the deals, so if someone is angry they need to take it to the proper person. PIT agents can't help it that they are good at what they do. It's driven into most of us at birth; a holdover from the steel industry in this part of the country.

Besides, we've already had many mainline and PSA agents transfer over the years. If you think you (collectively) might be angry now, wait until the major diaspora occurs......I give it less than two years, assuming this company is still in operation.

 

[dexter]

The company shrewdly is downsizing Pit slowly in an attempt to keep political and media from taking off on it. It is the cowards way out.

What kind of deals are in the works for Pit PSA agents who transfer to Clt or Phl ? Curious minds want to know!!

 

[CLT CS AGENT]

I'm glad you're entertained, Dexter. I always aim to please when I "spin".

What is disturbing is CLT CS AGENT responding to a post that wasn't directed toward them, and then touting the same mafia-esque garbage that I argue against.

I can respond to any comment posted here, that is the point of this forum.


to envision C C A, as a former Mainline agent, doing nothing to make his/her voice heard during negotiations or a supposed lack of IBT attention at their station. Where were you? What was so important that you couldn't speak up? You may not care about what I have to say, but it seems as if you don't care about what YOU have to say, either.

I along with my co-workers did speak up. We contacted other stations and encouraged them to vote. We tried to speak with the Union but they never returned our calls and never sent a rep. We did our part.

That's why they're getting hired at Piedmont stations. I'll add that they are also being offered positions in management, which says a lot about their value in the US Airways system's workforce.

Good for them, those who work hard will always be rewarded.

Bottom line, C C A, you were PSA, just like you were Mainline. You're starting to sound like a has-been.

Yes I was PSA, but had to leave because greedy PIT PSA Ground agents decided it was best we get paid 6.27 an hour with no benefits. I was Mainline, but thanks to Piedmont finally taking over my home station, I can come home and make the same thing I was making at mainline. So, you got a problem with that?!?
No "has been" here, Prince; Young, Strong, Talented, Educated, and just got promoted. Your attempt to insult me only speaks of your character. You could not think of anything relevant and you are trying to deflect from the issue at hand. Typical from a finger-snapping smart alec.

We're not getting any sort of "taste of our own medicine", and frankly you should consider upping yours since it doesn't seem to be working.

Oh to the contrary. Those agents are having to move like many of us did when PIT PSA screwed us out of decent pay and benefits. I truely hate it for them because I know how it affected me...you have to leave family and home to keep your job...I know that pain well and I honestly feel for those who have to do the same...may God give them the strength and peace they will need to start over. Me, on medicine? Again, a smart assed remark..did you give yourself 2 snapps for that one?

 

[robbedagain]

i know that when these 3 psa agents come to our city, they will start out at EN's experience wage of something like 10.66 an hr thats no big deal i understand that they will get full time ahead of us EN folks which to me is unfair. I dont know if writing a letter to EN hr folks would any good or not but there are a few people i work with that are really pi$$ed off about it cuz they strongly feel that the 3 PSA agent should go to bottom of the vacation bidding just like a regular schd bidding.

 

[john john]

I was Mainline, but thanks to Piedmont finally taking over my home station, I can come home and make the same thing I was making at mainline. So, you got a problem with that

Express agent pay scale is far lower than mainline TOS.I have a problem with CWA organizing express because it allows mainline work being done by express lower pay and express work rules. Essentially it allows mainline to get outsource with the unions blessing .GO AFTER THE WORK WITH THE EXISTING CONTRACT.. We have all seen union express wages with other work groups and management using it against mainline airlines. Management has found a way to use this tactic to there advantage

 

[philly rocks]

GO PIEDMONT !!
VOTE "YES"!

 

[YVINTERN]

I'm fairly certain Piedmont might be hiring me for Ramp or Gate at DCA...That has to be one of the easiest stations to work at considering I go out of that clusterf**k also known as Gate 35A every week.

If we go unionized...great...more pay for me.

 

[Prince of PAWOBs]

So, you got a problem with that?!?

No "has been" here, Prince; Young, Strong, Talented, Educated, and just got promoted. Your attempt to insult me only speaks of your character. You could not think of anything relevant and you are trying to deflect from the issue at hand. Typical from a finger-snapping smart alec.

Oh to the contrary. Those agents are having to move like many of us did when PIT PSA screwed us out of decent pay and benefits. I truely hate it for them because I know how it affected me...you have to leave family and home to keep your job...I know that pain well and I honestly feel for those who have to do the same...may God give them the strength and peace they will need to start over. Me, on medicine? Again, a smart assed remark..did you give yourself 2 snapps for that one?

I find you entertaining, at least for the moment. When your persecution/martyr complex starts to outshine my brilliance, then we'll have a huge problem. (j/k CCA. I'm sure you believe very strongly in what you are saying)

CCA, most of the agents who are willing to transfer are doing it by choice. It's more of a grand experiment than the last stop on the train.
If it works for them, then they will continue to work for US. If not, there is always something else closer to home. Many of those who are taking the transfer are doing it for flight benefits after retirement. Only a handful are transfering for medical benefits or other financial reasons.

But I still stand by what I said, and it was as relevant earlier as it is now: Pittsburgh did nothing mafia-esque to affect you or any other outstation in the PSA system. We had the numbers and we voted based on conscience and logic, not threats and intimidation. That's how democracy works. You may not like the way things went down, but now it's irrelevant. The fact that you are still irritated, and that you finally just realized that I am a "smart aleck" warrants a pharmaceutical increase.