quitting

[EricLv2Fish]

After reading all the posts, here are my two cents:

I quit about 18 months ago. Left Phoenix to join two former AWA friends in Albuquerque. My decision was based on many factors, but the overriding factors were: #1 A fresh start. I had endured several years of mind bending maritial problems and needed a break. #2 Better pay and benefits. Salary was about 25% more, free medical and a great 401K.

After leaving and starting fresh some hidden medical issues began to surface. It became a struggle to stay alert and awake at work. To make a long story short I found out I'm diabetic (type II) and elevated blood sugar levels were the primary cause for my uncontrollable sleepiness. It was particularly acute after lunch. Unfortunately, I wasn't diagnosed and treated for this condition until after I was let go. I was devestated when I was told "my services were no longer needed". Since being let go, I've contracted for several aviation companies earning good pay. My blood sugar is under control now and my health is much better.

I look back sometimes and wish I had never left. I had a nice house....I now live in a 5th wheel trailer to be mobile so I can pick up contracts across the country easily. I had good friends in Phoenix....moving around affords little opportunity to establish lasting relationships. I'm hopeful to find permanent work again someday. Contract work pays better, but money isn't everything.

I have to believe leaving AWA ultimately benefited my health. I'm living the old adage "Life is a journey", and I have to remind myself that's just the way it is and accept it. Who knows, where I'll end up. I'm hopeful to be back in Phoenix again someday. In the meantime I'll keep my canoe on the river and see where it takes me! Good to see Pit, Dell and Piney still around. Nice to see lots of success stories out there.


Eric

 

[Bear96]

Eric,

What a moving story, and beautifully and honestly expressed. Sorry you had to go through all that. I wish you the best (and take care of your health!).

I too am one of those people with jet fuel in the veins, I'm afraid. I left the industry completely. While I now make many multiples more than I ever did as a F/A and generally enjoy 90% of my current job and profession, there are some things I will always miss.

 

[N965VJ]

My final trip at US was surreal. It was a four day that turned into a five day due to WX and MTC problems.

I had my smoking room in Redondo Beach waiting for me on one of my long overnights, but that one turned into a Holiday Inn down the road from a refinery in PHL due to a mechanical (hooray for the Airbus). In fact, we never made it west of the Mississippi.

My last revenue flight was supposed to be DCA-PIT, but we went illegal sitting on the ramp due to ATC/WX delays. The aircraft was one of the ones that did not have Airphones, so I loaned my cell phone to someone sitting in F that had a dead battery in his. That same guy started chasing me down in the terminal after we cancelled, chewing me out for not getting him to PIT. I tried to explain to him that I wanted to get to PIT just as bad as him, as this was my final flight after 15 years, but that went right over his head. A Gate Agent told me he was a doctor who had a TV show, but I have no idea who he was. He never thanked me for using my phone.

The next morning our deadhead to PIT cancelled due to a mechanical (hooray for Airbus). We had gone though two sets of pilots by then from them going illegal and Scheduling being short, so they were long gone. Someone decided to ferry the broken Airbus to PIT, so we jumped on that one.

Now since the aircraft was broken, we parked on the hangar ramp when we arrived in PIT rather than the terminal, in the pouring rain. The pilots were needed like right now for another aircraft waiting at the gate, so a van picked them up and ran where they needed to go. Another van was supposed to pick me and the other FAs on my crew up, but of course they forgot about us.

Finally, I walked across the ramp in the rain to the hangar. The doors were open, but nobody was home. I wandered around looking for someone, anyone, and after a while finally found a guy that called up a ride for us back to the terminal.

One of the other FAs commented that that was the longest easy trip that they had ever been on, which I agreed. It was also kind of fun. Having things go wrong like that made the job interesting.

The only thing that sucked about that trip was that my crew slam-clicked on me. I wish I was working with USCREW and FlightChic, LOL!

 

[WCT]

My final trip at US was surreal. It was a four day that turned into a five day due to WX and MTC problems.

I had my smoking room in Redondo Beach waiting for me on one of my long overnights, but that one turned into a Holiday Inn down the road from a refinery in PHL due to a mechanical (hooray for the Airbus). In fact, we never made it west of the Mississippi.

My last revenue flight was supposed to be DCA-PIT, but we went illegal sitting on the ramp due to ATC/WX delays. The aircraft was one of the ones that did not have Airphones, so I loaned my cell phone to someone sitting in F that had a dead battery in his. That same guy started chasing me down in the terminal after we cancelled, chewing me out for not getting him to PIT. I tried to explain to him that I wanted to get to PIT just as bad as him, as this was my final flight after 15 years, but that went right over his head. A Gate Agent told me he was a doctor who had a TV show, but I have no idea who he was. He never thanked me for using my phone.

The next morning our deadhead to PIT cancelled due to a mechanical (hooray for Airbus). We had gone though two sets of pilots by then from them going illegal and Scheduling being short, so they were long gone. Someone decided to ferry the broken Airbus to PIT, so we jumped on that one.

Now since the aircraft was broken, we parked on the hangar ramp when we arrived in PIT rather than the terminal, in the pouring rain. The pilots were needed like right now for another aircraft waiting at the gate, so a van picked them up and ran where they needed to go. Another van was supposed to pick me and the other FAs on my crew up, but of course they forgot about us.

Finally, I walked across the ramp in the rain to the hangar. The doors were open, but nobody was home. I wandered around looking for someone, anyone, and after a while finally found a guy that called up a ride for us back to the terminal.

One of the other FAs commented that that was the longest easy trip that they had ever been on, which I agreed. It was also kind of fun. Having things go wrong like that made the job interesting.

The only thing that sucked about that trip was that my crew slam-clicked on me. I wish I was working with USCREW and FlightChic, LOL!

Wow. We have all had nightmare of stories, but that is really surreal!!! You can come on any of my overnites, I will gladly hang out!! 😀

 

[john john]

Unfortunately, I wasn't diagnosed and treated for this condition until after I was let go. I was devestated when I was told "my services were no longer needed". Since being let go, I've contracted for several aviation companies earning good pay. My blood sugar is under control now and my health is much better.

That is and was some bad luck. Hope you had some alternative medical insurance. Medical problems with the ageing work force and corporate American unwillingness to help pay for medical insurance is a major problem

 

[Bear96]

That is and was some bad luck. Hope you had some alternative medical insurance. Medical problems with the ageing work force and corporate American unwillingness to help pay for medical insurance is a major problem

Why should an employer instead of, say, the government, be the one responsible for making health care available to people?

 

[EricLv2Fish]

That is and was some bad luck. Hope you had some alternative medical insurance. Medical problems with the ageing work force and corporate American unwillingness to help pay for medical insurance is a major problem

Thank you for your concern. Thank goodness I have medical by being retired military, otherwise..well I don't even want to think about it. I'm not sure it was "bad luck". Things happen for a reason you know. I like to think those events led me to discover I had diabetes before more damage to my health was done. Diabetes left untreated can do lots of damage to many internal organs.

You have an excellent point about our nation's healthcare system. I'm not sure "Corporate America" is to blame for our nation's medical care travesty. Washington is much more to blame in my book. So many folks are ruined financially by medical bills and worse...can't get the medical help they need.

 

[PITbull]

After reading all the posts, here are my two cents:

I quit about 18 months ago. Left Phoenix to join two former AWA friends in Albuquerque. My decision was based on many factors, but the overriding factors were: #1 A fresh start. I had endured several years of mind bending maritial problems and needed a break. #2 Better pay and benefits. Salary was about 25% more, free medical and a great 401K.

After leaving and starting fresh some hidden medical issues began to surface. It became a struggle to stay alert and awake at work. To make a long story short I found out I'm diabetic (type II) and elevated blood sugar levels were the primary cause for my uncontrollable sleepiness. It was particularly acute after lunch. Unfortunately, I wasn't diagnosed and treated for this condition until after I was let go. I was devestated when I was told "my services were no longer needed". Since being let go, I've contracted for several aviation companies earning good pay. My blood sugar is under control now and my health is much better.

I look back sometimes and wish I had never left. I had a nice house....I now live in a 5th wheel trailer to be mobile so I can pick up contracts across the country easily. I had good friends in Phoenix....moving around affords little opportunity to establish lasting relationships. I'm hopeful to find permanent work again someday. Contract work pays better, but money isn't everything.

I have to believe leaving AWA ultimately benefited my health. I'm living the old adage "Life is a journey", and I have to remind myself that's just the way it is and accept it. Who knows, where I'll end up. I'm hopeful to be back in Phoenix again someday. In the meantime I'll keep my canoe on the river and see where it takes me! Good to see Pit, Dell and Piney still around. Nice to see lots of success stories out there.


Eric

Eric,

So glad to hear you're ok. That must have been quite a time for you. Often times stress brings about autoimmune illnesses, but diabetes is one of the diseases, left uncontrolled, can reak havoc on the body and do permanent and irreversible damage specifically smalll vessels. Hope you are now enjoying life, and if you happen to come into PIT, give me a notice; would love to catch up.

Regards,

 

[PITbull]

Why should an employer instead of, say, the government, be the one responsible for making health care available to people?

I'll respond and offer even one reason why....

Most employees who work for companies spend most of their waking hours at work. Most often the very job they do contributes either directly or indirectly to acquired diseases over time. For example, those employees who have to sit at a desk in front of a computer most of the day, lack of exercise, poor eating, stress, repetitive movement, deconditioning, can contribute to poor health, disease, and a shorter life span for many Americans. There are many other reasons why and I could sit fore days and discuss it with you if that were reasonable.

The employer isn't forced to contribute to medical, and isn't forced to a set contributory % of cost, (even though the cost of medical is a write off for the corporation). If the employer wants to stay competitive with other companies who do offer medical, and have a healthy work force, they should contribute and it is expected if employers want employees. Hell, you can always use machines and we all know what kind of service that provides. :down:

 

[delldude]

Employer provided healthcare insurance came about in the early days of labor as an enticement to lure quality people from one company to another.It never was an entitlement program.It never should be an entitlement program either.
Low income or poverty level should be absorbed 'pro bono' or 'gratis' by the healthcare industry.
Get all the MF's off welfare and working,contributing to the taxbase,bounce the illegal undocumented aliens back and reduce the drain on our system,get the health insurance companies to provide coverage at the state or national level much like they do to big companies.Bingo.

Keep the government out of my body...they can't run a country,how are they going to fix your body?

I want someone to pay for my auto insurance....maybe someone in Washington can introduce a bill?

 

[Bear96]

PITbull,

I see your point about an employer needing a healthy workforce. However, I am surprised that as a union supporter you prefer a system where an individual's health care is dependent on her or his employer. The U.S. is the only country in the advanced world that has such a system; therefore other countries seem to have rejected your reasoning. One of the downsides of the U.S. model is that if you lose your job, you lose your health coverage. The system also discourages people from leaving jobs at which they are not happy for fear of losing health coverage, which reduces labor mobility and the freedom of people to take jobs for which they may be more suited.

Plus, companies are actually motivated to provide no benefits, or as little as possible, to get an edge in costs over competitors. Your view that companies are interested in having a health workforce and are thus motivated to lavish generous health benefits on its employees sounds a bit naive. Places like WalMart don't particularly care if their cashiers or shelf-stockers are in perfect health. If they get too sick to work, they are easily replaceable, and two weeks of training a replacement is probably cheaper than maintaining expensive health benefits.

BTW, occupational injuries are covered by workers' compensation insurance, which is funded by employers (as it should be).

The employer-centered system actually HURTS workers compared to the systems found in other advanced economies (i.e., western Europe). I find it odd that a worker advocate such as you would support it. I presume you are against all the health care proposals put forth by the Democrats and like the system basically the way it is (outside of perhaps a few tweaks to improve efficiency)?

 

[USCREW]

I think that the question is:

Do we, as a government, have a moral obligation to provide healthcare insurance or do we have a moral obligation to provide healthcare?

Healthcare does not constitute a "right" as defined within the Constitution.

This is assuming one accepts the criteria that the definition of a "right" does not and should not impose an action on others for an individual to exercise that right.

If the Courts have clearly defined the difference between Liberty or Individual Rights and Welfare rights, we are somewhat stuck with the question of "Moral Obligation". If so, then the next question is:

Do we have a moral obligation to provide healthcare insurance?

I believe as a society, we do have a moral obligation to provide healthcare to those who are unable to access healthcare due to financial constraints. It is this moral obligation that provides shelter and food on a charitable basis. Why should healthcare be an exception? It shouldn't and in most cases it isn't! We do provide healthcare, however, we do not provide health insurance.

We have consciously and purposefully provided shelter and food as a benevolent act. Their use is defined as temporary and it is limited to specific need, time frame and cost constraint as defined by society. However, we do not provide health insurance, house insurance, auto insurance or life insurance as a benevolent act. Why ? The act of providing insurance is not the same as providing shelter or food.

In the event of a house fire or auto loss, insurance does not provide another house nor does it provide another car. Insurance provides reimbursement for financial loss. Health insurance operates the same way. It reimburses those who have suffered a financial loss due to healthcare expenses. Insurance is a product sold to individuals who choose to purchase a policy to protect themselves from financial loss. It is acquired by individual choice. They have a right to spend their hard earned cash for it, but it is not an obligation or mandate. Its' purchase places no obligation or burden on other individuals in our society.

And, it is not a product designed to secure healthcare. It may facilitate healthcare access not by design, but because it represents pre-approval by a third party of individual accountability for payment. It serves no purpose for society to insure those who are unable to suffer financial loss, nor will it represent pre-approval of individual accountability for payment not covered by insurance.

The method currently used to provide individual subsidized healthcare is "coupons" or Medicaid. So in fact, we have moral obligation and are providing healthcare. It is not insurance. We are not reimbursing the individual for financial loss. There is not financial loss. Through direct government payments we are purchasing healthcare from the private sector of business for individual consumption.

 

[PITbull]

PITbull,

I see your point about an employer needing a healthy workforce. However, I am surprised that as a union supporter you prefer a system where an individual's health care is dependent on her or his employer. The U.S. is the only country in the advanced world that has such a system; therefore other countries seem to have rejected your reasoning. One of the downsides of the U.S. model is that if you lose your job, you lose your health coverage. The system also discourages people from leaving jobs at which they are not happy for fear of losing health coverage, which reduces labor mobility and the freedom of people to take jobs for which they may be more suited.

Plus, companies are actually motivated to provide no benefits, or as little as possible, to get an edge in costs over competitors. Your view that companies are interested in having a health workforce and are thus motivated to lavish generous health benefits on its employees sounds a bit naive. Places like WalMart don't particularly care if their cashiers or shelf-stockers are in perfect health. If they get too sick to work, they are easily replaceable, and two weeks of training a replacement is probably cheaper than maintaining expensive health benefits.

BTW, occupational injuries are covered by workers' compensation insurance, which is funded by employers (as it should be).

The employer-centered system actually HURTS workers compared to the systems found in other advanced economies (i.e., western Europe). I find it odd that a worker advocate such as you would support it. I presume you are against all the health care proposals put forth by the Democrats and like the system basically the way it is (outside of perhaps a few tweaks to improve efficiency)?

Bear,

I was only answering your question in the previous post and offering up one example why employers should be offering employer-
contributed health care.

But, since you jumped to a conclusion...making assumptions that I thought that not only do companies want to offer healthcare but that I thought they actually cared about their employees...you've got to be kidding. All your assumptions are incorrect about what you think I think... PERSONALLY I DON'T TRUST ANY COMPANY TO PROVIDE ANTHING.

If the only option there is, as is in this present day, health care coverage should be contributed by the employer, and the majority of the premium PAID by the company. Why I think this you maybe thinking???? For the one reason I stated above. Until legislation is introduced that CAPS THE AMOUNT OF $$ THAT CAN BE SUED THROWING OUT FRIVOLOUS LAW SUITS THAT TAKE UP THE COURTS TIME AND TAX $$, and until such time the insurance companies give back to the consumer in LOWER premiums for under utilization and physicians sticking to the "gold standard" providing only what is ncecessary instead of physicians ordering every test under the sun to protect themselves from missing something they could get sued for....I'll take government subsidized health care...thank you very much. That's about the only possible cost containment for premiums that I can see. Otherwise, the government SHOULD get into the health care business all together and hire thedocs, and health care providers to deliver health care, because private health care provided insurance companies can't be trusted to give you the COVERAGE for your hard earned $$$. Premiums keep going up, coverage keeps getting reduced, employers are contributing less and less, and the employee (who isn't able to keep up with the expense with no increases in wages and salaries) is absorbing all the increases every year. NOW, THAT'S A FACT and this is what all the hubblub is all about, now isn't it! I have a daughter who is finishing her Masters, 26 years old and has a parttime job, NO INSURANCE, UNAFFORDABLE, and she can no longer qualify to be on my companies' insurance plan. So, now what???? Hopefully she can stay healthy until she gets a full time job and gets through her probation period to qualify. Now, isn't that a fact.....isn't it a fact that the candidates are not talking about the very poor BECAUSE THE VERY POOR ARE FULLY SUBSIDIZED already. So, what else can they be talking about one may ask?? Well, its folks like my daughter, those who find themselves unemployed, suddenly laid off, with NO health care, but having preexisting conditions. Another absolute fact of reality!!!

In a universal health care system, there will always be those folks who want and can purchase private insurance or have a supplement for better coverage and care can go to private companies. In this instance, private insurers will have to step up to the plate to provide even better coverage to the insurer if they want THEIR PERSONAL $$$. All a universal system would do is provide everyone with minimum health care coverage so that ALL individuals have access to at least min. health care as opposed to NONE because of uncontrolled cost of health care.

HOWEVER, if you would have posed the question on what folks would rather have, universal health care, government contributed healthcare or company contributed healthcare, what do you think I would choose????

I'd rather get a better bang for my tax $$ and besides MEDICARE is still the best reimbursement for hospitals and health care providers, and ensures that the consumer gets the BEST care!!!! When health care is managed by private insurance, the coverage sucks and the reimbursement to the healthcare prover sucks too, all the while THE INSURANCE COMPANIES MAKING BILLIONS ALLOWING FOR LITTLE PREVENTATIVE COVERAGE AND HOPIN YOU DIE quickly of your illness when you need the coverage and health care the most!!

I know intimately well!!!

So, if you would have posed the question on whether I would rather have universal health care or employer/employee contributed health care coverage...well, what do you think after all my posts for the past 6 years?????
When private entiities are involved with health care coverage without any regulation or oversight, just like lenders, oil companies etc...there is NO transparency without legislation, and these companies end up screwing the consumer from here to kingdom come.
Just look at the sublending crisis having no regulation and running AMUCK!!!
In many industries there needs to be some regulation as in the the lending business, energy business, health care business, airline business...those entities that have the ability to gouge the consumer, commit collusion, price fixing and stay under the radar, while all the while making billions and billions and billions. And if things just don't go right for them...they just dance into bankruptcy and reorganize with a clean slate, only to start over over and do it all over again!

Regards from your long time/long-winded pal,

 

[N965VJ]

I’ve had several relatives who used to live in countries with socialized health care. When they decided to have kids, they moved elsewhere.

Thanks, but I’ll pay for my own insurance and choose my own doctor. The US government can’t even deliver my mail to me, and it’s got my address on it and everything.

 

[sharktooth]

Why should an employer instead of, say, the government, be the one responsible for making health care available to people?

Ouch. Great question. Not something I would expect from you.