This thread, and the one entitled "hawaiian operations" , are a perfect example of why airline employees are where they are today. And why airline managements and union officials are where they are today (at the Country Club).
I saw only one message in either thread that spared so much as a thought for the 1,900 people who find themselves unemployed today; many after having devoted decades of service to Aloha Airlines.
And this is neither the first time, nor the only airline at which this has happened. Every time, since deregulation, that an airline has found itself in financial peril, the first thing the brother and sister employees at other airlines have thought about has been, "What about their assets? Do you think we'll get any?" Not, "Oh my God, those poor employees..."
Do the US Airways employees have that short of a memory that they don't remember how it felt when the likes of Southwest and Delta were wringing their hands and smirking at the prospect of seeing them on the street?
No, the predominant theme today regarding Aloha is, "Too bad about them, but what's in it for us?" What would the founders of the labor movement in this country think about workers practically squealing with delight over the plight of fellow workers, when the former group sees even the slightest advantage to themselves resulting from the latter's misfortune?
That is exactly the attitude that is about to get a long-standing labor union thrown off the US Airways property. Labor groups are supposed to work in unison, across all companies, for the betterment of their class and craft. They were never meant to pit worker against worker, because they happen to wear a different uniform.
And because the other guy's misfortune might lead to my fortune.
My thoughts are with all of the Aloha Airlines employees today.