Source: AFA PIT E-line.
SAirways loses $232 Million this quarter...some "clarity of thought"
Dear Members,
USAirways reported loss for this quarter was a staggering $232 million. (see
attachment)
I believe much of these losses are due to escalating and out-of-control
fuel prices, the bankruptcy threat and subsequent filing, as well as, and
including Dr. Bronner (RSA) informing the media in August that if they
couldn't get labor cost reduction, U could liquidate.
That surely didn't help our bookings going forward.
Labor finds itself in a quagmire. Here we sit with court imposed horrific
pay cuts, in our third concession, with many of the company proposals
demanding 'outsourcing' of labor jobs, furlough uncertainty, major anxiety,
and shattered morale.
IAM is at the table with a company proposal that allows for outsourcing and
the elimination of over 60% of the IAM and related members, CWA sits with
the most horrific proposal of all of labor including job elimination and
reduced wages that a teenager living at home could not use for spending
money.
AFA struggles to lessen the severity of concessions to our members knowing
that our leverage to secure a ratifiable agreement is evaporating with
these losses. Though ALPA has a ratified agreement, the pilot profession
and average compensation has been reduced to the compensation of a
topped-out Grey Hound bus driver. We have a management team that has
focused nearly 3 years (too long) hammering labor on cost cuts to below the
average low cost carrier. They missed the boat on developing a sound
business plan for this environment after the first bankruptcy, and now, they
run around trying to plug the holes they created in this sinking ship. We recognize
that the stakeholder RSA (Bronner and his Board) have allowed still too
high compensation to incentivize and retain this management, while allowing
and giving "carte blanch" to this management to abuse and shatter from
existence their greatest company assets...labor.
What do we do in this fragile state?
If we fight, we lose the company, and if we concede, we lose our personal
financial security to maintain our every day lives.
Somewhere in our battered minds and shattered hearts we must think
rationally, and put aside the anger for a moment... bring this all in
perspective and have "clarity of thought".
We are approaching the holidays. Our bookings are down, and our airline can
not afford to have one bad weather week, or any flight cancellations. If we
as labor lose interest in our company, focus on the negative, and let apathy
take over, there will be nothing left to negotiate... agree to.. disagree
with... live with...leave with... non-rev on.
During these next few months, and as hard as it is in managing our personal
and work lives with such a reduced wage and work conditions, please focus on
changing the "image" of our airline by assuring the customer that labor is
as dedicated and committed to providing the superior service they have been
accustomed to. We may then have some leverage to secure a better deal, and
reverse the momentum in the opposite direction of this downward spiral.
In solidarity,
Teddy
Local 40
