What PitBull said!
For some reason, rampers making money seems to piss everybody off.
1. You try working weekends, holidays, out in all weather - rain, snow, hot, cold - and see if $8 covers it. Not to mention the damage the work does to your back, knees, shoulders and neck. 70 pounds is the max lifting limit. That limit assumes you are standing, and can use your legs and glutes to lift. Not happening in a cargo bin! We had a physician observe our work, and said due to the posture the cargo bin forces an agent in, 5 lbs should be the maximum lift. Mishandled baggage, anyone? And shame on the IAM for letting this stand. If union brothers and sisters are going to do this work, there needs to be top-notch insurance, therapy and attendance relief.
2. If rampers were just bag mashers, that'd be one thing. Over the years as a ramper, I've pushed your aircraft, air started it, de-iced it, been responsible for calculating your w&b, handled the ramp AND air freight end of shipping your valuables, pets and deceased loved ones. Cleaned the plane, catered the plane. I'd bet large no other work group on the property assumed more duties over the past ten years than ramp. $8 to do all that? Hah! For $8 I'll work in a climate controlled place with reasonable hours.
FWIW, the market forces over at WN pay rampers $25 TOS.
Personally, I don't think US rampers, current or former, will ever be restored - not even if other work groups are. The company and IAM went to too much trouble to get rid of them. Fleet is the ONLY group that lost recall rights. There has to be a reason for that.
For some reason, rampers making money seems to piss everybody off.
1. You try working weekends, holidays, out in all weather - rain, snow, hot, cold - and see if $8 covers it. Not to mention the damage the work does to your back, knees, shoulders and neck. 70 pounds is the max lifting limit. That limit assumes you are standing, and can use your legs and glutes to lift. Not happening in a cargo bin! We had a physician observe our work, and said due to the posture the cargo bin forces an agent in, 5 lbs should be the maximum lift. Mishandled baggage, anyone? And shame on the IAM for letting this stand. If union brothers and sisters are going to do this work, there needs to be top-notch insurance, therapy and attendance relief.
2. If rampers were just bag mashers, that'd be one thing. Over the years as a ramper, I've pushed your aircraft, air started it, de-iced it, been responsible for calculating your w&b, handled the ramp AND air freight end of shipping your valuables, pets and deceased loved ones. Cleaned the plane, catered the plane. I'd bet large no other work group on the property assumed more duties over the past ten years than ramp. $8 to do all that? Hah! For $8 I'll work in a climate controlled place with reasonable hours.
FWIW, the market forces over at WN pay rampers $25 TOS.
Personally, I don't think US rampers, current or former, will ever be restored - not even if other work groups are. The company and IAM went to too much trouble to get rid of them. Fleet is the ONLY group that lost recall rights. There has to be a reason for that.