West Tech Ops

[EricLv2Fish]

Many of you will soon be part of the IAM as you well know. A transition agreement hasn't been reached yet that will crete you into the IAM, but management has decided not to give you your earned annual merit increase of 3% because "of the IAM contract". This is BS. Your not part of the IAM as of yet and you won't be eligible for any IAM contract step increases until you fall under their contract (this could take a very long time...1 or 2 years or maybe longer). I would be outraged...not at the loss of a 3% pay raise as much as the underhanded cheap shot being thrown by the company Union negotiator. I could be wrong, but it appears to me DP has deferred these type of matters to his Union hitman. I don't want to stir the pot, but I can't tell you how much it bothers me that my friends and co-workers I left behind are getting such a low blow. The letter that was sent to DP expressing your disappointment in the company's decision to regress from the promised merit increase should be followed up. Your not protected by the IAM yet...or so is my understanding, but nothing can keep you from organizing your group from within. Make a stand, or face more of the same to come.

 

[BeenThereDoneThat]

Many of you will soon be part of the IAM as you well know. A transition agreement hasn't been reached yet that will crete you into the IAM, but management has decided not to give you your earned annual merit increase of 3% because "of the IAM contract". This is BS. Your not part of the IAM as of yet and you won't be eligible for any IAM contract step increases until you fall under their contract (this could take a very long time...1 or 2 years or maybe longer). I would be outraged...not at the loss of a 3% pay raise as much as the underhanded cheap shot being thrown by the company Union negotiator. I could be wrong, but it appears to me DP has deferred these type of matters to his Union hitman. I don't want to stir the pot, but I can't tell you how much it bothers me that my friends and co-workers I left behind are getting such a low blow. The letter that was sent to DP expressing your disappointment in the company's decision to regress from the promised merit increase should be followed up. Your not protected by the IAM yet...or so is my understanding, but nothing can keep you from organizing your group from within. Make a stand, or face more of the same to come.

Eric: I understand how you feel about this issue. But I think that you are barking up the wrong tree. First and foremost, it is the company’s decision to deprive, and wrongfully IMO, the 3% to its employees based upon their past performance. However, that decision has absolutely nothing to do with the IAM and there is no Union hit man. This is a “bean counterâ€￾ decision which DP is going along with. It penalizes the individual employee for decisions over which they have no control. The employees did not “VOTEâ€￾ union, the NMB rendered that decision. It is not the first or last time the company has deprived an earned increase to its employees and that I feel is wrong.

I have never been a huge proponent of unions in general, but company actions of this nature drive workers to union representation in order to be and feel protected. I am an IAM member, not by choice, but by NMB ruling, but I will fully support them as long as they represent my class and craft. I will also be one of the first to sling arrows if I think they are not doing what is in our best interest.

Bad management decisions should be blamed on the Company. Not the Union.

 

[LCC_#1]

Eric: I understand how you feel about this issue. But I think that you are barking up the wrong tree. First and foremost, it is the company’s decision to deprive, and wrongfully IMO, the 3% to its employees based upon their past performance. However, that decision has absolutely nothing to do with the IAM and there is no Union hit man. This is a “bean counter” decision which DP is going along with. It penalizes the individual employee for decisions over which they have no control. The employees did not “VOTE” union, the NMB rendered that decision. It is not the first or last time the company has deprived an earned increase to its employees and that I feel is wrong.

I have never been a huge proponent of unions in general, but company actions of this nature drive workers to union representation in order to be and feel protected. I am an IAM member, not by choice, but by NMB ruling, but I will fully support them as long as they represent my class and craft. I will also be one of the first to sling arrows if I think they are not doing what is in our best interest.

Bad management decisions should be blamed on the Company. Not the Union.

Time for West and East to unite.

 

[EricLv2Fish]

Eric: I understand how you feel about this issue. But I think that you are barking up the wrong tree. First and foremost, it is the company’s decision to deprive, and wrongfully IMO, the 3% to its employees based upon their past performance. However, that decision has absolutely nothing to do with the IAM and there is no Union hit man. This is a “bean counterâ€￾ decision which DP is going along with. It penalizes the individual employee for decisions over which they have no control. The employees did not “VOTEâ€￾ union, the NMB rendered that decision. It is not the first or last time the company has deprived an earned increase to its employees and that I feel is wrong.

I have never been a huge proponent of unions in general, but company actions of this nature drive workers to union representation in order to be and feel protected. I am an IAM member, not by choice, but by NMB ruling, but I will fully support them as long as they represent my class and craft. I will also be one of the first to sling arrows if I think they are not doing what is in our best interest.

Bad management decisions should be blamed on the Company. Not the Union.

I'm in total agreement with you BeenThere. I agree it's not the union's fault. Of course it's not, but the company is spinning it as such which is total BS. Funny when this group was at will employees the company looked out for them, now they are getting hit below the belt due to association to the union by which they had no choice! That's why I started this thread, so maybe...just maybe those in Tempe will stop the Union hitman from dishing out such low blows (the hired labor consultant dude from the East...I forget his name). Maybe when I used the term "Union hitman" you miss understood?

 

[700UW]

Eric,

It is not a "Union Hitman", it is a Company Hitman.

 

[EricLv2Fish]

Eric,

It is not a "Union Hitman", it is a Company Hitman.

Okay...his been hired to "hit" the Union so I'm thinking in terms of "Union Hit" man. I can see where I confused some people 😳

 

[BeenThereDoneThat]

Okay...his been hired to "hit" the Union so I'm thinking in terms of "Union Hit" man. I can see where I confused some people 😳

Versus: Company misspokesman or PC spokesperson.

Regardless the employees are getting; :mf_boff:

 

[EricLv2Fish]

This is a “bean counterâ€￾ decision which DP is going along with.

Ahh...just remembered his name...not a bean counter. The company labor relations man, Al Heminway. If the 3% is not given then even if he or DP was not involved in the decision they will still be to blame. It's not too late to show some good faith but time is running out!

 

[700UW]

Al "Head-in-the-Way" is a piece of work, he will make life as difficult as possible and the employees will have to band together and "work by the book" to get Al off his position.

He is VP of Labor Relations, he was the man who thought he would win the airbus arbitration and was actually shocked when the company lost, he took his revenge out on the IAM M&R during bankruptcy.

He was a former ramp mananger and regional ramp director and is original PSA.

 

[AIRWOMAN]

Al "Head-in-the-Way" is a piece of work, he will make life as difficult as possible and the employees will have to band together and "work by the book" to get Al off his position.

He is VP of Labor Relations, he was the man who thought he would win the airbus arbitration and was actually shocked when the company lost, he took his revenge out on the IAM M&R during bankruptcy.

He was a former ramp mananger and regional ramp director and is original PSA.

Whatever it was that Al did before, he continues to do it. This man is the VP of Labor Relations......more like VP of Labor Anti-Relations. From my short dealings with him he it is NOT his goal to create any type of relation with labor, it appears to be quite the opposite. His core attitude to employees on the west was that the numbers (of employees) were so small, that west employees were insignificant and didn't matter. And if the west employees didn't like it, too bad, we would get used to it because the east employees did. Imagine that!!

It appears that he brings his philosophies and attitudes with him. Or is the revenge mode he continues in?

I'm not sure who actually made the decision to not give the west employees their merit raises......based on last year's performance evaluations......but it's become quite obvious that there is some sort of "poison" flowing throughout the new company. And that is why the "performance evaluations" were so late this year........waiting to see which union would be the representing union..........why give employees the increase they earned when it can be tactically delayed and the $$ be kept in the coffers. Why "red circle" employees pay at 3% higher than we have to? :down:

It wasn't that way before as Eric has stated. But now, it's permeated through and through.........from the front line managers to the top. The only employees "fighting" this issue are those employees that are affected.......management appears to not "fight" for the employees any more.......too scared about losing their jobs, making waves, etc. Self preservation mode is in full swing.......do whatever it takes to keep YOUR job and to hell with everyone else.

Now where did that come from??? That's a rhetorical question by the way. 😉

 

[Kev3188]

What's a "red circle" employee? I've seen that before on other threads, but can't remember....

 

[AIRWOMAN]

What's a "red circle" employee? I've seen that before on other threads, but can't remember....

That's the sugar coated way to say PAY FREEZE. Just looking at my crystal ball, cloudy as it is, many people will have their pay frozen until PHX freezes over......and with a contract that isn't ammendable until 2009, plus years of negotiations...........get the long undies out.

 

[EricLv2Fish]

Whatever it was that Al did before, he continues to do it. This man is the VP of Labor Relations......more like VP of Labor Anti-Relations. From my short dealings with him he it is NOT his goal to create any type of relation with labor, it appears to be quite the opposite. His core attitude to employees on the west was that the numbers (of employees) were so small, that west employees were insignificant and didn't matter. And if the west employees didn't like it, too bad, we would get used to it because the east employees did. Imagine that!!

Your probably dead on AIRWOMAN. It's unfortunate Al Heminway is taking the Sherman approach. If organized labor doesn't get their act together Al will continue to feast on comatosed labor groups. You know when you beat some one down continually, eventually they rise up and strike back. When will enough be enough? Good folks of Tech-Ops you better get involved and stick together or take whatever is coming to you bending over...Sherman is burning his way to Atlanta and your in his way! The 3% merit increase is oh so insignificant as to what may be coming in the transition agreement.

 

[EricLv2Fish]

If you have marketable job skills you don't need Al Hemmingway or US Airways. As many have reported here there is life ouside of US Airways.

Quitting isn't the answer for everyone Bob. It was for me based on many factors, most of them personal not professional. A little courtesy and respect should be expected from the Sandcastle. So far it seems like only a sharp stick in the eye, or a kick in the crotch are being passed out to the non-represented tech-ops folks who will be creted. The company has not been upfront with them and has shown unethical behavior by telling them they can't get the 3% merit increase due to the union contract (which they aren't even under yet!). Unethical to tell the employees this. It's an outrage. :down:

 

[EricLv2Fish]

Eric,

I happen to agree with you.

The simple fact is that in the modern world courtesy, dignity & respect have becone arcane and ancient concepts.

I was "downsized" while holding an outstanding performance plaque on my lap. So there goes the "Dignity & Respect" concept right into the toilet.

Bob, your comparing things that aren't quite equal. These folks haven't been downsized forcefully, but were lied to about the reason the 3% merit increase will not be given. Downsizing from time to time is a reality most companies face and is cold but a neccessary action (most cases) for the survival of the group. Downsizing is not considered unethical in general. Being lied to is a whole different ballgame. So is the company taking away Johnny's (tech-ops) lunch time ice cream desert (3% merit increase) because Johnny is friends with Larry (IAM). This action is full of spite.