I hope US looks inward and focuses top down on it's own issues before attempting another ill-fated stab at consolidation. First and foremost, this pilot seniority integration issue has to be resolved. I don't know how much, if any, influence management has toward brokering a resolution, or if it really wants to, but this dispute is definitely slowing this company down. As one who is not in the pilot work group I don't feel that it's appropriate for me to weigh in too heavily on this ongoing dispute other than to say that as a member of one of many work groups that work for this company, and that has a stake in the future of this company as a going concern, the time has long come to put this acrimonious seniority integration battle in our corporate rear view mirror. Some pilots will tell other work groups to mind their business, but obviously this impasse is the business of every man or woman who punches a clock in this company.
As I have digested the broad outline of the dispute I can see both sides. As an east employee, I have worked with pilots who are frustrated with the whole process and who do not exempt their union leadership of culpability in this fiasco. I also know first hand of the sacrifices that our pilots and the rest of us have made to keep this company in business. At the end of the day, we may no longer have our pay, benefits, work rules and pensions, but as the dusk prevails and we come to find that we no longer have our seniority which is the only currency that lends itself to a relatively bearable existence in this industry in these times, then it's only natural to fight as long and as hard as we can to maintain what is left of that currency. But to fight to the death? When I think of the consequences to all involved it's not worth it.
If, and once the pilot issue is resolved then I hope we focus on delivering a good product. It would be great if management focused on raising morale and rededicated itself to the internal customer. It's no secret: The happier we are the happier our external customer is. The external customer is really pulling for us because they know that when we feel that Tempe is behind us then it'll make their journey that much better. There obviously has been some positives in terms of improving our customer service metrics. But we need to do more. We have to focus more on on what makes us more attractive to the customer as opposed to what makes us more attractive to a potential merger partner. If we can accomplish that in action and in perception, then I believe the rest will take care of itself.
Let's face it folks: If we don't already know it then we need to realize that the rest of the industry wants us to fail. It was no secret that Delta at one time based their convalescence on our demise. It has been mentioned more than once that the best thing for the industry is if we shriveled up and died. Our competitors don't want us as people, but they want our assets as a company. We all have airline friends in other companies who love and care for us. And if we go under--and lose our seniority--they'll do what they can for us to get on with their companies to maintain our careers if we so desire. But we also know they won't be losing sleep if we tank. It's the nature of the beast. Long before United and Continental got together UA coveted our assets. We still have a valuable product. And great people executing this product from east to west. It's US vs. them now. And I don't mean east vs. west. We all need to hunker down and develop a bunker mentality to do what we have to do to not just survive, but more importantly to thrive. That to me is our mission as employees of this company.
We are a small airline now. We have to get stronger, bigger and better. We have to put our best foot forward from top to bottom. If we do so and things don't work out, then we all can hold our heads up and say we fought a helluva fight. Pulling together as a company will go a long ways toward ensuring our long term survival. Pulling against each other will hasten our demise. I hope before Tempe attempts to consolidate again elsewhere, that it leads an effort to fully consolidate right here.
