I think it's time for the cockroaches to make plans for a massive mobilization in the event of a strike at US Airways by one or more labor groups. The organization has always said it's behind the folks of US Airways, all those excellent employees (except for PHL ground personnel) who make our travels easier and pleasant. When the strike happens, I think us cockroaches need to be there with coffee and encouragement for the people of our airline. Now with winter rapidly approaching and snow about to fall in many of the possible picket locations, these folks will need a little bit of warmth.

After all, we're in this for the people, not out of selfish mileage-related reasons, right?

As much as I empathize with the plight of US' employees, as an olde thyme roach and roachfest attendee I must say I'm against FFOCUS support of a strike. A strike is the worst possible thing employees could think of right now, and IMHO counterproductive to the philosophy of FFOCUS which is to help US succeed with constructive criticism. And a strike would be anything but constructive. :td:

There is no way i would support an action that will potentially cause 30,000 people to be unemployed.

This is a bad move. Period.

Strike probably = liquidation.

Unless you're prepared to shelter a striker until they find another job, I don't think coffee, doughnuts and words of encouragement are going to cut it.

NO. I think strike = no USAirways - not even for a week. I like the airline and want it to survive.

As much as I'll support US Employees I won't support them striking.

-JC

While I'm supportive of the employees, I can't support a strike, since it will mean the end of the airline. Can't and won't do it.

Not a member of FFOCUS but have to agree with my colleagues here.. but I think a lot of us find it difficult to understand the union mentality to begin with.

I agree wholeheartedly with the previous posters. Across the legacy carriers, as we all know, revenues < costs. If this "new normal" airline economy means that for a subset of employees their individual "deal" winds up being revenue < costs for them personally, it's best for everyone, those employees included, if they find another employment opportunity where their personal revenue (income, benefits - psychic or otherwise) > their personal costs (job hassle, etc etc). It's that simple. I don't blame employees for feeling let down, POd, depressed, enraged, whatever. But there will be some for whom continued employment remains a situation where revenue > costs, on a personal level.

I don't see how a strike maximizes utility for the population of US employees. Those who don't care if the airline folds should leave, so that those who want to stay, can.

Time to face facts.

US has made it's move and tied its fate & the fate of its employees to what comes out of reorganization. A strike does absolutely nothing to promote US survival.

I respect US employees, and I empathize with the angst & disappointment of cutbacks & salary/benefit reductions. But those employees who can't accept what is happening and feel compelled to strike need to let it go and move on to another job -- that's life.

Barry

To all our friends here,

As a group, FFOCUS is not taking a position on current management-employee discussions or potential actions. I state this emphatically.

Our purpose is to support US Airways as an ongong concern--to help the airline survive and grow. If anyone is confused about that please visit our website and read about our organization.

We are VERY supportive of all employees at US and will continue to work hard to help achieve the purpose as stated above.

Please feel free to contact me or any of my colleagues on the Policy Board if you have any questions.

Thanks and best regards

Art

Agreed. FFOCUS should steer very clear of labor issues.

I respect US employees, and I empathize with the angst & disappointment of cutbacks & salary/benefit reductions. But those employees who can't accept what is happening and feel compelled to strike need to let it go and move on to another job -- that's life.

If I were running the unions, I'd urge everyone to resign with zero notice. En masse. (it takes almost 6 weeks to get a SIDA badge and be able to access the ramp, for instance).

Outcome is the same. Be careful what you wish for.

And that's saying a LOT. Once upon a blue moon, I was a PI employee (in RIC and ROA thank you). I still have dozens of good pals out there still working for US -- and I can tell you that they have ALL been beat up over these past years pretty bad.

However, a strike now would only be catastrophic for all parties involved. The industry continues to change at a very fast pace and US needs to play catchup. That's what they are trying to do.

An employee strike at US in the days ahead would be tantamount to EA's final strike that put the whole ship under.

Under no circumstances would I recommend or support a strike now against US.

Without getting overly political, I find a lot of parallels here to the election. E.g., its possible to support the troops without supporting the war.

In this case, its being supportive of the employees but not being willing to agree with the choice of the war they want to wage.

Personally, I am all for the threat of the strike. If they actually walk, they're nuts. I say this knowing immediately family members will be affected. Then again, I already know theyre nuts ;)

I may be the only one who has this view, but I don't think the employees (at least the AFA) really intend to strike. I think they need the threat of a strike to have some leverage in the negotiations (which are otherwise not really a negotiation in the traditional sense of the term). The mechanics are a different matter, I think they really might strike.

But I do think that everyone understands that a strike is the fatal blow. Calling a strike is a declaration that the deal is so bad that they don't think any of their fellow employees would benefit by having the job. I don't think any labor leader has any illusions that U could survive a strike and they would be an improved position.

There won' t be a long cold wait on the strike lines. If a strike happens, it will be like EAL -- *poof*

After all, we're in this for the people, not out of selfish mileage-related reasons, right?

I'm in this for the survival of the airlines and the tens of thousands of employees, unionized, non-unionized, etc.

Not for selfish, self-serving union leaders that will put those tens of thousands of employees out of business either of of spite or to justify their leadership postions and 'prove' how powerful they are.

Isn't assisted suicide illegal? If not, Kevorkian may be in the running as a union leader :rolleyes:

The amazing thing is the Union knows a strike is "game over", but they are willing to do it because it would set up other airline workers better. That's what the article indicated to me, because of the inclusion of the international union into the fray. Huh? How do you sell that to the USair rank and file?

"Yeah, you'll lose your job, but your DL brothers/sisters will have more leverage!"

Umm, no thanks. I think I understand threatening, but if they actually go through with it I've got to question the logic of the strategy. A pyrrhic victory if ever there was one.

Or, it could be that the IAM and AFA members figure that they are better off either on unemployment (the Alaska flight attendants collected it during their last CHAOS action) or that they can find employment with equal or greater compensation than what they will be left with if/when the contracts are abrogated.

In which case, it's more of a "who cares" kind of attitude. Don't discount this.

I do believe, however, that it's the only arrow in the unions' quiver when dealing with relatively clueless management swinging the bankruptcy stick in their proverbial face.

I think I've proved my point. Thank you.

You showed your colors early:

... except for PHL ground personnel...

The time to support these people (all of them) is not when they throw themselves on their swords -- that will be too late. Now is the time to support them. Show them your support when you fly. Give them a kind word. Be thoughtful and considerate as you move through the system. Don't be demanding favors and compensation that they cannot give. Do the little things that make their day easier -- smile, be pleasant, say hello.

If you want to bring them coffee and donuts do it now. When a ramper is standing in line at the coffee counter on the concourse buy him (or her) a cup of coffee and thank them for getting you plane taken care of. Bring a box of Krispy Kremes through security and give it to a supervisor to take downstairs. Or give it to the ticket agents.

If you really care you don't have to wait for anything.

I think I've proved my point. Thank you.

If your point was that a group of folks trying to help an airline succeed will not get behind a group threatening to make them fail, then yes, I think the point has been proven.

If you want to bring them coffee and donuts do it now. When a ramper is standing in line at the coffee counter on the concourse buy him (or her) a cup of coffee and thank them for getting you plane taken care of. Bring a box of Krispy Kremes through security and give it to a supervisor to take downstairs. Or give it to the ticket agents.


Chocolate covered popcorn definitely brings smiles and thank yous. ^

You showed your colors early:



The time to support these people (all of them) is not when they throw themselves on their swords -- that will be too late. Now is the time to support them. Show them your support when you fly. Give them a kind word. Be thoughtful and considerate as you move through the system. Don't be demanding favors and compensation that they cannot give. Do the little things that make their day easier -- smile, be pleasant, say hello.

If you want to bring them coffee and donuts do it now. When a ramper is standing in line at the coffee counter on the concourse buy him (or her) a cup of coffee and thank them for getting you plane taken care of. Bring a box of Krispy Kremes through security and give it to a supervisor to take downstairs. Or give it to the ticket agents.

If you really care you don't have to wait for anything.

As a FFOCUS member I will never support a strike. I think TomBascom says it best (above) about the focus of our support towards the employee groups. I've been traveling alot lately and I have found the US crews to continue to display the utmost professionalism and provide great service while keeping us all safe in the skies. I have been making an extra, concerted effort to look them in the eye when I'm deplaning and give them a heartfelt "Thanks for the Great Ride!" or "Great Job, I'll be back soon". I think they really like that.

Now TomBascom has given us all some great ideas of how we can support them through kind acts. I especially like the idea of buying them coffee if you see them in the line at Starbucks. Also, bringing a dozen KK's never hurts either.

As a FFOCUS member I will never support a strike. I think TomBascom says it best (above) about the focus of our support towards the employee groups. I've been traveling alot lately and I have found the US crews to continue to display the utmost professionalism and provide great service while keeping us all safe in the skies. I have been making an extra, concerted effort to look them in the eye when I'm deplaning and give them a heartfelt "Thanks for the Great Ride!" or "Great Job, I'll be back soon". I think they really like that.

Now TomBascom has given us all some great ideas of how we can support them through kind acts. I especially like the idea of buying them coffee if you see them in the line at Starbucks. Also, bringing a dozen KK's never hurts either.

I have brought a box of KK's a few times to GSO and it really does help.

Chocolate covered popcorn definitely brings smiles and thank yous. ^
And Jelly Beans work well too. :cool:

You can buy a 5 lb bag at Sams that are as good or better the Jelly Bellies for about $8.00 bucks. I can tell you that they bring smiles everytime.

"The members of FFOCUS would like to extend a sincere and heartfelt thanks to the Communication Workers of America and US Airways negotiating teams for arriving at a new Tentative Agreement that will allow the Plan of Transformation to move ahead.

We urge all interested parties to continue the "Heavy Lifting" required to make our carrier of choice successful and stable both now and in the future. As always you have our continued support and thanks for a job well done."

Since we here on Flyer Talk and FFOCUS constitute "Interested parties" I think there are a few things each of us can do and have a real impact. Tom's ideas were spot on. We can continue to write, call & e-mail Consumer Affairs and let them know when things go right. Also break down and let the moths out of your wallet and go someplace on US Airways.

Tom's ideas were spot on. We can continue to write, call & e-mail Consumer Affairs and let them know when things go right. Also break down and let the moths out of your wallet and go someplace on US Airways.

I e-mailed Deb Thompson a trip report detailing how "right" things went (for the most part) on my Thanksgiving flights. Yesterday I also booked one of my employees in paid F for a business trip to PHL today. (My apologies to any roaches who were on US 64 today and didn't get upgraded at the gate.)

I think I've proved my point. Thank you.

I'm not sure you ever saw anyone else's.

I think I've proved my point. Thank you.

Your point being what, exactly? You seemed to be implying that if FFOCUS didn't support the strike that it would be for selfish reasons. If you believe that to be your point, no, I don't think you've proved it at all. Care to clarify?

ARE YOU NUTS???

a strike is in no-one's best interest

not even the frustrated, misguided union members

Actually, I'm in it for selfish, mileage related reasons. :D

I think I've proved my point. Thank you.
I think you did too... and very cleverly...

Unfortunately I think it went way over the heads of the mileage demons here.

Actually, I'm in it for selfish, mileage related reasons. :D

OK, me too. I just didn't want to be first. :D

I think you did too... and very cleverly...

Unfortunately I think it went way over the heads of the mile whores here.

So it is appropriate for someone who is critical of US to call it's customers names?

But the other post was deemed a personal attack. Great now I understand completely.

Yes I am a Miles Prostitute. In fact I think I may just change my screen name. MrMilesProstitue. Kinda has a "Ring" to it. Then when I get married I can have MrsMilesProstitute, then MrMilesProstituteJR, and so it goes.

But I resent being called a whore.

What happened?? Fill your regular litter box on US Aviation? Welcome to Flyer Talk!

According to our stats, I have been a Flyertalk member for two years longer than you have.

I'm glad to see you are just as charming here as you are on usaviation.

I'm no Harvard MBA, but I would think it's obvious to anyone not brainwashed by union leadership that a strike equals liquidation. I have never given much credit to the management of US, but some of the things I read from the rank and file on USaviation scare me. It's as though some believe that there's this giant pot of money that the evil empire doesn't want to share. And if it's wasn't Wolf, Gangwal, Siegel, Bronner....it'll be someone else. It seems as though labor is just programmed not only to disagree with management, but to try and undermine - actually HATE them. A scenario dating back to the building of the pyramids, I know. Granted - if I'm there 20+ years, making less than I did 10 years ago, and I'm fed propoganda about management making six-plus figures, I'd be unhappy. But expense from labor cost is an industry-wide problem....and even C-student broadcasters like me know that they have to cut more costs or they will die.

Now we're adding in the threat of a strike. I just can't believe that people who truly want to keep their jobs would believe there to be any other outcome from a strike than sure liquidation. As passionate and dedicated as we may be about this airline, the fact remains that we have to fly SOME airline to get from point A to point B. I love the option of US, but if the FA's and mechanics are walking the line while I'm trying to get to point B, someone else will get the money. And for our friend above who used the term "mile whore", we're the ones still buying the tickets.

I couldn't sleep at night if I, as a leader, encouraged my staff to take an action that I knew would lead to complete loss of livelihood.

But hey, I'm just in it for the miles.