chicagorich
Dec 29, 04, 12:17 am
Interesting article----
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A32471-2004Dec28.html?nav=rss_business
US Airways Appeals To Workers For Help
Troubled Airline Seeks Volunteer Labor for New Year's Weekend
Washington Post
Trying to avert another round of flight disruptions, US Airways yesterday sought volunteers from its nonunion workforce to work without pay at its troubled Philadelphia operations over the New Year's weekend.
The airline canceled nearly 400 flights last week, leaving thousands of passengers stranded or separated from their luggage, after an unusually high number of flight attendants and baggage handlers based at the Philadelphia airport called in sick.
Yesterday, US Airways said its flight operations were back to normal, although the carrier was still trying to clear out the backlog of misplaced luggage -- at one point it totaled more than 10,000 pieces -- and deliver them to their owners.
Additional workers and executives had already been dispatched to Philadelphia earlier this week to help restore service, but yesterday the airline sought even more employees to work for free between Dec. 30 and Jan. 3.
"This is a volunteer program," the airline said in an e-mail to management and office staff. "You will not be paid if this is on your day(s) off. It promises to be a rewarding opportunity to learn more about the operation of our airline and come face to face with our customers."
Depending on their background, the employees will be assigned to meet and greet passengers at the ticket counter, security line, curbside or baggage claim, as well as provide assistance on the ramp and in the baggage sorting area, the memo said.
The memo came the same day the airline told all employees, including union workers, that it would conduct "an enhanced review of each person's attendance record during the holiday period" from Dec. 23 to Jan. 3 and consider "disciplinary action and/or loss of pay" if it is determined that any sick leave was unmerited.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A32471-2004Dec28.html?nav=rss_business
US Airways Appeals To Workers For Help
Troubled Airline Seeks Volunteer Labor for New Year's Weekend
Washington Post
Trying to avert another round of flight disruptions, US Airways yesterday sought volunteers from its nonunion workforce to work without pay at its troubled Philadelphia operations over the New Year's weekend.
The airline canceled nearly 400 flights last week, leaving thousands of passengers stranded or separated from their luggage, after an unusually high number of flight attendants and baggage handlers based at the Philadelphia airport called in sick.
Yesterday, US Airways said its flight operations were back to normal, although the carrier was still trying to clear out the backlog of misplaced luggage -- at one point it totaled more than 10,000 pieces -- and deliver them to their owners.
Additional workers and executives had already been dispatched to Philadelphia earlier this week to help restore service, but yesterday the airline sought even more employees to work for free between Dec. 30 and Jan. 3.
"This is a volunteer program," the airline said in an e-mail to management and office staff. "You will not be paid if this is on your day(s) off. It promises to be a rewarding opportunity to learn more about the operation of our airline and come face to face with our customers."
Depending on their background, the employees will be assigned to meet and greet passengers at the ticket counter, security line, curbside or baggage claim, as well as provide assistance on the ramp and in the baggage sorting area, the memo said.
The memo came the same day the airline told all employees, including union workers, that it would conduct "an enhanced review of each person's attendance record during the holiday period" from Dec. 23 to Jan. 3 and consider "disciplinary action and/or loss of pay" if it is determined that any sick leave was unmerited.