<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Workers in other industries could only dream about the rules of everyday conduct established by agreements between the major airlines and their unions over the last few decades. Pilots worked 80 hours or less during an entire month. Mechanics were paid for waving planes away from gates. Flight attendants got to stay in luxury hotels on the road.
Over the last two years, though, billions of dollars in losses have forced not just deep pay cuts on airline unions. They also have brought an overhaul of the so-called work rules that will drastically revamp how employees of the major airlines do their jobs. The inspiration is profitable airlines like Southwest and JetBlue, and the goal is survival.</font>
FWAAA
Apr 29, 03, 10:14 am
Excellent article.
Of course the unions didn't cause the current crisis among the full-service majors, but they have done precious little to help the situation.
Of course the unions didn't cause the current crisis among the full-service majors, but they have done precious little to help the situation.</font>
While it definitely takes two to tango (the airlines had to agree to these idiotic rules), I don't think anyone from the management side dreamed up the "fly while you vacation" double dipping described on page two - some pilots union rep thought he could push this one through, and it worked. I think the unions have done as much damage as management - United is the "employee-owned" airline, which was supposed to make everyone more committed to mutual success, but their unions have been as aggressive as ever, and pushed United through some incredible cash burning. There's enough blame for everyone on this.
clrankin
Apr 29, 03, 2:54 pm
OK, so let's see if I get this straight. Some of the things that are going on in the airline business now are ludicrous, at best:
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">And it is proposing to have crews return from overseas flights after one day's rest instead of two</font>
If I'm on business travel and go somewhere early and/or stay longer than it takes to get the job done and expense it to the company, I'm expected to explain why at some level. Usually a note saying that the airfare was cheaper with a Saturday night stay involved will suffice for them to pay for hotel, rental car, and meals-- but sometimes it isn't. I don't feel too bad about these folks losing their paid mini-holidays in Europe.
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">American stops paying flight attendants the moment they leave a jet, though they might not reach their homes or hotels for an hour or more.</font>
Welcome to the real world, folks. Even the thought of someone getting paid to commute from home to their place of work (the airport, for these people) is laughable.
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Pilots, by far the best-paid airline employees...proposal...would raise the maximum time that a pilot can fly to 90 hours a month, from 81 hours a month now</font>
It seems that a normal, 8 hour per day job, would result in someone working roughly 160 hours per month. To think these guys would have a problem working 90-- especially for what they're paid-- is a joke. Essentially they're working a part time job now, right?
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Under current work rules, a pilot on a two-week vacation is allowed to bid for a trip that begins the latter part of the second week. Because the vacationing pilot is not available to come to the airport, the airline must call in a reserve pilot, one who is not actively on the job, to take the shift. The pilot who signed up for the assignment gets paid and gets the time off, while the reserve pilot does the work and also gets paid.</font>
No wonder the airlines are in trouble, if they're actually paying people who aren't working. Shame on these pilots for scamming the system.
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">But Ms. Reiley, the Teamsters trustee, said her members were "getting very angry" and would keep fighting to protect their contracts.</font>
Hopefully Ms. Reiley and the Teamsters will go the way of the dinosaurs on this one.
Am I the only person who thinks that some of these airline "rules" are ludicrous? If I handled my job the same way that these folks handled theirs, I certainly wouldn't be getting good performance reviews and raises. No wonder ticket prices are so high on some routes, and airlines have to start nickel-and-diming their customers. Their labor costs must be through the roof.
Am I the only person who sees a problem with some of this? Or am I missing something here? Believe me, if I'm wrong it wouldn't be the first time-- someone, enlighten me, please!
rustyr
Apr 29, 03, 10:55 pm
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by clrankin:
[B]OK, so let's see if I get this straight. Some of the things that are going on in the airline business now are ludicrous, at best:
[QUOTE]And it is proposing to have crews return from overseas flights after one day's rest instead of two</font>
If I'm on business travel and go somewhere early and/or stay longer than it takes to get the job done and expense it to the company, I'm expected to explain why at some level. Usually a note saying that the airfare was cheaper with a Saturday night stay involved will suffice for them to pay for hotel, rental car, and meals-- but sometimes it isn't. I don't feel too bad about these folks losing their paid mini-holidays in Europe.
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">American stops paying flight attendants the moment they leave a jet, though they might not reach their homes or hotels for an hour or more.</font>
Welcome to the real world, folks. Even the thought of someone getting paid to commute from home to their place of work (the airport, for these people) is laughable.
" <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Pilots, by far the best-paid airline employees...proposal...would raise the maximum time that a pilot can fly to 90 hours a month, from 81 hours a month now</font>" A senior AA pilot,age 44, wrote in Monday's Wall St Jrnl-comments from readers page that he was earning only 73$k yr.-and stated a taxicab driver, electrician, plumber, etc. were making more. He was based in SFO. Of course he didn't mention how much TIME he spent on the job-complaining that if he quit and went to work for another a/l, he start all over for 25$k..Said he flew 767s intl. Also, why in general do unions give the rank and file "good boy" bonuses for showing up over a certain time? Thefact that they get time off at the end of the year or bonuses seems crazy to people who run their own business- if I work fine, then I'll get paid, but extra time off for just showing up and doing what you agreed to? I thought rewardsand bonuses were for efforts above what is expected of you.