America West FlightFund (Discontinued Program) - Take Action! America West workers need your support

I've oftened wondered how America West workers can survive on the pathetically low wages they're paid. Hopefully they can get closer to a living wage with new representation. I wonder what the huge turnover rates for rampers (already unionized) and customer service workers costs the company?

On July 27th, 3,400 Customer Service Representatives at America West Airlines began a 3-week voting period to unite in a union with the Teamsters for the good jobs our communities need. Please take a moment to urge America West management not to interfere in the workers' campaign.

http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/AmericaWest04/explanation

Unfortunately union/management issues are too generalized and there are a lot of problems. Management can sometimes get carried away i.e. bullying and make things worse for workers. America West is finally showing some profit and any union that receives an increase in pay unfortunately creates a domino effect which means flight attendants, pilots, and mechanics will want raises too. The 1st quarter only created a 2 million profit which is barely a return for investors. If there is no profit there is no investment in the company and the company is gone like braniff and pan am. Southwest and most of the newer companies at least tie in performance with pay allocating stock options and bonuses for profit. If America West continues to turn a profit this will probably be a better and smarter way to reward the workers. I would love for everybody to have a living wage but unfortunately very few are willing to pay the ticket prices to do this. Some would even argue what a living wage should be? Is an airline obligated to pay enough to a baggage loader enough to support a family of 5? As for the 1 million bonus that Doug Parker recieived its my personal opinion that he earned it. With the bad history that America West has had for losing money its a miracle that there was not a bankruptcy.

Let's remember that these workers choose this industry as well. It is a volatile industry with lots of cycles. Everyone in America thinks they are underpaid. Police officers, school teachers, school bus drivers, and so forth all make up some of the people who have a direct impact on our life and our lives would be in dire shape without them all. Yet, when these workers make a choice to be in these industries, we don't seem to care, but we get stressed out that a flight attendant might make 20K or 25K for part-time work. Flight attendant really requires no prior skill either.....so before we go off all arguing this point, I frankly, don't want to pay more until we get full time service fromthe pilots for their pay. Hey, maybe they can't fly...but there are other jobs at the airlines that could be done. Jet Blue is good at maximizing what people do in their downtime (i.e. pilots help clean the plane)

From the website link above:
In Phoenix, two pro-union workers have been fired under what organizers call suspicious circumstances. Their dismissal shows clearly that Customer Service Representatives at America West need a voice at work and the security of a union contract.

Because an organizer calls something "suspicious", that does not make something that shows "clearly" anything.

I would not sign that silly fax with it's inflammatory unsupported allegations.

America West's starting wages for ticketing and ramp agents range between $7.00 and $7.50. While it is slightly higher pay than the workers at Burger King inside the terminal, it is not a living wage.

Well now I can see why they're profitable.

The low-fare airlines pay their employees so little. I was reading that the average HP and B6 reservation agent gets paid about $9/hr. The average US reservation agent gets paid $21/hr. No wonder the LCC's expenses are so much lower.

Its sort of a catch 22, yeah you could hire someone at a high wage but as long as there are people out there working for less for the other company they have the advantage in charging lower fares or spending the savings on improved amenities :eek: . The differences in wages while a big issue have never concerned me as much as the productivity. I would be willing to pay more for an agent if they brought more to the company but the amount of work that jetblue and southwest can get out of people is amazing. Flight crew helping clean and load baggage :eek:. As is the majors are paying more and getting less.

Help wanted sings all over PHX. If they aren't happy they should look else where. Funny everyone appreciates the low fare but few are willing to pay higher fares for over paid staff. Management should do their job....run a profitable, on time airline. If that means running interference so be it!

Sorry, but I want nothing to do with this type of action.

Why should their be a living wage? Have you heard of stepping stone jobs? How about building a career with the company. I'm perplexed at the thought that someone would want to stay in an entry level job for years on end. How about job progression?

HOWEVER, I do want to make a personal opinion be known. I think it is critical that American companies stop offshoring their CS jobs. While I am a Republican through and through, I am proud that John Edwards made this exact point in his DNC speech.

Edward