US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-FlightFund Merger) - "It's like loading a gun and putting it to your head,"

This is an example why I am happy that I never joined a union and hope never to have the experience. Lets put ourselves out of work. :D :D :D

Flight attendants lay strike groundwork

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2004-11-16-attendants-strike_x.htm

By Barbara De Lollis,USA TODAY
Leaders of the USA's biggest flight attendants union Tuesday authorized a strike as members at struggling US Airways and United Airlines face new wage cuts. (Video: Flight attendant strike possible)
Flight attendants cheered the strike authorization announcement.
By John Beale, AP

The Association of Flight Attendants' board, meeting in Pittsburgh, unanimously approved strike authority to protest the airlines' use of bankruptcy court to impose new contracts with lower pay and benefits.

The strike authority, which needs ratification by members, doesn't necessarily mean the flight attendants will walk off the job. A strike would be averted, for example, if management and labor negotiate wage concessions outside bankruptcy court. Management could also seek to block a strike in court. The union has 46,000 members at 26 carriers.

Under bankruptcy law, a company can break its labor contracts and impose cheaper ones unilaterally if it can convince the judge that it's crucial to the company's survival.

US Airways last week asked a bankruptcy judge in Alexandria, Va., to rescind its labor contracts. The airline is scheduled to argue its case on Dec. 2 unless a deal between management and labor is reached by then.

Two weeks ago, United told its flight attendants that it wants $137.6 million a year in givebacks in what would be a second round of pay cuts. Negotiations are ongoing, and United hasn't asked yet for court permission to rescind labor agreements.

AFA President Patricia Friend, a United flight attendant, said it's time for the union "to draw the line."

In the coming weeks, chapters at AFA's four airlines in bankruptcy — United, US Airways, ATA and Hawaiian — will vote on strike authority.

The chapters that approve a strike, and possibly others, could strike or take other job-related actions if US Airways or another airline succeeds in voiding a labor contract in court, Friend says. Arlington, Va.-based US Airways is furthest along in that process.

Strike talk comes at a precarious time for US Airways, now in bankruptcy protection for a second time.

Jack Gallagher, a labor lawyer in Washington, D.C., who represents management clients, says the strike threat is ill-conceived.

"It's like loading a gun and putting it to your head," Gallagher says. "Why would AFA want to drive revenue away from US Airways right now?" If the union were to move ahead with a strike, Gallagher says, it probably could be blocked in court.

In a statement, US Airways says a strike would "ground this airline and send approximately 5,400 flight attendants to the unemployment lines."

United said in a statement that the strike threat "is not helpful to our employees, or the success of our company going forward, or our industry."

"It's like loading a gun and putting it to your head,"

"I'll do it, I really will. You'll be sorry......" :mad:

I'd say it is more akin to the "I'm holding a thermal detonator" line from Return of the Jedi.

I would view it as more akin to Spock's actions at the end of Star Trek II.

They are sacrificing themselves (and US) for the greater good of employees at other carriers, and indeed other industries. If management can unilaterly terminate contracts in bankruptcy what is to stop other companies from going down the same path? :eek:

Of course, it is virtually certain that such action will be the death bell for Spock, errr, US Airways, but the industry will survive and perhaps even be reborn... :D

I would view it as more akin to Spock's actions at the end of Star Trek II.

They are sacrificing themselves (and US) for the greater good of employees at other carriers, and indeed other industries. If management can unilaterly terminate contracts in bankruptcy what is to stop other companies from going down the same path? :eek:

Of course, it is virtually certain that such action will be the death bell for Spock, errr, US Airways, but the industry will survive and perhaps even be reborn... :D

Indeed, they would be sending a crystal-clear message to both management and employees of other carriers and soon-to-be carriers: whatever you do, don't have ANYTHING do do with unions.

I am supporting USAirways on this matter.

Have you tried to fly the jets lately and putting up with bad attitude, highly paid, middle aged (in some cases senior citizens), in most cases over weight flight attendents. If they want to strik, my recommendation would be to follow President Reagan's lead and fire them! Yes, please go ahead and fire them.

Hire some new flight attentends who are very happy to make 25K-35K instead of thes overweight, old, and BAD ATTITUDE women who are making between 35K to 55K (in some cases). Airline and passengers both would be better served.

Take a lesson from Southwest's Flight attendent book, hire someone with a nice attitude, who is happy to have a job, is kind to customers and takes care of her/himself.

GO USAIRWAYS! WE WILL FLY YOU AND YOU WILL COME OUT OF THIS LIKE A PHOENIX!!

Take a lesson from Southwest's Flight attendent book, hire someone with a nice attitude, who is happy to have a job, is kind to customers and takes care of her/himself.

And are the highest paid FAs in the industry as of their latest contract (Southwest, that is).

Something to think about.

middle aged (in some cases senior citizens), ... over weight flight attendants.

overweight, old, and ,,,


wth does this have to do with anything. :mad:

I'm about as far to the right from a bleeding heart liberal as you can get, and even I find this wrong.

wth does this have to do with anything. :mad:

I'm about as far to the right from a bleeding heart liberal as you can get, and even I find this wrong.


I agree. What does age, sex or weight have to do with anything? You can be pleasant if you're 55 and overweight, just like you can be surly if you're 28 and skinny. :rolleyes:

A strike will definately kill the airline, so I would think that voting for a strike would be voting to retain a more highly paid job but for a very short period of time, rather than keeping a lower paying job for a longer time. I would think it would come down to what type of benefits you get while you are out on strike. But I am not sure that it is an entirely rational process.

As an aside, I have had very pleasent experiences with all US Airways flight attendents this year.

Have you tried to fly the jets lately and putting up with bad attitude, highly paid, middle aged (in some cases senior citizens), in most cases over weight flight attendents.

The bad attitude thing I can agree with but the rest.....come one. The weight or age (or even sex) of a flight attendant has nothing to do with good service or attitude.

Back on topic, I am sure this is primarily a bargaining tool that the FA's are trying to use to cut their losses but I hope they dont have to carry it to the end.....as it will not be good for anyone. Hopefully company and FA's will find some middle ground that is sensible for both.

I am supporting USAirways on this matter.

Have you tried to fly the jets lately and putting up with bad attitude, highly paid, middle aged (in some cases senior citizens), in most cases over weight flight attendents. If they want to strik, my recommendation would be to follow President Reagan's lead and fire them! Yes, please go ahead and fire them.

Hire some new flight attentends who are very happy to make 25K-35K instead of thes overweight, old, and BAD ATTITUDE women who are making between 35K to 55K (in some cases). Airline and passengers both would be better served.

Take a lesson from Southwest's Flight attendent book, hire someone with a nice attitude, who is happy to have a job, is kind to customers and takes care of her/himself.

GO USAIRWAYS! WE WILL FLY YOU AND YOU WILL COME OUT OF THIS LIKE A PHOENIX!!


Highly paid??? I'm starting my ninth year and will only make 28K. I have no schedule and on call all the time. The only time I have a bad attitude is when dealing with clueless people....and people who can't spell.

Have you tried to fly the jets lately and putting up with bad attitude, highly paid, middle aged (in some cases senior citizens), in most cases over weight flight attendents.


Overweight? Ok, I honestly don't remember the last time it was I saw a US FA that was considerably overweight. And on recent segments I've met some of the nicest FA's that US has and they all have had great attitudes and made my travel experience wonderful. I've found some of the CLT based FA's, especially the older ones, to be great. It's not fair to stereotype all of them as having bad attitudes when only a small portion of them are displaying that kind of behavoir.

I'm sure any flight attendant is smart enough to realize that the worst thing in the world to do would be to take out your frustration with your company on passengers.