US Airways Dividend Miles (Pre-FlightFund Merger) - USAirways flight attendants gear up for strike

November 25, 2004
NEW YORK (Reuters) — Flight attendants at bankrupt US Airways Group are gearing up for a possible nationwide strike, the Association of Flight Attendants said Friday.

The union has mailed out more than 5,000 strike authorization ballots to its members, threatening to launch a strike should the airline get its employee agreements negated by the federal bankruptcy court.

Strike ballots are also being prepared for UAL's United Airlines, ATA Holdings's ATA Airlines and Hawaiian Holdings' Hawaiian Airlines, the union said.

There is another news story out there that states the strike if one were to happen with US Airways. Will not happen until at least after the first of the year. Even that said, if they strike (at US) they will slit their own throats. I just don't think it will happen at least at US Airways. We might see it happen with some other airlines though. Then again, you just never know what to expect these days.

I have many flights coming up on US Airways and I am not going to let all this negative press worry me.

Just my opinion, but a strike would be the absolute worst thing the union could do right now. I'd like to think that if the airline survives & can turn a profit (which I do believe they can if given time), then the agreements with the unions for profit sharing in exchange for concession now would be beneficial. With the positives we have seen lately & with the great performance over Thanksgiving (way to go US folks!!!!) I think we will see a turnaround. Strike now & this airline is dead.

Should the union decide to strike, I would forsee a near precise re-enactment of the last weeks of EAL. Union stands firm & strikes --->airline on its last leg finally topples.

This is really a very tough situation for all players. The tough realities are that labor costs are just out of line. Yes, US has many other cost issues that also need addressing at once and I believe many of them are being changed these days. I can appreciate that employees with 20+ years seniority are not at all pleased with the likelihood that their pay and retirement funds may be whittled back significantly --- who among us would want to consider that?!?!?

However, the global marketplace is changing plenty these days when it comes to labor. Several of my super-smart IT pals (many with masters degrees) with years of loyal work to global corporations have lost their jobs in the past 2 years as those jobs go to India. The few IT friends I still know locally have agreed to substantial pay cuts and benefits losses in order to just keep their jobs these days. Ouch. I hate it for them, but that's the future for some of us.

I am afraid that the days of great jobs at legacy airlines is coming to a very fast halt. That is terribly disruptive to thousands of dedicated employees, and my heart and prayers go out to them. However, I cannot forsee a strike doing any good --- in fact, I can well see it serving as the final blow to the already weak legs of USAirways.

It is worrisome to hear these rumblings as one certainly has to wonder if US would still be standing after a strike. We've got January travel to MAD/AGP booked on US, and are planning PBI trip in February. But I'm sad to say that I'm holding back on committing myself to other travel we have planned in early 2005.

US employees are in a tough situation and I feel badly for all of them, but I just don't see how a job action or a strike does anything positive at this moment either for their situaiton or the airline. I'm gonna hang in there as I want US to keep flying, but it's getting harder and harder to do so. Let's hope for the best for everyone.

Gallywench & Flygirl, do you have any insights to offer?

Barry

Gallywench & Flygirl - I will miss you two, I enjoy your posts. I hope it does not end this way.

It is worrisome to hear these rumblings as one certainly has to wonder if US would still be standing after a strike. We've got January travel to MAD/AGP booked on US, and are planning PBI trip in February. But I'm sad to say that I'm holding back on committing myself to other travel we have planned in early 2005.

US employees are in a tough situation and I feel badly for all of them, but I just don't see how a job action or a strike does anything positive at this moment either for their situaiton or the airline. I'm gonna hang in there as I want US to keep flying, but it's getting harder and harder to do so. Let's hope for the best for everyone.

Gallywench & Flygirl, do you have any insights to offer?

Barry


I don't know if you were looking for me or if there is another "flygirl" out there, but since I'm here I'll throw in my two bits.
If you don't look at the labor issue, everything seems to be coming along fine. Flights from Florida to the islands and South America as well as better utilization of aircraft will start in Feb 2005. Duty Free to the Carribean, though suspended(due to inventory control they say) will be happening. New flights to Barcelona and Venice in May are comng. And US has come to an agreement with GE on leasing of aircraft.
Now...about labor. I don't know the first thing about big business, but someone at US had to convince these new markets, new cities, and current lenders that US will have their labor problems in order. I know as a flight attendant, I will NOT like these decisions, but it will happen. The company will get what they want. This is union busting at it's finest...it has happened before and will happen again. If there is employees that decide to leave, so be it....there are new pay scales already written up for new hires.
So, life will go on, and my bet is that US will still be around...I hope I'm right about this.

J.

I read an interesting article in the Seattle Times Business section this morning how the Steel Industry, after dumping the crippling pension plans and consolodating, has been able to re-start plants and start hiring back thousands of former laid off employees - especially the more senior ones.

And the steelworkers's union was all for dumping the pensions, since hired members meant paid dues.

So while the unions might decide to take US and UA down over the pensions, the airlines that survive might be able to kill their pensions, lower their costs a ton, and the unions that were so cavalier about sending tens of thousands of dues-paying members out into the street might start being much more open to the demands of the surviving players as their coffers start to run dry.

Gallywench & Flygirl - I will miss you two, I enjoy your posts. I hope it does not end this way.

You will miss us? Are we going some where? :eek: Please don't write us off yet!! :D I personally plan to ride this one out until they throw me off the roller coaster. I think the idea of a strike is ridiculous, and hope it never comes to that. As I've said before, I am the eternal optimist and feel that they will be able to come up with some type of agreement that everyone can live with. I'm leaving in the morning on a 3 day trip, and I'm anxious to see what the climate is out there amongst my co-workers. Tomorrow (the Sunday after Thanksgiving) is typically the busiest travel day of the year. Folks tend to trickle in the day or two before Turkey Day, but they all go home on Sunday. Lucky for me I bounce in and out of DCA all day, no PHL for me!
Hope you all had a good holiday!
GW

You will miss us? Are we going some where? :eek: Please don't write us off yet!! :D I personally plan to ride this one out until they throw me off the roller coaster. I think the idea of a strike is ridiculous, and hope it never comes to that. As I've said before, I am the eternal optimist and feel that they will be able to come up with some type of agreement that everyone can live with. I'm leaving in the morning on a 3 day trip, and I'm anxious to see what the climate is out there amongst my co-workers. Tomorrow (the Sunday after Thanksgiving) is typically the busiest travel day of the year. Folks tend to trickle in the day or two before Turkey Day, but they all go home on Sunday. Lucky for me I bounce in and out of DCA all day, no PHL for me!
Hope you all had a good holiday!
GW

GW and FG - I am so happy to read your posts. Your realistic attitude and nononesense approach to the entire situation are some of the great qualities that make me admire US - the fantastic group of men and women who come to work every day focused on what matters and trying not to get sidetracked by what does not. Sure, life will change and those of us not in the exec corp will never fully understand what makes those morons operate, and yes the years of service, hardwork and dedication will not stop the continuing reduction in your total compenstation but at least you've kept your sanity (at least it sounds like it to me). I wish I could meet you in person, shake your hand, pat you on the back and wish you continued success in living your life. I don't mean to make light of these very trying times for you and your colleagues but I'm just continually amazed at the dedication of such a fine group of professionals. I'm with you - I would never think you'd give up and will remain fighting until you win or the lights are turned off - whichever comes first!

You sound like a very blessed person and I wish you well!

I love US!!!!!!

I know as a flight attendant, I will NOT like these decisions, but it will happen. The company will get what they want. This is union busting at it's finest . . . So, life will go on, and my bet is that US will still be around...I hope I'm right about this.

Flygirl97, yes, it was you that I had in mind. Thanks for your reply.

Sadly, your words do ring very true for the situation that US and all of its employees find themselves. It's all an unfortunate consequence of this complex world we live in -- real people get hurt by these decisions.

We've flown out of PHL to SNN, LGW, ORD, PHX, and PBI since US files for Chapter 11 in September. The FA, GA, and counter folks have by far and large tried to put on a good face and get on with the job to the best of their abilty.

My wife and I have always appreciated the dedication of the folks on US. We're sticking with you guys until the bitter end. Thanks for your optimistic words about this not-so-pleasant situation. I always let the FAs know how we feel when we fly, so allow my wife and I to offer you and Galleywench a virtual hug.

Keep on flying US.

Barry

My wife and I have always appreciated the dedication of the folks on US. We're sticking with you guys until the bitter end. Barry

There will be no bitter end! Like a phoenix rises from the fire...

You will miss us? Are we going some where? :eek: Please don't write us off yet!! :D I personally plan to ride this one out until they throw me off the roller coaster. I think the idea of a strike is ridiculous, and hope it never comes to that. As I've said before, I am the eternal optimist and feel that they will be able to come up with some type of agreement that everyone can live with. I'm leaving in the morning on a 3 day trip, and I'm anxious to see what the climate is out there amongst my co-workers. Tomorrow (the Sunday after Thanksgiving) is typically the busiest travel day of the year. Folks tend to trickle in the day or two before Turkey Day, but they all go home on Sunday. Lucky for me I bounce in and out of DCA all day, no PHL for me!
Hope you all had a good holiday!
GW


I hope all went well for you and others over the holidays – I had smooth sailing (went a day early and came back a day late). Much success to the staff at US! I see the strike as the end of the airline. I am booked through the end March on US.