Well, tomorrow's the day the Flight Attendants at CO vote on whether to take strike action or not over proposed pay cuts.

I can understand, and sympathise with, their frustration - all of us in the airline industry around the world have suffered pay cuts and much, much higher workloads since 09/11!!! However, CO is still making losses (while my own carrier is well into profit) and CO's position remains better than any of the other US "Heritage" carriers. I sincerely hope that a compromise can be reached without industrial action to help CO turn the corner!!!

In the UK, the Continental ground staff have had their pay cuts now for nearly a year - a year whilst talks have gone on, and on, and on with the flying crews. Is this fair???

Somehow I doubt that they'll vote to strike. I think this is going to be an approval of what the union negotiated for the employees.

I sincerely hope the answer is "no" to strike action!!!

The damage different strikes did to BA was quite devastating - indeed, as employees, we're still paying dearly for them now!

Once your services stop and your customers suffer widespread disruption, the only way you win those customers back is by reducing prices or giving stuff away - eroding your elusive profit margins further and further!!!

My understanding is that Houston based employees (probably because they're closer to HQ and understand the company's position better) are expected to accept the new deal but Newark's employees remain the "unknown factor"!!!

Sadly, those in Houston drink to much of Larry's Kool-aid.

I think they will vote YES

Or maybe the FAs in IAH are not as suicidally selfish as the ones in EWR.

From what I hear, EWR is aiming for another NO VOTE, but Houston and Cleveland are sounding like a yes vote

FA's:

As a student, I'd be interested in hearing from you guys the reasons - or the general reasons at least - as to why some support the new contract and others do not.

Thanks!

The sad thing I am hearing is that most seem to want to vote no not because of what was on offer, but because the company tied the strike vote to the contract vote, thus putting extra pressure on the flight attendants. This seems to be making many of them to want to cut off their own noses to spite the face.

Why don't you just find another board. They pretty much complain over at airliners.net like you do. You never add anything constructive except to bash management. I don't suppose we will ever see any FACTS instead of the stupid emotional "kool-aid" comments. People were talked into killing themselves at Jonestown by a mad man with poinsoned Kool-Aid. To imply that Larry is trying to get you to kill yourself is just dumb. If you are so foolish you can't see that CO is trying VERY hard not to have to cut your pay too much... you just are a tired bitter FA. CO funded your pension some $50 million dollars last month. Think that happened at ANY OTHER legecy carrier? Want to look at what kind of great wages and job security the FA's are going to end up with at the other majors? The reality is your job skills are a very easy barrier for entry. Virtually anyone could qualify in less than 6 months for your job. Perhaps you should be less bitter and go to college or vocation school. You certainly don't ever appear happy in your current job. And quite frankly, we don't like to fly with unhappy FA's.

Sadly there are plenty of people that complain for a living. I feel like that everytime people post on here that upgrades are impossible even for Plats, and that redeeming miles is not possible either.. a la Nonepass.

I find both easy

J

CO is the best US airline. I have never tried to redeem miles and I have never been upgraded. Some sort of record - but I still love 'em!

Just don't go on strike - I have to fly to PBI on Thursday for a "conference" [aka, golf]. Of course, I will not be upgraded and would probably have a heart attack if I was!

alot tougher to deal with than in Cleveland(where I am from) and Houston Texas.

The company has nothing to do with the strike vote. The strike vote is called by the union.

Pardon my ignorance, but what is the vote tomorrow over?

1: To strike (that's what I thought it was)
2: To accept the new terms (I thought the union already agreed to a new contract back in Dec)
3: Other?
4: A combination of 1 & 2 (but why would the union schedule the strike vote on the same day as a contract vote? Or, in other words, is someone (the union or CO) trying to goad/pressure the FA's into a particular course of action? If so, why?

Thanks - and best wishes to the FAs out there! We do appreciate your hard work!


PS: Only after Cigarman�s post did I get the Kool-Aid reference. For you see, my generation (Generation NOW!) associates Kool-Aid with the big Kool-Aid wall-busting pitcher whose tag line is �ooooh yeaaaah�. Corporate branding at young age I guess.