It Could Be You
 

I have been reading the comments and posts on the NWA board with interest. I find it concerning that many fault the workers of NWA for the climate and stance in regards to labor issues.

It took a while to come to the conclusion to share my story. It is far from unique at NWA and for obvious reasons it is necessary to exclude location, dates and personal information.

. . .

I was employed at NWA, starting as an entry level ground operations employee and advancing to a supervisory role.

During a weather event at our airport, the operations center was advised that our facility was unable to accommodate flight operations. The conclusion was that unless the airport was closed flight operations would continue. Although the runways were open, and thus airport open, the ramp was a dangerous mix of snow, fluids and icing weather conditions.

My team did our best for as long as we could. The ramp equipment became inoperable followed by the jetbridge. During turn out one flight nearly taxied into the airport restaurant due to ramp conditions. The final events were injuries to my team including myself.

Employed full time while my disability was "temporary", I was placed on layoff when the classification of my disability was changed to "permanent". I have been denied all opportunities in my job classification since this time even though my documented physical abilities well exceed the requirements of NWA.

. . .

Several colleagues as well as myself have surrendered our quality of life while employed at NWA. It is the norm to go under the knife. The majority of surgeries were shoulder, back and knee and few colleagues are without a mark. Unfortunately, there are those who have surrendered their lives.

I was comfortable with my income during my employment at NWA, although in many stations my income would fall below the poverty level. The environment was straining and our equipment inadequate. To a person we enjoyed the work we performed and strived to maximize the resources we had. If we needed a cart or tug and saw one from another carrier, we just used it. We did not have a pushback rated to push a DC-9, so we just grabbed one.

Many of the issues addressed in contract negotiations may not seem sexy to the board; but, are vital to employees. The pay issues make the headlines; but, full time equalization, staffing levels, location premiums and base closures are important safety issues.

I laugh at some comments. Wondering if posters were sitting in heated offices while my team was lifting 300,000lbs of baggage in a seven day period with six days below 0 degrees at an average salary of $12.00 an hour.

I take no position on negotiations. Only to issues which relate to safety, for obvious reasons. To NWA these are ledger items, to me these are friends and former co-workers trying very hard to survive to retirement without a severe injury along the way. I learned last month that a fellow lead was not so fortunate and was layed off after 18 years with a back injury.

I pray for an agreement, the safety of my friends and the peace of mind for those who have retired.

Lets hope it's not you...
 

I honestly wish you the best and feel that you would be surprised to learn that there a probable a lot of people here at FT who have been in similar un-warranted circumstances.

Depending on where you are in life, “It could be you” will have different meanings. When I was 38 years old, on the fast track in life with 5 kids and a happy marriage only to find out that I had stage 3 carcinoma I would have traded situations with you in a moment. ;)

The only reason I bring this up is because there are going to always be a time or two in every ones life where something comes out of left field that catches us off guard. In my case, it was the removal of my left lung and a few ribs. I now look back at my experience and call it a head scratcher. That’s when you scratch you head and think, “Wow, I didn’t see that coming.” Oh yea, to make matters worse, I never smoked!!!!

Best of luck and keep a positive head! I wish all NW employee's and NW the best in 2006. ^

Honestly, it does sound like it was rough, so I ask: why stay with the job? There are many better-paying, less-difficult jobs out there. The US economy is broad and deep. Schools and training programs abound. Why not avail yourself of a better option? or at least a different one?

I recently had to hire 2 laborers to do some yardwork for me. A 35 and 50 year old pair of brothers showed up and proceeded to dig postholes and piles of mud; carry 80 pound bags of gravel and cement up and around a split level house; maneuver 8 foot long posts; do it all in the rain and drizzle; and get paid $10 per hour in the process. I have never been more thankful for the opportunity to do what I do!

Why Stay?
 

I have been in the airline business over 20 years. It gets in the blood and stays with you. There is nothing like the smell of JetA in the morning (a knockoff from a familiar movie line).

For many years, the industry was fun. There are few jobs where you can be physically challenged and accomplish tangible goals at once. There is a great deal of pride in watching a family reunion, honeymoon departure, students off to college or being able to turn 450+ bags and 300+ in under 30 minutes so that a crew does not go illegal and cancel an flight.

The industry is not for the faint of heart though. Prior to NWA and likely my last aviation position. I have been a flight attendant, pilot, ground operations employee and in management. I have experienced three labor actions, two of which caused the loss of my job, and three carriers have merged and faded into memory.

My fathers generation retired from their careers. My generation will be fortunate to benefit from a funded retirement plan. My childrens generation will read about pensions in their history books.

There are always worse scenarios; but, I have limited my discussion solely to employment. I am personally blessed to be alive today where close friends were not so fortunate.

Welcome to FT.

And thanks for sharing your experience with us. It's always interesting to hear another take on the job.

And best of luck in your future.

There are actually "I love the smell of jet fuel in the morning" coffee mugs for sale here, http://www.nwa.com/cgi-bin/worldgear...y=yes&cart_id=

I appreciate what you do
 

I would like you to know that I appreciate everything that all airline employees do to make my trip more comfortable. Customer service reps, ticket and gate agents, rampies, cleaners, mechanics, FAs and pilots, etc. If it weren't for their hard work, I could not get to where I need to go. The conscientious employees are the heart and soul of the airline.

Thanks and good luck to you!

Amen to DoraTheExplore's remarks. ^

Andy

Thanks for sharing your feelings.

We forget all too often the real people who are impacted. Thanks for putting a face on this -- and a reasonably balanced one.

Im sorry to hear about your injury and appreciate your comments.

I really dont believe that many of the posts have faulted the good majority of employees at NW, be they union, non union, hourly or management or salaried employees. Most of the comments that I have seen focus on the leadership, or lack of, of both Mgt and Union. In addition, I think what frustrates most people, are the systems and process in place, on both sides that dont make any sense to the "man on the street", or more accuratley "person in the terminal". Insane pay and bonuses for SR leaders who have made poor business decisions, unions sticking up for bad apples & poor performers who put a sour taste in the mouth of the customer (which leads us to some of our generalizations about airline personnel), the entitlement mentaility on both sides, the advesarial relationships that a union Vs management systems creates, and which union leaders perpetuate, because if management was doing all the right things, why would we need to pay union dues and have a union.

The last thing that really bothers me personally is this feeling that airline employees think there are the only ones in the world that have worked through difficult times. I know plenty of people who have been layed off (myself included) had to start over, new pension, less benefits, lower pay. Its life, you deal with it. I was real angry for a long time after getting layed off from a job about 10 years ago. Mainly becasue I didnt believe the decision making process was fair. Still dont. But holding onto the anger and frustration did nothing for me, my family or my ability to find another good job. And in the end, I found a better job (until a 3000 employee layoff after 8 years) Ive also had great jobs but horrible managers and tried to improve my situation for a year or two, and when I couldnt make it happen, I left and went somewhere else, my choice. A cost in pay or benefits or retirement, a big YES. But you make tradeoffs in life.

Wish you and your jet fuel enthusiasts all the best.

EXACTLY!! And you don't make an airline a better one by cutting its heart and soul out! Negotiate better contracts with vendors. Pay management more-earthly salaries. Even institute austerity programs concerning certain supplies, but to continually cut salaries and workforce just diminishes the company's ability to satisfy customers. Remember: under-promise, but over-deliver! ^

It goes both ways.

Many in the auto, airline, and other union industries fought management for years when MGT asked employees to pay a piece of their health care benefits. While 80% or more of the US workforce was paying their "fair share" (as I have for over 20 years) these union employees werent paying a dime for medical, dental, vision. Even as their low level management and adminstraive coworkers who worked along side of them were!

We are starting to see the willingness in the auto industry to accept what the rest of us have taken for granite for over 2 decades. But it might be too late for one or two of the "Big 3"

Is it to late for airline employees (not unions) to figure out what its going to take to help their companys not only survive, but thrive? You might want to ask all those non union auto workers in Ohio, KY, TN, and AL, who make so much more than the "average" production employee but figured out that flexibility, and fair share goes both ways. And their mfg facilities are thriving!

I see your point here, and agree to a certain extent. But the way things are moving, airlines are going to have about the same caliber of employee working for them as McDonald's does now, if they have their way. As a passenger, I say "thanks, but no thanks!!". They should pay a decent wage to keep good, customer-oriented employees & provide a better product (that's how they'll make $$), and cut elsewhere.

To the OP, Thanks for your hard work and dedication. It's employees like you who make the difference. You're the key to customer satisfaction.

This is why I post against the Management of NWA so harshly and pointedly. I firmly believe you can NEVER achieve true customer satisfaction until you have employee satisfaction. This opinion is supported by Herb Kelleher (May have heard of him, he runs a little airline down Texas way, makes a nice living) & Hal Rosenbluth who took a corner Travel agency and grew it into a Billion Dollar business before sellling and retiring.

You want to view the end result of what Mr Cohen and the gang at NWA doing?? Visit Terminal F in PHiladelphia. See the "gangsta" attire of the rampers, notice them sleeping in the unused gate areas. Gate Agents that have no communication skills. Arrive 10 minute early only to have to wait 36 to be marshalled into the gate. Watch your carrier of choice eliminate pre hire drug screens because no who applies for what you're paying can pass the drug screen. This is the future that awaits you in DTW & MSP.

I wish you well but I've seen the havoc Neil Cohen and His Gang of Thieves can create. Been there done that and it ain't pretty Boys & Girls. Vaya Con Dios

I'm just wondering how you came to have this feeling. I've not read anything here that would make me think that.

Not on this thread, but everywhere else, in my opinion, that many feel like they are the only ones in the USA who have seen these types of industry consolidations, major shifts in how businesses are run.

If your passionate about something (not necessarily an 'industry') you can take that passion somewhere else and be successful and happy.

If Mgt at NW is so bad, you can go somewhere else that has better management, and be happy.

If your benefits or pension are bad, go somewhere else where you get better benefits, and be happy.