UA Outsources at YVR, YYC and YYZ
Feb 20, 2014, 6:12 pm
#31
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Don't think that even UA staff at hubs are safe at this point. If the first goal is to reduce costs, regardless of the outcome, then nobody at the company is safe really. They already outsource much of the flying to UX. UA can just become a holding company to manage a largely outsourced work force. Seems that is the direction they are headed.
Feb 20, 2014, 6:18 pm
#32
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To those who said the service was inconsistent there and that they don't deal with IRROPS well - well, that's definitely not my experience. And for a long time, flew out 1-2 x per month.
Feb 20, 2014, 6:43 pm
#33
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IAD has had many Airserv employees working the non-premier lines for some time now.
Feb 20, 2014, 6:56 pm
#35
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United was/is a leader in this phenomena-outsourcing heavy maintainence to AMECO, outsourcing their mainline customer support to Indian call centers, outsourcing much of their domestic route network to feeder airlines. I am certain the trend will continue. Issues that drive the return of these functions to the originating company-extremely dissatisfied customers, poor quality workmanship (See 787)don't seem to have any effect on UA/CO management.
By that point senior management will have taken their multimillion dollar bonus for the $2 billion in cuts made--leaving a shell of a company behind.
Last edited by iluv2fly; Feb 20, 2014 at 10:47 pm Reason: language
Feb 20, 2014, 9:29 pm
#37
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At one point in the mid-2000s, maybe 2006 or 2008, weren't most of the (PMUA) ORD check in staff Airserv? I seem to remember a time when the Premier lines even were staffed with these folks. IIRC, only lines that had actual UA staff were the F/GS as well as one or two UA counters in a separate Premier line that they only let you into when one of the Airserv folks or the chicken couldn't handle the request (and the only thing the Airserve folks really could do was check ID & tag the bags).
Feb 20, 2014, 9:32 pm
#38
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AC does not handle UA on the ground at YUL. It's a local 3rd party ground handling company. Above the wing, its all contract staff, and in my experience they are very hit and miss in terms of customer service. Interesting side note UA does handle AC at ORD below the wing, where as in IAH they do not.
Feb 20, 2014, 9:39 pm
#39
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Feb 20, 2014, 11:38 pm
#40
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Maybe they'll outsource the ground handling to Air Canada (similar to how United does ground handling for Air Canada at JFK) and maybe these UA employees will get hired back? Fingers crossed that whoever is chosen to handle UA at these stations, the the displaced employees get an opportunity to at least keep a job in some capacity.
Your point is well taken but even if they were "rehired" by Air Canada (if I understand you properly here), as part of outsourced ground staff, they would come in at bottom seniority, bottom wages, a new set of work rules etc, it's all completely different than what they would have formerly had. Highly unlikely AC would agree to do this.
A third party vendor means probable part-time work only, minimum or very low wages, no benefits (medical, 401k etc), no work rules, ie., seniority type considerations, a lot of turnover and various and sundry disparities. You already see this at every airline/ airport that does outsourcing. I feel for these Canadian UAL employees and wish them luck.
Feb 20, 2014, 11:46 pm
#41
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So I take it because all these UA employees are Canadian Citizens they will not be offered or allowed to transfer to other stations UA stations in the USA or around the world?
At least some of the CLE employees were offered other positions if they chose to move. That would really suck if you were 5 years from retirement. Hell, what about 6 months.
Cut, cut, cut "the friendly skies".
At least some of the CLE employees were offered other positions if they chose to move. That would really suck if you were 5 years from retirement. Hell, what about 6 months.
Cut, cut, cut "the friendly skies".
Feb 21, 2014, 12:03 am
#42
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Feb 21, 2014, 12:07 am
#43
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ATS will Handle Customer Service & Air North will handle the ramp
Yikes! Two different companies to handle UA in YVR (ATS & Air North) starting on 01MAY.
I don't know if any present-day UA employees will apply to work with ATS or Air North, however it will likely mean less pay otherwise why would UA outsource?
As commented earlier by sfozrhfco on what the response will be from contracted employees:
This is the response I see coming. Prior to CO taking over, if there were any IROPS UA would re-route me onto another carrier without any questions asked. If you speak with the agents in YVR they say when there is IROPS, SHARES will sometime protect passengers on a flight 3 days into the future even if other carriers are available from YVR. The UA agents then go into each PNR one at a time and rebooks them onto other carriers to get them to their destination the same day.
I am not looking forward to any IROPS at YVR going forward.
As far as the staff in YYZ ... they have been great when I lived in YYZ. When I went through there last October they remembered me and we had a nice discussion as well as talking about where CO was taking the combined carrier.
bye for now,
I don't know if any present-day UA employees will apply to work with ATS or Air North, however it will likely mean less pay otherwise why would UA outsource?
As commented earlier by sfozrhfco on what the response will be from contracted employees:
"not empowered to assist you--please come back another day"
I am not looking forward to any IROPS at YVR going forward.
As far as the staff in YYZ ... they have been great when I lived in YYZ. When I went through there last October they remembered me and we had a nice discussion as well as talking about where CO was taking the combined carrier.
bye for now,
Last edited by sing-along; Feb 21, 2014 at 5:08 am