AggieNzona

As others have said there is zero chance of a strike, do not let it even enter your head reguarding travel plans.

US is currently hiring FA's and I have heard had over 10 thousand applicants. So as is usual unionized employees greatly over estimate their own worth.

ILovetheReds

Last large airline strike I remember is in 98 when Northwest pilots went on strike. Comair went on strike in 2001 and shut the airline down and the airline was ready to fold but a last minute deal was struck. American was going to go on strike in the late 90s but Clinton issued an executive order prohibiting it but there was some blue flu going around with the pilots then. And in 2000/2001 Delta pilots were having labor issues and a lot of blue flu happened then as well.

In 2005 the Northwest Mechanics went on strike and Northwest had plenty of replacement mechanics that were out of work from other airlines that were glad to step in. Northwest basically gave the jobs to the replacements and told the union to pound sand When the mechanics wanted to talk again, Northwest offered them less money than what they had when they went on strike.

ILovetheReds

And I am sure there are still plenty of laid off FA's from other airlines who would be happy to step in for the pay US is offering. If a strike would occur, I can see the same thing as the Northwest Mechanics strike in 2005. They will have plenty of replacements to take the jobs, operations won't really suffer, and the replacements will be happy to take the jobs and US will tell the union to pound sand.

Yinzer

True. There's almost always an unequal power relationship in these disputes. Employees are best staying on the job to engage in sabotage. Just do as poor a job as possible without getting fired. That'd be my advice if they're screwing you around. If the games rigged just play your own and don't give a .... when everyone whines you're playing dirty.

iztok

Could you be less specific? Telling it is just a paycheck issue is not a real answer. I am sure $ is in the mix but that can't be the major thing holding this up I am sure.

FWAAA

Here's an article by Ted Reed (writes about US about every other day) with some discussion of the reasons:

http://www.thestreet.com/story/11722...-contract.html

The failed TA would have given the FAs substantial raises, but even with the raises, their pay would still have been lower than UA, DL or AA. The West (PMHP) FAs would have seen larger raises than the East (PMUS) FAs, due to their much lower pay than their East colleagues.

iztok

So substantial increase but reason for holdout is that new contract doesn't keep pairing with the pilots? Seriously? That is the holdout in Charlotte? I understand potential advantages of pairings with the pilots but in doing so it would still prevent mixing of the crew and unifying labor force until pilots are under single contract as well. It looks to me that holdout is deliberate to lend more leverage to USALPA instead of taking it away (as they would be the last major stronghold preventing total merger of the East and West).

If this is the case (what is written in the article) then shame on FAs. It is not Doug's fault this felt through it truly is an union issue and a bogus one.

FlightNurse

I wish they would do this for the pilots and can some of the east pilots, so a contact can be signed and the merger can be finalized.. This is just horrible how the east holds the company hostage...

cwe84

If the F/As give up the pairing with the pilots the F/As will lose a lot of "Me Too" clauses. Such as scheduling rules, rest issues, hotel policies etc. its not just the East that is holding out for that. Most airlines (except DL and WN) stick with their pilots on pairings. The new FAA rules will begin implementation soon and those will have an effect on pairing construction. I don't know anyone at my airline that would vote for a contract that split us up from our pilots.

I keep preaching it. Many of us are not after lots of money. We are after the QOL issues that are in the contract. East would have given up QOL issues so I dont blame them for voting down the contract. Two different times they went to the table. Two times they went with people who didnt listen to the group. Two times they got an agreement that the majority didnt want and two times it was voted down. Yes that was a Union issue. The strike vote was just the next part of the process that needed to be filled.

Now I don't expect people here to like unions... I know the vast majority of FTers loath them. They do have a purpose and many airlines need them for protection of the employees. I will also point out that I have a graduate degree in Business and I know that employment contracts should be written at every level. You better believe that Doug Parker & Co. have extensive contracts with the company that spells out everything from hours served to compensation to benefits. Tell me why is it that the top 1% should have a contract thats binding and enforceable but not the front line staff? (not that I am looking for a response since I know what the answers will be...)

Just think of your own contract with your employer. Im sure that some of you all will be able to relate when thinking of it that way.

Mykle

Hotel policies in the failed TA required the same hotels as pilots. There was increased rest in the failed TA, independent of the pilots. The scheduling rules for the pilots are changing in a year, and those rules are not desirable to flight attendants who want to work coast-to-coast turns (pilots won't be able to do those). Some FA's want to work a long day, and then be done for the, sleeping in their own bed at night (QOL). The PHX based crews don't co-pair, and I've not yet met one PHX FA who wants to co-pair. See Item 20 from OurAFA about why they don't want to co-pair. AFA was correct to write their own requirements into their contract, instead of relying on the pilots.

LowlyDLsilver

CWE:

I'm a bit puzzled - are you saying the negotiating committee isn't/wasn't on the same page with rank and file? Seems kind of pointless to keep them in place IMO.

Not trying to pick a fight, just trying to understand.

cwe84

While I dont disagree that the policies should be in the F/As contractt the East side and a lot of the West (they want it back) want co-pairing. Since the larger group isnt willing to give it up then the point is moot and will be voted down unless some other agreement can be reached. Many people may not like the East side but for starters it makes the most money has the largest hubs and the most passengers. Not to mention the larger workforce. AFA needs to listen to their members in order to get a contract that can be put into place.

The have stepped down each time (If I remember correctly) I also recall that both times the majority on the committee was West F/As. West and East have different ideas about what the group wants and the East is the larger group.

LETTERBOY

That was the situation with Air Canada a while ago. Their union committees kept recommending contracts for approval, but the rank and file kept voting them down. It was comically sad.

ffI

Hire more FAs from the West and soon this will be history.
Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico and California is my suggestion
Go to the lands of boom and bust after the housing crisis and find people willing to work.

ffI

When the 3rd group you are bringing in has good relations with you already after your friendly talks to help them, bringing them in will get rid of the majority bloc from the east (old US) and get everybody to shut up and work