the pro's and cons of unions in the fractional aviation and airline industry

[FLYLOW22]

So what happens that makes you go from being happy and satisfied to get the job to dissatisfied and pissed off at the company?

Did the company stop paying you the wages agreed to when you started?

Did the company stop funding the 401k?

Did the company stop paying the medical, dental, and vision bills that it agreed to cover when they hired you?

Lets face it, the company didnt change....your expectations did.

If the company no longer fits your raised expectations, then go find one that does.

No. It couldn't stop any of those CBA protected provisions without grievances being filed and provisions restored.

Did the company deny employees rights to use sick or vacation time here? YES We prevailed in the grievance process.

Did the company interpret the 401K match for bonuses differently that what was negotiated following the 2005 CBA? Yes. We filed a grievance over the issue and won.

Did the company try and shove a f'd up crew food program down our throats (no pun here) in the name of profits and cost savings? Yes. We filed hundreds of grievances and are in the process of fixing the issue.

Did the company fight as to whether a NJA/NJI Captain transfer had the right to fly as Captain at the finish of training as agreed to? Yes, so we filed a grievance and an arbitrator agreed.

Seeing a pattern here yet Ghey? It seems that the Union has effectively positioned itself as the Ying for the corporate Yang. Without the Union, the pilots of NJA would be left to the whims of Upper/Middle/Lower management.

You would be out of a job too me thinks.

I am secure in my belief that we have true representation. It takes time to build a winning team. I'm still waiting to see the company heavy hitters. Seems like a lot of yes men and duck n cover artists that just wanna get along.

 

[FLYLOW22]

Wrong. The PIC is ultimatly responsible for the safe operation of a ship, just like upper management is responsible for the operations of their business. If a company went down, it is management's fault. Not the union's.

To my knowledge not every airline has gone bankrupt? American for example.

Actually, it's more complex than that.

-A Union is merely reactionary to the stimulus that management provides.

-The best management in corporate america is NOT drawn to aviaiton... not enough money to be made. We get stuck with the minor leaguers, the tust fund babies that daddy didn't love enough and the ones who didn't apply themselves perhaps as hard as they could have in school... keggers take up alot of time.

With those 2 things in mind, weigh the effects of deregulation. Post 1978, the economics of the airlines began to deteriorate from the bottom up, like an inverse hour glass filled with sand.

There is nothing either side could do but preserve the good times for as long as possible and the end was coming. Both sides were in denial until the later part of the 90's, at some carriers later.

Southwest is not immune.

The costs structure is no longer regimented. Revenue will NEVER exceed what the market won't cap with competition. Unless the carrier has a route network not yet tapped by the competition (rare now) the revenue is weak at best and the carrier stays in the market for "market presence" or market share. Hell, they may even los money.

This hemohrraging of cash can only go on for so long and the shortcomings must be made up somewhere because corporate profits MUST continue, shouldn't they??!?!

"Where can plug the holes?"... they cry.

COST #1 FUEL. Worked for SWA... for a while. They had money to burn after steaming through a very robust period of growth due to low labor costs.

Which segways into the 2nd largest cost to a company LABOR.

COST #2 LABOR. Remember, what a 737 Captain makes over there is STILL low compared to 2000 industry wages. Hourly pay for a 737 guage sized hull was around $220-250 per hour. The market has changed now, not for the better, in terms of competetive wages of the industry 737 wage.

Fuel is a no-go anymore for cost savings. The arabs are shoving it up our red white and blue butts and big oil is none too troubled to pass ont he costs to us. GOTTA MAKE THOSE PROFITS!!!!

"Hmmm. Labor... YEAH... LABOR!!!! We'l get cost savings from labor..."

"How do we do that?"

"BANKRUPCY!!!!!" FLUSH ALL CONTRACTS IN THE NAME OF SURVIVAL!!!

(Sounds of a profession flushing in the name of money)

What's left? A skeleton of what was. A gutted profession full of "once was's" and "use to be's".

This post is not meant to be a slam at SWA... they are just currently the nicest looking turd in the punchbowl of airline aviation. The employees there are worth alot more for putting up with the job they do! Sure, they love it but that's besides the point.

Fischman, Essentially, the marketplace changed and management left emplyees out in the rain so they could continue to collect their paychecks and bonuses... at labor expense. But hey! Look at the bright side... flying is now a right, not a privilage. GO SKYBUS... Not.

 

[B19 Flyer]

Actually, it's more complex than that.

-A Union is merely reactionary to the stimulus that management provides.

-The best management in corporate america is NOT drawn to aviaiton... not enough money to be made. We get stuck with the minor leaguers, the tust fund babies that daddy didn't love enough and the ones who didn't apply themselves perhaps as hard as they could have in school... keggers take up alot of time.

With those 2 things in mind, weigh the effects of deregulation. Post 1978, the economics of the airlines began to deteriorate from the bottom up, like an inverse hour glass filled with sand.

There is nothing either side could do but preserve the good times for as long as possible and the end was coming. Both sides were in denial until the later part of the 90's, at some carriers later.

Southwest is not immune.

The costs structure is no longer regimented. Revenue will NEVER exceed what the market won't cap with competition. Unless the carrier has a route network not yet tapped by the competition (rare now) the revenue is weak at best and the carrier stays in the market for "market presence" or market share. Hell, they may even los money.

This hemohrraging of cash can only go on for so long and the shortcomings must be made up somewhere because corporate profits MUST continue, shouldn't they??!?!

"Where can plug the holes?"... they cry.

COST #1 FUEL. Worked for SWA... for a while. They had money to burn after steaming through a very robust period of growth due to low labor costs.

Which segways into the 2nd largest cost to a company LABOR.

COST #2 LABOR. Remember, what a 737 Captain makes over there is STILL low compared to 2000 industry wages. Hourly pay for a 737 guage sized hull was around $220-250 per hour. The market has changed now, not for the better, in terms of competetive wages of the industry 737 wage.

Fuel is a no-go anymore for cost savings. The arabs are shoving it up our red white and blue butts and big oil is none too troubled to pass ont he costs to us. GOTTA MAKE THOSE PROFITS!!!!

"Hmmm. Labor... YEAH... LABOR!!!! We'l get cost savings from labor..."

"How do we do that?"

"BANKRUPCY!!!!!" FLUSH ALL CONTRACTS IN THE NAME OF SURVIVAL!!!

(Sounds of a profession flushing in the name of money)

What's left? A skeleton of what was. A gutted profession full of "once was's" and "use to be's".

This post is not meant to be a slam at SWA... they are just currently the nicest looking turd in the punchbowl of airline aviation. The employees there are worth alot more for putting up with the job they do! Sure, they love it but that's besides the point.

Fischman, Essentially, the marketplace changed and management left emplyees out in the rain so they could continue to collect their paychecks and bonuses... at labor expense. But hey! Look at the bright side... flying is now a right, not a privilage. GO SKYBUS... Not.

Everthing I read here says the same one-sided thing. I want my money and work rules now, and if the company folds, support workers get laid off and the traveling public can't get to where they want to go, that's too bad. Same selfish post that I have seen all along. Not a single word in this post that adds value or helps the company.

 

[doh]

How many retired airline guys are sitting in the right seat now where you are that can fly circles around the guys in the left seat based on career experience alone? For those retired guys, they should be able to take all that experience directly into the left seat of an airplane with a simular type rating. Instead, they wind up in the right seat and the experience is not used to the best advantage of the carrier. In fractionals, having this flight and leadership experience in the left seat is even more crucial due to the nature of diverse flying. Upgrades by strictly seniority and not merit does not best serve the owner. This experience translates directly to a safer operation. I'll support merit upgrades anytime over seniority upgrades based on safety alone. You can add this to my growing list of reasons why unions are a bad idea in today's aviation environment.

I'll bite. Who gets to determine "merit"? How long will it take for the "absolute power" to be absolutely corrupted? Politics will always trump ability and suddenly suck ups will be deemed more worthy of upgrade than the skilled. Pilots who will "fudge the numbers just this once" will jump to the head of the upgrade line and those that follow the far's will be left out in the cold. Let me think about your proposal... NO! Seniority gives you your chance to upgrade in a fair manner. Your "merit" (ability to fly) then gets you into the left seat. Whether you are union or non union, seniority rules because it is the only fair way! And since I am from 121 land, let me add that 121 pilots have a boat load to relearn about things like airspace. 121 you follow the controllers instructions. Fracland you better know where you are (below class B? what's the speed restriction again?) and what the rules are. It matters where you got your experience.

 

[B19 Flyer]

Wrong. The PIC is ultimatly responsible for the safe operation of a ship, just like upper management is responsible for the operations of their business. If a company went down, it is management's fault. Not the union's.

To my knowledge not every airline has gone bankrupt? American for example.

The PIC is responsible, that's true. But as a reminder, and just for the record, unless the owner buys the airplane, you don't have one to fly. If it's not signed off as airworthy by a mechanic, it's not going anyplace. If the fueler doesn't fuel it, you don't go anyplace and I could write a book about how if any link in chain of events is broken by a myriad of people in the airline, the airplane doesn't move. The pilot is only the end user, but it is the pilot's union that usually is the most disruptive. and you're right. AA hasn't gone into bankrcuptcy. Primarily though, it's because the union leadership chased management up the stairs of the courthouse to stop the filing because they knew that the court would not take lightly to the union not making concessions.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/2905035.stm

 

[pilotpat]

Great...an article written in April 2003. So, what?

EDIT: You still never answered my question. I wonder why...

 

[Mr. Pebbles]

Great...an article written in April 2003. So, what?

EDIT: You still never answered my question. I wonder why...

He won't answer it. And if he does, you can be sure it will be a lie.

B19, what is your motivation in life anyway? You would gain so much more respect if you would have a conference call, admit that you've FAILED in the past to be a upstanding person, and start over. That might begin to solve some of your problems.

 

[pilotpat]

He won't answer it. And if he does, you can be sure it will be a lie.

I guess you can be anyone you want on the web. You'd think I'd strive to be more than a pilot, then!

 

[B19 Flyer]

Great...an article written in April 2003. So, what?

EDIT: You still never answered my question. I wonder why...

Reread the bottom half of the original post.

 

[pilotpat]

Ambiguity at best, B19. I didn't get a glimmer except there are more jobs than just pilots in aviation. No kidding! Just friggin' state your title...IF you have one other than troll.

 

[FLYLOW22]

Everthing I read here says the same one-sided thing. I want my money and work rules now, and if the company folds, support workers get laid off and the traveling public can't get to where they want to go, that's too bad. Same selfish post that I have seen all along. Not a single word in this post that adds value or helps the company.

Corporate America seems to have enough "tools" to help themselves already... like you.

Damn, that was easy. Your answer was pitiful.

 

[brokeflyer]

It's sad that management is where pilots go when they can't understand why line pilots fight for their rights to a better life "FOR THEIR FAMILIES SAKE"

I don't really care how hard things get for me. I like my work rules for the sake of my children......If that is being selfish then im proud to be guilty. I fly for my own enjoyment, everything else is for my family.

SO take your "chip" and keep quiet you may learn something.......come back when your ready rookie......we don't have time for you here.


All that aside I am proud of the job my union has done.....Are they perfect? No, but that is what makes them better....

 

[dime line]

Everthing I read here says the same one-sided thing. I want my money and work rules now, and if the company folds, support workers get laid off and the traveling public can't get to where they want to go, that's too bad. Same selfish post that I have seen all along. Not a single word in this post that adds value or helps the company.

Everything you (B19) say is the same ol one- sided thing. Not a single word you (B19) say adds value to this post or helps the company!!!!

 

[Mr. Pebbles]

doesnt mean he was on it. and wouldnt 2:42 be 14:42?

 

[pilotyip]

I am ex-union ALPA and Teamsters, both companies Transamerica and Zantop out of business. I have seen what unions can do and what they can not do. Unions are why we have many of he working rules at union and non-union airlines. At profitable companies, NJ and UPS, FedEx unions can ensure that management shares with its employees. At marginal companies unions can not make a silk purse out of a pig’s ear. Whenever I see the, militant union talk on this board I go back to my union companies that went out of business and inject a note caution.