relief tube
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- Jan 24, 2003
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'Is seniority killing the airline industry?'
But, is that the best way for the airline industry to do things? Maybe not, according to Bachman, who says "in recent days, I’ve heard some smart people begin to question whether this system is harmful and ought to change."
Bachman quotes Wall Street analyst Jamie Baker as saying that with company-based seniority, there's "no portability at airlines for labor." For example, Baker notes an unhappy pilot "can’t take his skill set and sell it to Delta or sell it to United." A pilot -- like most front-line airline industry workers -- who switches airlines would drop to the bottom of the seniority list at the new company.
Bachman also points to industry observer William Swelbar, an airline expert and researcher at MIT who also authors the aviation-focused Swelblog.com. Swelbar cites recent seniority spats at US Airways and American (with former TWA flight attendants), saying "the current seniority system does not work for shrinking industries like airlines and autos."
Swelbar asks: "Whether it is in the airline industry or in the automobile industry, there clearly is something wrong with the seniority system. My question: should seniority really be sacred?" His "concluding thoughts?" He suggests that "given that the airline industry will likely get smaller before and if it gets bigger, it is high time that organized labor puts down its swords and constructs a national seniority list."
Swelbar adds "employees should have the right to move within the industry should their carrier cease to exist. Seniority should not be a shield for some to hide behind. Rather it should promote stability for those experienced workers that choose to offer their services for hire in an open market." Would that ever happen? Many seem skepitcal, including BusinessWeek'sBachman, who writes: "I think it’s unlikely unions would support any major restructuring of seniority."