Eloquent words on Labor vs Management (ASA)

[Leroy Smith]

From a Fraq thread, but I was struck by the way it applies to the current quagmire in ATL....

It costs more in the long run to keep sticking band-aids on a problem, rather than fixing what is broken. Time and again, across all industries and situations, it has been proven that dragging your feet just wastes time and money. The sell-offs due to labor strife and pre-booking (don't forget those) charter flights in anticipation of a strike and/or labor problems during the holidays, could have been avoided. Certainly, the infamous POSTA could have/should have been skipped. The NJ pilots have had to bear the brunt of far too many penny-wise/pound foolish schemes by management. It took them awhile but the pilots learned that bullying doesn't stop until you stand up to the bully.

Mr. Santulli recalled. "I should have hired 300 pilots, but no one knew what their contract would be. So I had airplanes and no pilots." The shortage is now over, NetJets said. That doesn't tell the whole story, does it? It is more accurate to say that they couldn't get enough experienced pilots to take the job at the low wages offered. Obviously, increased salaries made a difference as did the huge boost to job satisfaction. No surprise there--you get what you pay for.

Experience in life teaches us all that it's cheaper to do things right from the beginning. Cutting corners, taking short-cuts, applying band-aids just prolonged inefficiency. With increased wages came an increased need for efficiency. As Gunfyter pointed out, management is now applying themselves to addressing the problems that they were able to ignore while they underpaid the pilots. They are currently working with the union, instead of against the union, to achieve greater profitability. Tapping into the talent pool that exists in the pilot force --making the best use of available resources--is a smart, profitable thing to do. Likewise, increasing motivation rather than decreasing it, will give RTS the 100% he accused the pilots of withholding. Let's hope that management has finally managed to learn that you get better results from the carrot approach than you do from wielding a stick.
NJW

Hmmm....... 1800 intelligent, highly-trained and motivated professionals with more immediate and tangible impact on our operation than any other group in the company: how can they possibly help our organization and the bottom line?? What kind of ROI could we get on a few $ per flight hour and some trip/duty rigs that would save us money in the long run? Aww, nevermind.

I love this job and I still look forward to going to work (a little) despite the constant BS. I try to give 100% every day and be better than the day before. And I think the vast majority of the crews I have flown with are of a similar mind. But I am unable to reconcile my desire to do right for the company with with the company's attitude toward us. It saddens me to think of the wasted potential for us (the pilots), but also for everyone who WORKS for ASA. There are no good reasons for Mgmts actions: they have many obstacles to overcome in running this business, but their avarice, antipathy and incompetence are inexcusable.

I will always be safe, legal and do my absolute best to be good to the passengers (I couldnt do otherwise, even out of spite). But the company has made it very clear that I am nothing more than the lowest common denominator: an overpaid equipment operator easily replaced by any warm body with a certificate. And that is where my dedication to the company ended.

OK, back to my resume.........

 

[Stifler's Mom]

1800 intelligent, .......

Actually, 1799, you must have accidentally included Super Kooter in your calculations.

Otherwise, I agree.

 

["GO AROUND"]

management is now applying themselves to addressing the problems that they were able to ignore while they underpaid the pilots.

You shoulda double underlined this sentence cause that defines our managment to a tee. Too lazy, stupid or too afraid they can't fix all the inefficiencies in the company to pay us a decent wage.

I think that's why they are opposed to rigs as well. Cause of the cluster Fook that is planning and scheduling. Not forgetting that DAL has a big part in Fooking up the schedules as well.