F/A's call for nationwide strike

[MetroSheriff]

Most of the Delta stews could not walk the "strike line" for more than a few turns without sitting down and doing a crossword puzzle for at least 30 minutes to catch their breath.


Bye Bye--General Lee

General,

I think I found a solution to their picket line problem. They could save their energy and picket by proxy. The replacement picketers would likely be a little less saucy than some of those old broads.

http://www.vendweb.com/Used_Vending_Machines_For_Sale/Misc/Warehouse%20Vending%20Machines.jpg

 

[General Lee]

The Song "talent" or stews could walk the line, since they are younger, more fun, and sassy. (unlike any of the mainline stews)



Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[SWAInflt]

Profession, huh??? So that is what you call it.

Ouch. It's a given that we are neither splitting the atom nor curing cancer back in the cabin however, the majority of us do take the Safety and Customer Service aspects of our job seriously. I don't know that a nationwide strike is the answer but, like everyone else, we have bills to pay and families to raise. At least where I work, we work hard, do our part to help keep the operation running on time and in the middle of it all try to give the traveling public...such as it is...an experience they would be willing to pay for again.

 

[COpilot]

Hey VC10 your forgetting that with no CBA, to He!! with the RLA.

The union can do whatever it wants.

 

[Eagleflip]

Ty Webb wrote:

Welcome to the new Millenium. Management doesn;t want long-term F/A's with longevity pay, and are doing their best to make it very unattractive to some of the senior F/A's (no pun intended).

I think this probably started with Jet Blue, but the others have caught on very quickly.

Gee Ty...what did JetBlue management do to make this happen? We've had a full 12-year contract scale for our FAs for a year and a half or so...Before that, the wage structure went out for five years, just like the old pilot contract did.

 

[AFELLOWAVIATOR]

Except there's this little thing called the Railway Labor Act that's specifically designed, among other things, to prevent national strikes. As everyone here knows, a union can't strike except after going through the necessary steps... So it's hard to see how this is anything other than a meaningless gesture, perhaps meant mostly to placate the members who Want Something Done.

The market is merciless and right now all of airline labor is in the process of being marked-to-market, and what the market is saying (rightly or wrongly) is that it doesn't value flight attendant jobs very much.

they said if the judge abrogates the contract, then there is no more contract. If this is the case then they are free to strike. I agree.


They would essentially be quitting.

 

[vc10]

Maybe. But the issue is a "Nationwide" strike---that's basically impossible.

You'll also note that the first time a workforce votes to certify a union, there's also no CBA (because it has yet to be negotiated)---yet the new union chapter has no right to strike. So it's not a foregone conclusion that no CBA means no strike. In fact, the situation has never been tested.

Hey VC10 your forgetting that with no CBA, to He!! with the RLA.

The union can do whatever it wants.

 

[vc10]

Doesn't matter whether you agree. Matters whether a judge agrees.

they said if the judge abrogates the contract, then there is no more contract. If this is the case then they are free to strike. I agree.


They would essentially be quitting.

 

[densoo]

Ty, you would make one he!! of a communist. I think you missed your calling. Try France. I hear they have a very active party.

What happened to the capitalistic "what the market will bear"? It goes both ways. If labor says "we quit" and it folds the company, then the market has spoken. And it has said: "these executives mismanaged this company so badly that it is no more."

Nothing more, nothing less.

 

[Ty Webb]

Ty Webb wrote: Gee Ty...what did JetBlue management do to make this happen? We've had a full 12-year contract scale for our FAs for a year and a half or so...Before that, the wage structure went out for five years, just like the old pilot contract did.

Sorry, I wasn't aware that JB had changed from the five-year deal. I think Song (Delta's attempt at a lime-green shade of blue) has a five-year agreement with their F/A's. Regardless, with Delta closing the senior mama bases and AirTran refusing to settle their contract in a timely fashion, and UAL and USAirways trying to get out of the agreements . . . I can see why the AFA feels like management declared war against them in 2004.

 

[AFELLOWAVIATOR]

Doesn't matter whether you agree. Matters whether a judge agrees.

If there is no longer a contract, they can walk all day long. If you quit your job , you think some judge will be able to tell you you can't? I don't think so.

 

[MW44]

I remember reading that Alpa called for an SOS strike once in the past. Basically a nationwide strike. Am I wrong on this one?

 

[N8Dogg]

I hope the flight attendants understand that they are even more expendable than the pilots. In a matter of weeks there could be a new batch on line. This industry really is going to he!!.

 

[General Lee]

Maybe this could clear out the old hags....



Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[FDJ2]

. . with AMR 757 pilots agreeing to work for less than AirTran 737 Captains!

AMR 757 CA 12 year pay is $164/hr, how much does a 12 year Airtran 737 CA make?

 

[FDJ2]

Maybe. But the issue is a "Nationwide" strike---that's basically impossible.

You'll also note that the first time a workforce votes to certify a union, there's also no CBA (because it has yet to be negotiated)---yet the new union chapter has no right to strike. So it's not a foregone conclusion that no CBA means no strike. In fact, the situation has never been tested.

Not necessarily true. Once a union is certified on the property and either the union or the airline submit a section six letter, even if there is no current CBA, the RLA is controlling and neither side can seek self help until either an agreement is reached or they are released from negotiations. In the interim both sides must maintain status quo.

 

[Ty Webb]

AMR 757 CA 12 year pay is $164/hr, how much does a 12 year Airtran 737 CA make?

737-800 at 12th yr pay is $172.40. There are no -800's on the property yet, but when they get here, that is the rate. If you are wondering about the -700, it pays $152.47

I think the comparison is valid, and it was not intended to disparage the AMR pilots; only to show how things have devolved in the industry.

 

[CatYaaak]

The Song "talent" or stews could walk the line, since they are younger, more fun, and sassy. (unlike any of the mainline stews)



Bye Bye--General Lee

Aren't Delta F/As non-union, so this doesn't apply to your airline anyway? Too bad, I'd enjoy seeing those "old hags" you never miss a chance to publicly demean and seem to revile ground your a$$.

No doubt your beef with the senior mamas is that they aren't young enough to automatically impressed with your pilot status, and "no fun" because they don't fall for your worn-out pilot practical jokes. And "sassy"?....jeez, next you will be telling us "I like 'em spunky".

Good thing you'e not in a position to actually deal with paying customers, and remain locked behind the cockpit door. You can't even treat your colleagues and fellow crewmembers with respect if they don't go out of their way to stroke your ego. No doubt your attitude would "shine through" to the ones ultimately paying your salary too.

 

[General Lee]

Cattayyack,


Ha ha. I don't interact with passengers? How do you know? Sure I do. Especially with the Song stews and the passengers. They are all really nice, and that is why I talk with them a lot, and that blends over to the passengers too. Most of the mainline stews are older, and burned out. Sad but true---you should know---you willingly fly us all the time to Europe. Why doesn't your boss chip in for first class or business elite? You aren't worth it? I thought so.

This business depends on front line employees. We pilots aren't really on the front line (face to face) all of the time with pax, primarily because we have things we need to be doing in the cockpit. But, I try to always say hi to as many people as possible and I always say goodbye, especially after my great landings. Our regular front line employees, like the stews, need to be more aware of customer service and their own appearance, and most mainline stews can't cut the mustard. But, the Song stews do a better job for sure.

And, I don't need anyone to stroke my ego. I enjoy my job and that shows. Also, you are right, our stews don't have any union, which helps the company out a lot, but $crews the stews over regularly. That's what you get when you don't want to pay union dues.... Thanks again for flying us sooo often to Europe. Good----day.


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[katanabob]

No doubt your beef with the senior mamas is that they aren't young enough to automatically impressed with your pilot status, and "no fun" because they don't fall for your worn-out pilot practical jokes. And "sassy"?....jeez, next you will be telling us "I like 'em spunky".

And I was under the impression that there wasn't anyone who preferred flying with uneducated, semi-literate, overweight, overbearing, trowel-makeuped, thrice exed, great-grandmothers who lack not only the capacity to carry on a coherent conversation or fit through an emergency exit but also the ability to perform any real service to anyone besides the cashier at McDonald's whose very $5.15 an hour is dependant upon their patronage.

You're probably pissed off when you get a hot one at Hooters, too.