clr4theapch
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 2, 2004
- Posts
- 711
With this new world economy emerging on a daily basis, the closing, merging and shutting down of airlines... it seems to me that the OLD standards of employment no longer should exist as it relates to union mandated "starting" rates of pay based on "senority" or date of hire..
As we get older, aquire more debt, start or have growing families, it becomes very hard to face the realities of these old school ways of doing business especially when one is forced this direction because of reasons out of the persons control..
I am pretty sure many of us have experinced the fear, shock or have been forced to start over as if a young student just entering the field, only to financially fail.. or have to greatly affect the core family QOL...
I know we have seen discussions in the past about this matter in one form or another, we have seen national senority list discussed.. and I have observed the constant disposition of this discussions in that "it will never happen", "it won't happen", "it's too tough to make the change", etc, etc. etc.... all feelings that in the past might have been true... Nothing is impossible if everyone gets behind it!!
I make this post because I firmly believe that the times have changed to such a degree that we (I) can no longer work under such old standards.. This is a primary reason I have not returned to the business and I am sure many others have gone elsewhere, not because they hated dispatching, only due that they could not "afford" to start all over at the bottom pay scale.. or feel they are worth much more than they are being offered, and they are!!
My store is simple.. I had a 20 year career prior to coming to dispatching.. having worked for a few companies until the post 911 downturn.. I have been a GA pilot for 30 years as well..
Since 2002, I have interviewed with over 30 airlines, some 2 times, having job offers from more than half of them, only to run head-long into current union run work rules, (which by the way, the airlines love to follow as it keeps their payrole down), rules that have really no good reason to exist other than they just do.... I dont ever see returning.
For the benefit of those in the business, I would however, like to see changes made that would prevent this from happening to you younger folks in the future.. Nothing could be more frustrating, more demoralizing, more distructive than to work many years for ABC airlines and then have them go under leaving you forced to start over like a raw rookie... you're experience totally wiped out as if worthless, it's just not doable for most people.
I know this is a long post, but I think its a subject that could not be more important to you all still in the business.. Many options can be explored, de-unionize, merge union rules, establish a nationally recognized value for experience built into union contracts.. many ways this can be addressed, but I think its a matter that everyone of you out there should really consider as a very important issue and take action now..
For the first time, I see this subject as one of the most productive things a unionized industry could actually force onto the companies... however for me, nothing is better than getting paid for personal performance and contribution, but thats just been me..
What are you're thoughts... I wish you will as I observe the discussion...
As we get older, aquire more debt, start or have growing families, it becomes very hard to face the realities of these old school ways of doing business especially when one is forced this direction because of reasons out of the persons control..
I am pretty sure many of us have experinced the fear, shock or have been forced to start over as if a young student just entering the field, only to financially fail.. or have to greatly affect the core family QOL...
I know we have seen discussions in the past about this matter in one form or another, we have seen national senority list discussed.. and I have observed the constant disposition of this discussions in that "it will never happen", "it won't happen", "it's too tough to make the change", etc, etc. etc.... all feelings that in the past might have been true... Nothing is impossible if everyone gets behind it!!
I make this post because I firmly believe that the times have changed to such a degree that we (I) can no longer work under such old standards.. This is a primary reason I have not returned to the business and I am sure many others have gone elsewhere, not because they hated dispatching, only due that they could not "afford" to start all over at the bottom pay scale.. or feel they are worth much more than they are being offered, and they are!!
My store is simple.. I had a 20 year career prior to coming to dispatching.. having worked for a few companies until the post 911 downturn.. I have been a GA pilot for 30 years as well..
Since 2002, I have interviewed with over 30 airlines, some 2 times, having job offers from more than half of them, only to run head-long into current union run work rules, (which by the way, the airlines love to follow as it keeps their payrole down), rules that have really no good reason to exist other than they just do.... I dont ever see returning.
For the benefit of those in the business, I would however, like to see changes made that would prevent this from happening to you younger folks in the future.. Nothing could be more frustrating, more demoralizing, more distructive than to work many years for ABC airlines and then have them go under leaving you forced to start over like a raw rookie... you're experience totally wiped out as if worthless, it's just not doable for most people.
I know this is a long post, but I think its a subject that could not be more important to you all still in the business.. Many options can be explored, de-unionize, merge union rules, establish a nationally recognized value for experience built into union contracts.. many ways this can be addressed, but I think its a matter that everyone of you out there should really consider as a very important issue and take action now..
For the first time, I see this subject as one of the most productive things a unionized industry could actually force onto the companies... however for me, nothing is better than getting paid for personal performance and contribution, but thats just been me..
What are you're thoughts... I wish you will as I observe the discussion...