US Airways Negotiations at Standstill

[On Your Six]

Too bad USAirways isn't a Chinese airline... Just think, NO UNIONS and no problems with slackers! Then again, everyone would be paid $2 per day in addition to free rice bowls...

 

[AceCrackshot]

Well, as unions go, the IAM is one of the worst to deal with.
The best line I ever heard was this, "If you tell a mechanic to do something for the 'good of the company,' you can go ice skating on his corneas as his eyes glaze over."

The IAM approach to compensation was this...you have X number of airplanes, and they need Y number of mechanics. If Eastern loses 10 airplanes, then Braniff will get 10 more. And those will be IAM guys. It really doesn't matter if they are painted blue, or silver or chartruse. And we don't care who we work for. Therefore, talk to the pilots or FA's or service folks...we ain't listening.

This has kept mechanic income realatively stable (which probably puts them ahead of ALPA) but, they are mercs when it comes to any concept of loyality to the firm. Its been beat out of them by management. However, its now brought them power by the hour, 3rd party/3rd nation maint. etc. The old calculus of the minimum required number of mechanics industry wide is becoming a quaint notion, like a pension.

But then, I have enjoyed living a middle class life in a first world nation. At least I'll be able to tell my kids what it was like.

 

[100LL... Again!]

My point is this:


You must have a system to keep the playing field level.

Let's suppose ONE airline outsources maint.

If their competitor decided not to because they don't want to outsource jobs, they will lose market share.

If John Q. Public does not care or know about such outsourcing, the company's loyalty to their workers will be their economic downfall.

You either need a binding agreement or law to prevent said outsourcing, and it must apply to everyone.

This is why criticizing new pilots for accepting fast-food wages to fly airplanes is stupid.

If they don't take the job, someone else will.

Either create a guild or quit bit-ching.