Flight Attendant Strike?

[treehugger]

First Disney, now flight attendants!

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=509&e=12&u=/ap/flight_attendants_strike

 

[cra-z-4-dizney]

OH NO!!! Not what I wanted to read right now considering we are flying US Airways out of Philly....UGH!!

 

[CarolA]

I am sorry, but I have NO sympathy for the unions on this one. If they go on strike it will probably be ALL over for USAir. So... they will have accomplished getting themselves unemployed.

I realize they don't want thier contracts set aside or to take pay cuts, but a job is better then no job at all. It's not like there are lots of open Flight Attendant jobs for them to just transfer over to.

 

[treehugger]

Originally posted by CarolA
I am sorry, but I have NO sympathy for the unions on this one. If they go on strike it will probably be ALL over for USAir. So... they will have accomplished getting themselves unemployed.

I realize they don't want thier contracts set aside or to take pay cuts, but a job is better then no job at all. It's not like there are lots of open Flight Attendant jobs for them to just transfer over to.

Carol,
That's exactly what they said this morning on NPR. They even went as far as to say that all the airlines that are now struggling would shut down if this happened.

 

[DebbieB]

Originally posted by cra-z-4-dizney
OH NO!!! Not what I wanted to read right now considering we are flying US Airways out of Philly....UGH!!

From what I heard, it will be around Christmas if it happens.

I'm flying to Orlando tomorrow for business on USAir, I'm on a tight schedule so I'm hoping no funny business (carry-on luggage only, 1 night). I'm hoping they don't have dinner planned for us tomorrow night, I'm going to try to talk my coworker into a drive down to the Boardwalk for dinner (have to get some Disney! ).

 

[tinkfan4ever]

Would this include Southwest? I didn't see them listed in the article. THanks!

 

[DebbieB]

Originally posted by tinkfan4ever
Would this include Southwest? I didn't see them listed in the article. THanks!

Are Southwest's F/A's unionized?

 

[riu girl]

Does anyone know if this strike would involve Independence Air's F.A's? I don't know if they are unionized or not.

Any info. would be greatly appreciated.

Suzy V.

 

[treehugger]

Southwest flight attendants have another union, they reached a labor deal in July that is good until 2008. Thank goodness, as our date is fast approaching!

http://news.airwise.com/stories/2004/07/1091213959.html

 

[CarolA]

From what I understand it would only apply to airlines who are in bankruptcy and who ask the courts to set aside the union contract and allow the airline to decrease thier pay without a new contract.

So right now USAir is high on the list. I am not sure if United has asked for this. While the "strike" was authorized for lots of airlines, USAir appears to the first and primary target.

Generally this takes a few months after you declare bankruptcy and is part of the "reorg" plan. USAir just asked to do this and they declared Bankruptcy several months ago so even if Independence went bankrupt in the next few weeks it might be while before they do this.

I am not sure if United has requested the courts to set aside the contracts yet or not.

USAir appears to have some horrid labor relations

The other airlines can request the unions open negoiations. For example, Delta just negoiated a new contract with its pilots as part of the plan to avoid bankruptcy.

 

[PlutoPony]

Right now I think US is the only airline in bankruptcy to ask the courts to set aside labor agreements. UA has asked the FA's for a 2nd round of cuts and is negotiating - altho a friend there says they HAVE been asked for the set aside, but news reports say not (so who knows). Have friends at several airlines and they're concerned that the AFA may get either bold or desperate over the US situation.....what's being discussed is a situation termed "chaos". This is when FA's (in this case - could be other groups in other situations) call in sick and do other things to marginally disrupt many airlines - in a random fashion. This then ripples thru the entire system..... Not good, but there's a LOT of angst out there right now.

BTW, FLYI is hoping for FAA approval of the Airbus's any day now; think testing finishes tomorrow. Load factors are UP for the holidays too...

Beth

 

[riu girl]

Good news for I air's A319s. We are booked on them for our IAD-MCO flights segments (Dec. 18-31). At this point, I assumed we would be on RJ's (which would be just fine also). Beth, if you hear anything else about the A319's, can you let me know? I would love to fly on one (IAD-MCO).

FLY I just finished a holiday season sale on Tuesday. Maybe that is why their load factor could be up for later this year. They had flight segments as low as $29 US.

Thanks again for the info.

Suzy V.

Funny side note: The kids don't know we are flying to MCO (think we are driving). We are going to drive from Ontario to a BUF stopover hotel on Dec. 17 and I will casually say, well we have driven far enough for today. Oh by the way, see those airplanes in the sky, how would you like to fly on one tomorrow to Disney?

I love surprising them. They are going to be so excited.

 

[FINFAN]

I read that the FA votes will be counted and results in by first week of December, and what the FA's decide to do from there will be up to them....ATA was also mentioned in the mix due to their recent financial struggles, but it was only mentioned in the text of the strike hurting airlines already limping along..nothing specific. I am hopong cooler heads prevail with nothing more than a overworked/underpaid paychek is better than none at all attitude. It sounds rotten to settle for less than one's worth, but the job market is lousy....especially for the airline industry. Heck...don't they want to help Fl get back on it's feet again after the hurricanes? TRAVEL-TRAVEL-TRAVEL!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pam

 

[safetymom]

http://pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune...l/s_274943.html

No strike this year!!!