Angry Airline Employees
If you have been paying attention to industry news lately, you probably noticed quite a few topics on the growing anger amongst airline employees. US Airways CEO Doug Parker says the labor issue is worsening across the industry. United Airlines CEO Glen Tilton tried to defend his estimated $40 million compensation package at a recent shareholder meeting. Northwest Airlines announcement that it would give outgoing chairman Gary Wilson a $2 million going away present led to immediate court objections from the airlines unions, whose members endured sharp pay cuts and job reductions during Northwest’s bankruptcy reorganization.
While Tilton defended his compensation package, he also said more must be done to cut costs to remain competitive. United continues job cuts and restructuring to trim expenses.
But shouldn’t sacrifice be mutual? How can the CEOs of these companies continue to preach the importance of saving money through concessions, job cuts and offshoring work while they walk around with big fat wallets in their back pockets? If leading a company out of bankruptcy means you deserve a multi-million dollar pay package, shouldn’t the employees who bore the pain also get something back for their sacrifices?
If employee compensation is only a priority when an airline needs to cut costs, and no consideration is given during times of profitability, the airlines are in for a turbulent trip in regards to employee relations in the near future.
Fasten your seat belts. It’s going to be a bumpy ride!
Thanks for reading,
Joe Escobar
It’s not just the airlines, this entire country is filled with these greedy, lying dirt bags. The American worker is being worked to death so that these jerks can live the high life? Why don’t we hear stories like this from Europe where people work less, have more vacation and just seem to have a better standard of living all around? These people are killing this country!!
It is not just the airline employees who are angry. The retirees at ual are also suffering, with no recourse. With no employee morale, these scumbags will walk away with millions after the the place is in ashes. They can’t run the airline by themselves. I am glad to be retired, even if I have to work until I die to support myself after they took our pension. The senators just give us lip service and never do anything to help us. Thanks for nothing.
So very typical of the American greed that is so prevalent of these times for the average worker. Lets all hope that the going away present is stopped and or at least greatly reduced by the bankruptcy board via pressure from the workers and the American public. God bless and good luck.
A few on the backs of many. Pay packages are out of control for Sr. Mgt. even those that fail and cost companies millions end up with hughe severance packages, yet let a working guy make a honest mistake, he gets the boot right where it gets buried!
My comment is directed at Dave’s comments. I am an A&P that left Delta when they had redundancies. I moved from ATL to GLA. The situation in the UK is similar. All sectors in manufacturing seem to be in decline. They are moving the Eastern Europe and China. The comment on vacation is true (depending on the employer) but the pay Vs the cost of living is no better. (fuel is around $1.60 a litre, ) The unemployment rate appears quite high when compared to the US. (From My point of view)
The only way a high labour cost country can compete in today’s market is to be more efficient. We need to have a high return on investment on every dollar/pound. That includes every employee including the senior management. Without knowing the details of the contracts with senior management we cannot fairly argue the point either way. From the looks of things the companies should have included a clause that had a fanatical reward for exceeding there goals. Meeting the goals is a requirement on any job and should not have a bonus to just doing your ob. This would then see only the leaders that help the companies get the bonuses we are debating here.
To your point, I wonder how many jobs could have been saved with the $2M and how many would have been lost without the managers input.
Welcome to capitalism and greed in America. I feel sorry for the airline employees who have been and still are getting screwed. On the other hand, I cannot stand those who gloat about how they got a $99 fare to the west coast. Something has got to give.
Remove the stock options from management. They should be paid a salary like everyone else. Then pay profit sharing, which should be the same for every employee from janitor to ceo.
There is one fundamental problem that A&Ps never acknowlede. That is the fact that we only have to be 18 to get a licence and there is an unlimited supply of those willing to work for $8/hr. Living to see your standard of living decline is hard, workers still have a long way to go before they hit bottom. My grandmother told me that she and everyone that she knew were perfectly happy as tenant farmers in the 1930s. Its simply incredible to see how much their standard of living increased. Im sure future generations will learn to do with less and find happiness as well. I hope all you guys who made 50k+ squirting grease put some of it away for the coming rainy day.
It’s all about the money… always has been. As long as management thinks of it’s workers as expendable (until things get tough then we’re supposed to be a team) and we act as IF we are (undercutting each other and fighting among us) it will never change. And as long as most Americans want the best but aren’t willing to pay for it, less is what you’ll get. Everybody wants the most for the least amount of money. I see many of my co-workers work harder getting OUT of work than actually DOING it. And that would explain (in part) why so many workers in good paying jobs are seeing their jobs exported to where $15.00 a day is a fortune. When you want the best for less eventually you can’t afford it because you don’t have a job. Most working people aren’t thinking about the future… it’s all gimme gimme NOW. Ironically, it’s exactly how the CEO’s are thinking… they figure there won’t BE a later so gimme, gimme NOW.