After I wrote last night's post, I couldn't stop thinking about what's happened to us over the course of the last quarter century. We were made promises such as the ESOP stock would be worth a great deal of money, there would be a cap of 20% on outsourced work, and we would get a seamless agreement in 2000. Like many others we've heard, none of those promises was honored and ten thousand of us no longer work here, we have lost pensions, wages, stocks and benefits. In short we've been sodomized! Now we are being told "I want this to be a place where all employees enjoy coming to work", and "I want the agreements to be in place by the time we achieve a single operating certificate." These are not promises, they are stated goals, but they illustrate the point that the Company has no clue what will make us happy to come to work when you read it along what the Company's CEO bluntly stated yesterday, that "There will be no defined benefit pension plan at United Airlines"
This from USATODAY "Smisek ready to take on the World" article dated September 30 2010;
"Q: How will you keep the United folks from feeling like second-class citizens?
A: One, we've built a management team that's a true merger-of-equals combination of leadership, selecting people from both carriers, as opposed to the arrogance of a takeover. We're partners here, and we need to deal with each other respectfully as partners.
Secondly, I think the folks at United have been through very difficult times, as have we, since 2000. They want to change. I think they're going to embrace change. We're going to offer them ... a culture that will make them enjoy coming to work and be proud of the place they work."
Over the course of the last two months we really seem to have been in a holding pattern in negotiations. I can only come to the conclusion that the reason for this is the Company really has no interest in finishing our agreement. Rather it seems like they would like us to get right into amalgamation. The Continental mechanics already have an agreement so if you're the Company why not head in this direction? There is already a template in place for us right? But is this approach fair and equitable to us? I think not for the reasons that follow.
Here is just a quick overview on amalgamation for those that may not know. First the seniority lists will have to be merged. That is no small task and my guess is that alone will take at least six months. Then a committee from each airline will have to develop proposals based on the current agreements to present to the company and that should take another six months. Then the parties meet and negotiate the new amalgamated, or merged, agreement. This could easily add another year to the process.
Two Years! Are you ready to wait an estimated two years while everyone else makes more money and accrues pension benefits that the new CEO says you can't have?
Brothers and Sisters, creating 5000 pissed off bastards is no way to achieve the goal of making everyone happy to come to work! Waiting for amalgamation to work itself out is unacceptable! We work hard and deserve our own contract NOW!
I don't know about you but I am feeling like a second class citizen.
Tell everyone, THERE WILL BE NO AGREEMENT WITHOUT A PENSION AND THERE WILL BE NO HAPPINESS WITHOUT AN AGREEMENT!
