When it comes to flight attendants, seniority is king. Senior flight attendants at United Airlines have chosen to preserve their jobs without seeking a new involuntary furlough mitigation program (IVFMP) when federal aid expires in April that could more evenly spread the burden of wage loss.
United Flight Attendants Vote Against New IVFMP
Currently, United Airlines plans to furlough 12,000 flight attendants in April, all those with seniority dates of September 2, 1998 or junior.
In a note to flight attendants viewed by Live and Let’s Fly, the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA) notes that recent survey results will lead the union to decline pursuing a new IVFMP (involuntary furlough mitigation program) ahead of April’s expiration of of CARES Act funding. In essence, United flight attendants have voted to let junior flight attendants carry the brunt of job losses rather than seek a program that would incentivize more senior members to share the burden.
We recognize that while there were differences of opinion on how best to move forward, there will be a significant portion of our Membership for which this is devastating news. While we will not pursue negotiating ways to mitigate any involuntary furlough, we will continue to have conversations with management about reducing the number subject to involuntary furlough from 12,000 to a lower number considering the potential for increased spring and summer travel; as well as the continuing roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine.
How close were the survey results? The AFA says it will not divulge survey results, despite great interest from flight attendants in doing so:
Acknowledging there is interest in learning about the specifics of the Membership survey, consistent with our Union’s history, in order to avoid any compromise to the Union’s position in bargaining, the results of the survey will be held in confidence. It is not in our collective best interest for the Union to share detailed information on the survey results. What is in our best interest is for the Union to speak and act, moving forward, with one strong voice.
Meanwhile, the AFA sees its primary goal in the weeks ahead as securing an extension of the federal Payroll Support Program, which would keep all flight attendants and other airline workers employed.
We are asking the Biden administration and Congress to extend the PSP through September 30. Mass layoffs will devastate workers, and they will add hundreds of thousands of workers to overwhelmed state unemployment systems.
CONCLUSION
We’ve visited this issue before on Live and Let’s Fly and the consensus among more senior (in longevity) flight attendants seems to be that they have put in their time over many ups and downs over the decades and now junior flight attendants must do the same.
> Read More: United Flight Attendant Union Sells Out Its Junior Members
image: United Airlines
So unless you’ve been at UA for 22.5 years, you’re out the (temporary) door?
That’s the way it appears now.
If 22.5 is the over/under I will wager big time on the under. Clueless.
Your facts are incorrect. I suggest you do a little more research.
Secret Vote? Nothing about this was a secret. It’s a survey. Why do you put a negative spin when the FAs are voicing to honor the contract!
While I did not intend to put a spin on anything in this particular story, multiple FAs have reached out to me in anger over this (which is the very reason the AFA letter notes the disappointment of a large subset of FAs over the decision to avoid new furlough mitigation measures).
Your article is an indictment of senior flight attendants. This was a union survey and it was not tracked by ID, seniority or any other measure. Many junior flight attendants did not want to work part time either, which was one of the ideas suggested at a recent union meeting. No FA regardless of seniority wants this job to become a part time job. People have bills to pay. It’s not a senior/ Junior issue.
I have followed your info for a long time. However in this instance you are completely stirring up false information. There was nothing secret about this survey. In fact it was quite transparent. It was open to all members regardless of years of Service. Senior people did not throw anyone under the plane. We collectively as a work group came to an agreement in 2016. This Side letter (LOA) violated so many protections afforded to us by the JCBA. And when it was canceled because of the PSP extension it was asked of us if we want the union reps to engage in additional side letters to our contract. Based on our previous experience with this side letter FAs have an mistrust. The theory was nice. Try to help out in a pandemic. I applaud management for being willing to work with us. (An I’ll scratch your back you scratch mine.) However the implementation was executed about as well as a bad game of Operation from my childhood. Given how it was proposed was extremely questionable. And there were far too many seniority violations when the bases of our JCBA is built on Seniority. I was furloughed after 9/11 and I will be furloughed again. I will wait my turn patiently knowing that when I come back it was in a the most fair order of seniority. People can be disappointed but the IVFMP was a Band-Aid to a contractual problem that needs to be addressed in our future negotiations.
Stop spreading falsehoods! This was an open survey not a secret vote! You need to speak to FA of all seniority’s in order to get accurate information.
You are definitely not an investigative writer that’s for sure. Don’t just write anything to keep your blog going. Get the facts.
See this:
https://twitter.com/flghtattendantx/status/1357194123988459521?s=20
Exactly. Falsehood every one was able to take survey jr and senior
AND senior FA don’t want a c scale we already have a b scale. Lessons learned from that debacle. What next d scale e scale work for free. I want my fellow flying partners to have what I have and nothing less.
Mathew I would take my own food and drink on my next flight especially if they are Senior FA”s
OMG why should any senior FA give up their livelihood to save the job of a junior FA? If they are capable of doing their job, kudos to them. Very disappointed in your article.
Matt you are clueless and the headline is terribly misleading. We didn’t vote on anything. The union made up something that we never even voted on that had a provision that allowed very very junior people to be called back before the more senior ones.
When I have time I can add more but this is nonsense.
Sensationalism = clicks. Who cares about nonsense.
Meh, terribly misleading article “secret meeting” – no such thing. This was a survey sent out by the union, those who chose to participate chose to have their voice heard. This seems incendiary of the senior flight attendants and it shouldn’t be. Plenty of senior flight attendants voted for the IVFMP to pass. I’m a relatively junior flight attendant (6 years, not at all a lot on the totem pole at UA) and I wanted to vote AGAINST the IVFMP *unless* the union fought to make sure that participants’ lives weren’t a roller coaster. I was a part of the previous IVFMP, and it was sold to us that we would be given non-activity lines, meaning, no flying, with the ability to pick up up to 35 hours. Well, then senior flight attendants got the ability to outbid us for these non-activity line schedules, and we were juniored onto being on reserve/on-call. So for those of us who set up our lives to get another job, and try to keep our health insurance/benefits through UA, suddenly had our lives thrown into disarray because we had to worry about 5 AM calls to the airport. I was not willing to have my life changing from month-to-month because this IVFMP had the ridiculous caveat to let non-participants, participate.
Mr. Klint
I must congratulate you on your attention grabbing headline that even your own article does not support. As stated in your article the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA at United Airlines is not releasing the survey data. Therefore it is next to impossible to prove that senior flight attendants are the cause for this abandonment of the IVFMP negotiations.
There are some of the most JR members that have expressed voting against the IVFMP ; as a way of expressing their disappointment in not being included in the last one.
The bottom line is a survey was put out to the membership without truly explaining both ends of the spectrum. Some local councils educated their members where others did not.
I say all of this to say that your headline is misleading. It was not just the “senior” flight attendants.
Agree. There is so much in this article that is nowhere near the truth.
Matthew is not a journalist. He’s a blogger… and yes, Matthew, as a former professional journalist and current United employee your blog is completely inaccurate.
The majority of the votes to not include a new IVFMP on the (not secret) survey was approved by JUNIOR flight attendants that were cut and not included in the current IVFMP program.
I’m sure you get paided by clicks… but you should try to maintain a little sense of dignity and file this blog in the trash.
Man you need to get better sources.
Since the author implies that using seniority for layoffs is wrong, why not say what should be used instead? Every job I’ve ever had used seniority in determining layoffs. Is it because the author doesn’t think older flight attendants meets his criteria for attractiveness?
I never said seniority is wrong. Just that junior FAs righty feel like they were kicked to the curb.
Need to do your research. It was a survey sent to all fas, not just senior fas. STOP stirring the pot.
Sensationalism journalism at best. U need to do better. We used to respect you.
Question for you. Do you think your colleagues who are quite upset and approached me to write about it have any basis upon which to be upset?
I don’t write seeking respect of others, though I respect you and all of your colleagues in your various roles. Could it be that many FAs again justifiably feel betrayed for the unpublished survey results they view as another vote against them?
Yes they can be upset… everyone can be upset. The entire situation is no one’s fault. It’s upsetting in it’s own right. But blaming and shaming other colleagues is UNACCEPTABLE. Somehow it’s become the norm to assume that if someone doesn’t agree with you that it’s acceptable to point your finger and have a tantrum. And it’s become acceptable to write misleading information to garner headlines. I agree with @Fair Play your article is Sensationalism journalism at best. Taking the word of emotional people doesn’t make it fact.
” Just that junior FAs rightly feel like they were kicked to the curb”
I was part of the 5500 FA that did not get the option to be involved in this side LOA. Did that upset me yes, but did I throw shame at anyone else, NO. I would have loved to have had the opportunity to chose. But given that both options were awful. The most fair option in terms of seniority is following the contract.
The terms and conditions of my job are in black and white and bound in a little blue book. The news may be devastating but that’s because they were Hoping for something that doesn’t actually exist. And now that they didn’t get what they hoped for they are upset. They can be upset because they’re disappointed but they can’t alter the facts that there was a survey and it was fair and equitable nothing secret about it and it was done in a very democratic way. Of those who filled out the survey they majority of them chose to say no to a side letter. And people need to respect that. It’s very disrespectful to those who took the time to fill out the survey.
Everyone who starts this job with any airline knows the game. Knows that it is seniority driven and always has been. So any anger they have should be directed at the company not the people that paved the way for them.
Matt, everyone has a right to be upset. The pandemic has turned our once exciting career upside down.
However instead of blaming it on the crisis, your article pits sr fas against jr fas which is unfair. You don’t know how everyone voted. No one does.
The fact is UA is in crisis mode and needs to downsize. We are and have been overstaffed for quite some time.
Social media is always the way to go if you want a broader audience to ‘take your side’ which is exactly what your fa friends are having you do.
Always 3 sides to a story. You should know this.
Your article is 100% accurate as to the day to day with AFA and senior Flight Attendants. Who, with having everything as far as trips, position, days off and vacation pick, still isn’t enough. They feel because they stayed with United through all it’s past abuse, everyone under them should be abused. Instead of leaving, they stayed took the mistreatment and are now angry at anyone who didn’t experience what they did.
But one thing you didn’t write about was the 5,500 junior flight attendants that also chose NO for the IVFMP because they were not included in it and would lose their job regardless. Sadly, they feel if they have no choice no one should have a choice… and us in the middle are the ones that pay.
One thing these senior people taught these junior people is entitlement. Let’s see how it plays out for them…
This is a fair point that I did indeed miss. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.
Many of the local council’s held zoom meetings to discuss this very topic. And believe it or not, not many people attend the meetings, nor do they participate in the surveys. Please understand ALL of the facts of the contract. This article was written with half information and very slanted.
As far as wanting another (3rd round) of payroll support from Biden — are they delirious? Twice already is ridiculous. What is this government supposed to do, support airline employees indefinitely? To do what, stand around looking at one another while only 30-40% of them are actually needed to work?
Yes, let them lose their coveted benefits and stand on the unemployment line like everyone else. Wow, must be nice to stay home, collect all your UA benefits, collect full pay, health/medical ++++ or at worst go to work and stand around waiting for something to happen.
I know people at United who are currently being offered a very lucrative package to exit the company – Where is United getting that money from ?
As of now the trio of Pelosi, Schumer and Biden seem likely to advance more payroll support indefinitely.. Schumer has joined AFA and APFA Town Halls in the past few weeks. Perhaps Joe Manchin will be a wildcard but otherwise I’d say the airlines are sitting pretty, despite their claims of poverty.
https://www.afacwa.org/join_afa_senator_schumer_talk_workersfirst_relief
https://mailchi.mp/apfa.org/join-senator-chuck-schumer-for-a-q-a-session
Agreed that this is likely moot, especially if numbers continue to decline and the vaccination process becomes more streamlined.
There was a survey not a union vote. There has been no breakdown of the survey results. Unless you are now part of AFA MEC you have no proof for your headline. All you are doing is trying to drive a wedge between UAL flight attendants. You should retract you statement.
You are totally misrepresenting what happened. All members voted, even junior ones. Of course it was “secret” , all union voting is secret. You tried to create a headline and story to fit your purpose. I will not read your garbage in future
First, it wasn’t a vote but a survey. Also there is a contract in place and most Flight Attendants at United asked the union to follow the contract. Once concessions are made monetarily they are nearly impossible to get back. This wasn’t a senior vs junior thing like you are implying
From the beginning of the Aviation Industry it has been seniority based. Why should this change. Because we have a generation where everything is fair and everyone gets a trophy. Well that’s not real life. And it’s not just this industry there are others. The USA has passed laws so the flight attendants didn’t have to quit when they married or had children. We fought for these rights. To stay as long as WE want to. And no snot nosed kid is going to change that. United made the mistake of over hiring for years thinking nothing would change. But it did and has over the whole time this industry has been around. So the fault should lay with the company not the people who have stayed 25+ years.
So you consider your coworkers to be “snot nosed kids” talk about United smh
First of all it was a survey not a vote and the only way it was secret is if you didn’t check your email so you didn’t participate in the survey. Secondly AFA is notorious for negotiating letters of agreement with UAL with NO flight attendant input because supposedly they know what is best for us. In this instance the AFA did the right thing by sending out a survey and acting according to the survey results.
Many of these senior flight attendants were likely furloughed during past downturns, in particular after 9/11. They were furloughed due to their low seniority, relative to others who weren’t furloughed.
I’m not a flight attendant or in any union, but why would the seniority that has always determined these matters no longer apply? Why would junior people expect senior employees to take cuts when down the road these junior people will be senior and likely immune to future layoffs?
I never heard in past downturns that senior employees should give up pay to protect junior ones. I’m not sure why that is a matter being brought up now. Is it the mentality of younger generations or is something else at play?
There are APLENTY Senior FAs who have gone through 9/11 and so and DO NOT have the mentality of that lot. That mentality is self-entitled, sabotaging and disabling for betterment. If Wall Street was shaken by Generations X, Y and Z, so will be humongous corporations. It’s time to shift. Oh, and BTW, the outcome was a product of the contract those same seniors voted for and juniors didn’t have a say; as well as preached to juniors for no concessions. Juniors are following that contract TO A T and now Seniors are crying.
Click bate 10. Responsible journalism 0
You’re absolutely wrong! I’m am a JR FA and you have NO idea WHO voted for what. Please know the facts before you release such an article that pins a group against the other. The VOTE speaks for itself and we all had the option to select “stick to the contract”. This is much more complicated than you’d understand unless you were privy to ALL information.
I’m a junior FA and I feel betrayed my colleagues. Don’t shoot the messenger. Matthew got it right.
im with Jen. hes right.
Jen. The company determined your fate. The union continued to seek inclusion for all of those FAs who would be affected by an involuntary furlough. The company continued to say no. I guess if it was reversed you would want the union to do the same? The union tried to save everyone from being disconnected from their healthcare and had to settle for only a portion.
WE DIDN’T THROW YOU OUT. THE COMPANY DID.
And now, most of those in your group have elected not to allow the union the flexibility to try to save everyone, once again.
Leaving out the bottom was not acceptable to any of your colleagues. And now the company has you believing it was your union. Typical union busting.
I hope something changes and everyone is allowed to, at least, keep their healthcare…….during a pandemic.
This is yet another article which is completely misleading. Pitting flight attendants against flight attendants. And who wins. Only the company.
Not my intent – all those FAs who know me, can vouch for that. And probably all moot because I expect there will be a third extension to CARES Act.
I would hope this was not your intent but the misleading facts that you wrote are very damaging. If you want to make this right I suggest you find a way to amend you headline. You’re a journalist be creative with the FACTS! Attention grabbing headlines don’t need to be #fakenews. Your credibility is at stake.
If it’s not your intent to pit fas against fas, why write this misleading blog?
I have a fundamental problem with the seniority system and don’t pretend otherwise. Yet I recognize that is the system in place and I think this story was far less controversial than my story from last August (link at the bottom of the story) on a similar issue.
I’m not trying to divide flight attendants, all of whom are facing the sad consequences of a global pandemic. Read my stories and I generally laud flight attendants and know that young and old, senior and junior, all have an immensely difficult job right now as mask enforcers on top of their other duties. I’m not trying to undermine unions in general or bolster the company.
But I don’t like it how the AFA has led and I greatly sympathize with the MANY flight attendants who have reached out to me in fear and frustration over all that has transpired.
I don’t think it is so wrong to wonder whether “all for one, one for all” is such an unworkable mantra in the airline industry.
The rules are the rules!!! Someday these junior F/A’s will become senior and I sure hope they don’t have to decide between themselves or junior F/A’s. My guess is the results will be the same!!
P.S. Just someone from the outside looking in.
I am no fan of AFA but during a furlough we do need to follow the contract, otherwise why implement one? A co w over 23K fas has to have a written contract to determine how to furlough & recall by seniority. I am all for the NAL program for those who do not make the cut. However it needs to have a set ending date so we do not become pt fas, BUT recall by seniority regardless of which program you choose. That was the issue of this last NAL program, violation of seniority. There is so much more to this than you realize.
I’m sorry if your ego was ignored by sr fas on your flights (as you obviously don’t have sr fa friends that can tell u both sides of the coin), but I can assure you most of us are not old mean selfish bitties. We have fought hard to get where we are, and what our future generation of fas can hold on to.
I will look for your name on my flights and hope to have a real 2-sided conversation w you one day.
We also forget UA is a business and has to figure out a way to be leaner in order to survive.
I don’t believe that it was only the most senior flight attendants that completed the survey in favor of supporting section 18 of the contract. IMO, a lot of flight attendants on the Junior end of the spectrum felt blindsided by the previous letter of agreement that came out after voluntary leaves were taken, thus not presenting an option to vf, , , ,thus violating seniority. I believe that this group voted to adhere to the contract to avoid a repeat of that situation. It’s a terrible situation for all affected in this industry as well as for so many in this country, and the world. I think that those most affected by this outcome are those in a mid-senority range. The bottom of the seniority group have known for months of their probable outcome. The top as well, although with the knowledge that neither their relative seniority nor the job in general would likely ever be the same.
As to the validity of this particular article and it’s sensational headline, I would suggest that in the future, prior to publishing an article based on the opinions of a section of the f/a group that are understandably distraught and needing to vent, do a bit more research, learn a few more facts. Perhaps journalistic integrity is not your ultimate goal?
Don’t attack the messenger…
I think service will go down if the only remaining FA are from 1998 and earlier.
From my experience, there are wide variations but the older FA are usually worse and lazy with the exception of a small percentage which are exceptionally good. The youngest ones are usually somewhat good but sometimes not too polished. If I had to give a score, it would be the following:
10 FAs that look like they have been working for 30 years (1991)
1 – truly exceptional
1 – very good
1 – average to slightly better than average
3 – almost average
4 – lousy
10 FAs that look like they are fairly recent (2010-2020)
0 – truly exception
1- very good
6- average to slightly better than average
2 – almost average
1- lousy
“Flight attendant vs flight attendant”? Of course! That’s unfortunately a by-product of unions and the tenure mentality And, btw, I’m a liberal who lives in Chicago. Just at the Chicago Teachers Union is showing today – it’s not about professionalism or concern for the job. It’s greed and self-preservation. Don’t get mad at me for saying it – it’s the truth. The fundamental basis of any union is taking care of its members and, guess what – union leadership is older and more powerful and “ding ding ding” – the older FAs are gonna win. I’m a loyal UA flyer and have had great flight attendants and awful ones and it’s not age based. But, when you take a step back, this mentality is killing United. Given a choice. I refuse to spend a $ or redeem a mile on UA metal. Any European partner will win. Every time. More professional. More attentive. More genuine. I can’t imagine anyone will be excited that more entitled, jaded, and cantankerous FAs are the one’s who last. I’m just hopeful that LH continues at least 1-2 daily flights from ORD to Europe so I have an alternative.
Mathew I would advise you to take your own food and drink on my next flight especially if they are Senior FA”s
I find this underlying notion completely ridiculous and hypocritical that anyone in the US would voluntarily agree to anything that would put them in a situation where they personally end up worse off — for the benefit of the whole group. In this case, senior FAs conceding something so that their junior co-workers can stay on. As in “If everyone gives up a little, then everybody will be saved.” That’s not what America is like. Most Americans would even call this socialism or communism. Here, in general, everyone looks after themselves first. That’s how this country was built. Every one for himself and the devil take the hindmost. Nobody wants to pay taxes for things that the individual has no direct use for. Nobody wants mandatory healthcare so that with their premiums other people’s heart operations are paid for. “I pay for my own heart operation, but certainly not for yours!” That’s why you have people rotting to death in the middle of the sidewalks here, and nobody gives a sh*t. But then, of course, when one’s own nest is feathered, you can go out and generously do some public charitable work at a champagne gala or volunteer at a food bank for the poor where you are being applauded for your sense of community. So disingenuous. No surprises here.
Are you threatening me Mr. Butler?
Yes he is. So terrible.
Can we talk about how the US-based flight attendants at United (not all of them, but the majority) relentlessly and successfully lobbied for the international bases (in Tokyo, Hong Kong and Frankfert) to be closed and everyone there to be fired? Where union member flight attendants were based with 25 to 30 years of seniority. Because these US-based flight attendants wanted those trans-Atlantic and -Pacific flights all for themselves (it was mixed crews before). And now they are lobbying for the last remaining international base in London to be closed as well. It’s the same basic principle. Jealousy, greed, selfishness, malevolence and entitlement. Another example: at the European United bases, flight attendants had successfully fought for maternity leaves under their local labor laws which were much more comprehensive than in the States. And the reaction of the US-based flight attendants at the time was that they lobbied with United management to have the European maternity benefits canceled just because they themselves in the US weren’t eligibile for them. Uagh…. Now you know.
Zania, that isn’t true. No U.S.-based flight attendants lobbied for international base closure. We all got the same notice of base closures you did, but certainly when we stopped flying to those cities for several months, I think most of suspected the obvious would happen. I wasn’t even aware we had bases in Hong Kong or Frankfurt to close. I was aware of London and Narita. Covid closed your bases. If there’re no flights to or from a city, there’s no need for flight attendants. It wasn’t jealousy, greed, selfishness, malevolence or entitlement. It was a complete elimination of flights, of course.
The juniors should avail themselves of Biden’ s offer to retrain people in obsolete industries and leave United with senior flight attendants to serve the poor schmucks that still need to fly.
Matthew…
The bottom line, >> United and AFA agreed to section 18 of the current contract; thus the vote was to follow the contract to which both parties’ agreed upon. Perhaps for the next agreement, there should be a stipulation when there’s a “Reduction in Personnel”, that a IVFMP would take place.
So let’s not pass blame to all those “senior” flight attendants that followed their Contract… after all, it was passed by the entire membership.
I loved the NAL, howe er I didnt like that they made us bid for it when we were originally to be included in the IVFMP program. That back and forth game made it very hard to start a new life outside of united while holding on this career. That being said, I think we missed a chance here to save our jobs and try and work outside of the united hemisphere. None the less the Democrats will probably bail out the airlines at least one more time. Free money keeping those planes afloat! WOO-HOO! Merika!
Nobody knows exactly where the chips may fall when it comes to F/A layoffs in the Spring. United has offered a lucrative Voluntary Separation Package that flight attendants have until 18FEB to consider. Additionally, the company will be offering Voluntary Furloughs for durations of 11 months and 13 months respectively. Although I surveyed in support of the IVFMP program because I did not want to see any of my flying partners lose important medical benefits, however, the way in which the initial IVFMP program came about was problematic to many. The bent of your article implies that senior F/A’s surveyed to throw more junior F/A’s under the bus and this just isn’t the case. As such, your reporting comes off as tabloid-ish. Truth be told, nobody today, knows what the furlough numbers will look like until Voluntary Separations and Voluntary Furloughs have been processed.
I received my survey in the mail the day before the deadline to answer it. I’m assuming others received it even later than that and so didn’t fill it out. I did not receive any type of survey by email. It was an anonymous survey so I’m not sure how you know the seniority of those who answered and how they answered. I’m grateful that there doesn’t seem to be any Jr/Sr animosity among the crews I work with. Occasionally, I find a little UAL/CAL tension, but most of us seem happy to work together and concerned about both those who have been laid off and those who are struggling to keep themselves housed and fed because the line guarantees have been reduced so dramatically with little open time available. We’re all worried about the future.
I answered the survey in a way that was critical of AFA. I think they should be more on labor’s side and more willing to negotiate. As far as I can tell, AFA despises the flight attendants while management is much more sympathetic. In addition, while I’m “senior”, I’m not yet able to retire (only 50), and I’ve taken some leaves of absence to help out the junior people. I’d be happy to take a 3-6 month COLA – as would many seniors I’ve talked to, but that isn’t available. Eleven months is the minimum and I can’t afford that. I know even more who are retiring years earlier than planned and that helps the junior flight attendants. We’re doing our best to survive this, but I don’t think part of our “best” includes infighting.
In what order would you lay people off? Senior to junior? By lottery? By days of sick calls last year? By number of orchid letters?
Matthew;
You stated that you were opposed to a seniority system. In your opinion, how should a company with ~25K + employees doing the exact same job, handle a furlough if 10K were not needed?
This is a very misleading article. As a f/a for another major airline I need to educate you on the way it works. Seniority if the name of the game in the airline industry. Anything less goes against our collective bargaining agreement. When I began my career many years ago, I was furloughed right out of f/a training. I waited my turn and was able to return to my job as a f/a the next year. It’s now been many years and I have earned the right to use my seniority to work full time. Get your facts straight and do not pit one group against another. In this industry we are all brothers and sisters and we know how it works. UAL/AA/DAL/Spirit/JetBlue, etc., it’s all the same…SENIORITY!
Hello Matthew,
Your Bio states that you work in the aviation industry, what is you title within the aviation industry?
The way your blog post and title are written
it seems likely you are a junior flight attendant.
The title of your article is incendiary and incorrect.
Do you know what happens in the brokerages and hedge funds when the company takes huge hits financially like they did last week?
The company unilaterally fired the junior
employees.
No junior employees blame senior employees .
They blame the management and CEOs are millionaires and billionaires,
who decide the are no longer willing to spend the cash to pay 10% or whatever %
of their employees.
Why would it be different in the Aviation industry?
Were the airlines prepared for a rainy day ?
Were they busy buying stock back and not paying down debt. ?
Was there board of directors looking out for the best interest of the company?
Was the company over leveraged and got caught short like some hedge funds ?
I don’t know the answer to those questions,
Do you ?
You are the aviation employee,
Why is it ok in the airline industry for junior people to blame their flight attendant colleagues for the demise of the airline and there subsequently losing their jobs?
I am not going to apologize for having seniority at United. Getting ready to start my 44th year. Yes, furloughs happen. Unfortunately it’s the junior flight attendants that have to go. The airlines as you know are and have always been “seniority driven!” That might not seem fair to the people in the “outside world,” but that’s how it is. Every flight attendant realizes this when they are hired. SENIORITY IS EVERYTHING! From bidding schedules, vacations, which break you get and what bunk you sleep in on international flights etc. It has always been about seniority and I doubt if that will ever change. Furloughs have happened in the airline industry for many years. I myself was furloughed for 8months from November 1981-June 1982, due to the PATCO STRIKE, thank you Ronald Reagan!!!!! Anyhow, there was no great furlough-type packages BACK THEN! I had collect unemployment until it ran out, get a job and pray I didn’t get sick because I couldn’t afford health insurance. Yes furloughs are difficult for all flight attendants, senior or junior. I don’t wish that on anyone. I hope for a speedy recovery of COVID19 in our country and the world, so we can get people back to work ASAP. But……in the meantime, furloughs have to happen. Seniority accrual takes time. I never thought I’d ever be senior. It doesn’t happen overnight…….It takes years to get it. Hang in there junior f/a’s…..it’s worth the wait!
Why should we taxpayers subsidize and bailout the airline seniority system and for the most part mediocre management? Have your seniority and Parker type managements but don’t do it on our dime.