Deep Hatred At The Airlines
So, scope this...
Forbes Magazine
(http://www.forbes.com/home/services/2005/09/15/Delta-Northwest-bankruptcy-cz_mt_0915airlines.html)
This is actually a very honest assessment of the airline industry as a whole, and I feel it bleeds out a bit into other customer service industries as well. Oh yes, I've been there behind the cash register dealing with some crotchety customer as a teenager...it's not that great. Being stuck in a plane with a bunch of assholes has got to be even worse.
The article closes with a suggestion for airlines to treat their employees with respect, and make them realize that they are part of a service industry. I couldn't agree more. Certainly a company should treat their employees with respect; however, the employees themselves must be aware of their role in the success or failure of their employer.
I find it strangely ironic that after the AMFA went on strike, Northwest had a better on time record with non-union replacement workers. Give people a job, great pay, great benefits, get them used to that comfort; laziness sets in, they no longer have to try as hard and there is virtually no way they can get fired. A one hour job now takes almost two hours. I started to get used to Northwest being late all the time, it was just part of the package; of course the tough part is arriving to the airport early to find that you're trapped! No escape without re-entering security, which is scrutinizing enough the first time around - no I do not want to take off my sandals and walk barefoot through the metal detector, thank you.
I understand the fact that employees are dissatisfied with pay cuts, etc. That is easy to understand. What is more difficult to understand is why so many people literally expect to be given a job and steady pay. There is effort required here, everyone needs to understand that the success of their firm is dependant on every employee giving 100% of themselves on the job. Their actions contribute drastically to the bottom line. Think about it: if every mechanic tried just a little bit harder to fix problems and do normal administrative maintenance to get the plane out on time, their on time record would be better and their profits would reflect that.
I cannot sympathize with the people on strike, even though the pay cuts they are asking for are incredible. I see it as more of a strategy to eliminate the union at this point. The job can get done effectively at a lower cost by people who are willing to learn and put in the effort. I'm sorry your attempt at effort has become so obsolete that one of the largest airlines in the world has to show you up with scab labor.
Want to know something else?? Southwest airlines is probably the most successful low cost carrier specifically because of two things: the way they treat their employees, and common inventory! What a great business plan, fly all the same type of plane, then all the pilots and mechanics are trained on the same equipment. There is some logic behind diversifying your fleet, but the sheer cost savings and efficiency benefits of having a common fleet has proven fruitful.
I seriously hope the airlines can get it together under chapter 11 and emerge with some better ideas.
There should be something in this space.
But there isn't. Does this void bother you?
I like this block here on the side, it's very web 2.0.