Nationwide Flight Attendant Walkout Threatened

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ^ | Tuesday, November 16, 2004 | Dan Fitzpatrick

[MplsSteve]

What airport were you taking off from?

Leaving from Miami wouldn't be a terribly long flight but if you were departing from Seattle or Chicago, it might get a little intolerable.

[randog]

The friendly skies aren't so friendly anymore.

And when was the last time you met an airplane waitress that didn't look at you like you were the source of all her pain and misery? You and all those pilots she slept with but never got a ring out of....;^)

[brewcrew]

You know, showing how the seatbelt works, handing out peanuts and pop, fetching pillows - it's all a smokescreen. They're actually there primarily to collect DNA samples for the government.

Now shhhhhh - don't tell anyone.

[joesnuffy]

Tell them to stay out until Minetta is removed
and all pilots (passenger and cargo) are armed against hijackers/terrorists

[HitmanLV]

I came along too late in life - an old-timer from an old job once told me there was a legendary time in the past where 1st Class air was something really special, and stewardesses were consistently beautiful, desirable, and sexually available and adventurous.

Then the women began burning bras, and the next thing you know, they are closing all 12 of the Playboy Clubs.

I think there are still a few sexy and available stews out in the skies, but they are an endangered species. That being said, at International Airports I do notice that foreign country stews tend to be more attractive and fit than their American Counterparts. So it may still live on!

Oh well, I was born too late it seems! :-)

[dead]

When's the last time a seatcushion actually worked as a floatation device?

It would probably help a nine-year-old in perfectly still water for about three minutes.

When's the last time someone survived a water "landing" in a commercial airliner?

In 1996, a hijacked Ethiopian Boeing 767 ran out of fuel and water landed (crashed) in the waters just off a Comoros Islands resort. 52 of the 175 people aboard survived, most of those who survived the crash and didn’t drown were clinging to the fuselage until boats arrived from the resort.

I remembered that crash because the footage of the plane hitting the water and breaking apart was pretty intense. (I had to look up the details.)

[eno_]

With the level of service on flights today no one will even notice.

If you speak up one more time I will have you arrested for interfering with the flight crew. Now shut up, biotch, and eat your rancid pretzels.

[eno_]

Too late. They have their own airline. And their own stock car racing series.

[fritzz]

Boise, ID. 700 mile flight.

Flew on a new 737 with the drop down screens. The flight attendants didn't even have to do their pre-flight performance. We were offered just 3 items. Coke, Diet Coke, Orange, and Water. (I guess Regular Coke and Diet Coke make it 4 items).

[MississippiMan]

So.......nobody will kick me out of first class?

Okay. That's it. You owe me a keyboard, buddy.

MM

[Pukin Dog]

Some of the Flight Attendants came along too late as well. I fly regularly with a woman who claims to have wanted to become a 'Stew' so that she could meet and marry a pilot. But, the rules for pilots are so strict now, you don't dare look twice at them, or risk an harassment claim. I don't even let them bring me coffee. I get my ass up and get my own.

[Reagan80]

Actually, striking because your contract had been voided in a bankruptcy proceeding is absolute grounds for the company hiring replacement workers.

Additionally, the union would most likely be held in contempt of court by the bankruptcy judge and fined daily.

This story is most likely a PR ploy by the union to gin up sympathy for the workers, and to put public "pressure" on the jusdge not to void the contract. It's a last ditch bargaining chip.

To be fair and balanced, the union's position on this would have one immediate benefit for the U.S. taxpayer...the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation (PBGC) which will pay off pension plan participants for pennies on the dollar, is already approximately $6 Billion in the red due to prior bankruptcy pension plan defaults. If 7 airlines all default on their pension plans, Congress will have to bail out the PBGC like it had to bail out the Savings & Loan industry.

Reagan80

[Poohbah]

Actually, striking because your contract had been voided in a bankruptcy proceeding is absolute grounds for the company hiring replacement workers.

This would be a strike at an airline NOT in bankruptcy.

Again, it's a pretty open-and-shut breach of contract case.

[Glenn]

When are these idiots going to understand that they are part of the reason the airlines are going bankrupt!?

What's rich here is that US Airways is at the root of this problem, and they are controlled by a public pension fund. Had the morons who are at the helm made a plan that worked instead of going back to the employee well several times this year, this "threat" wouldn't exist, in all probability.

[benjaminjjones]

if consensual cost-cutting deals

The smart, pretty (female) ones can bunk up with me! LOL

[BurbankKarl]

Good!

Let them drive.

[artios]

Can we finally say good by to UAL and US Airways? Can't say I'd miss'em. Couldn't happen to a nicer set of airlines....

[GalaxieFiveHundred]

I remember when...

[I Drive Too Fast]

Whoose gonnna b-b-bringg mee my DRINKK?!?

Just BYOB'S. That is bring two bottles. One for the screeners so that you can bring the second bottle on board. For heaven's sake though, make sure it has a twist off cap since you can't take those dangerous weapons such as a bottle opener on board with you.

I haven't been in an airplane in years and have no plans of ever doing it again.

[Reagan80]

Actually, it's both. If, say, the USAirways contracts are voided, the flight attendants for that airline would be striking when the contract had been voided.

Your point is also well taken, the flight attendants for all other airlines would be striking while under a valid contract. This would be the equivalent of what the PATCO Air Traffic Controllers did under my Freeper namesake, President Reagan. Striking under that set of facts is a well-established replacement worker situation.

Reagan80