staff - shock absorbers

[jet_noseover]

"Airlines are said to be using staff as "shock absorbers" to protect themselves from the downturn in business since September 11.

The claim comes in a Cardiff University report for the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF).

It says carriers have opted for a "counter-productive quick fix by cutting pay, training and working conditions and paying off staff".

It adds that the effect has been to "reduce the industry's capacity to provide a safe, secure and reliable service".

The report concludes: "Airlines and other civil aviation companies must recognise and affirm the vital contribution of labour to safety, security, reliability and customer service."

It says the aviation industry was already experiencing "deep-seated problems" before the events of September 11.

The problems had been brought about by deregulation and privatisation of the industry together with a lack of forward planning.

It goes on: "For civil aviation employees around the world, the devastating effects of September 11 on the industry highlight two fundamentals.

"The first is the need for a new approach to labour management. The second is the need for a more effective regime of industrial regulation."

ITF civil aviation section secretary Shane Enright, said: "The report shows that their staff are among airlines' greatest assets and that problems are best confronted by keeping them informed and involved - not by treating them as disposable luxuries, to be dropped at the first hint of trouble."


(ananova)

Nice...

[BOING]

The sentiments of this posting are quite correct as we know. Unfortunately, at least in the US and apparently in UK also it appears management courses must never discuss this matter. US business does not produce leaders with vision of the future, it produces managers with an eye on the bottom line of tomorrow. It is this attitude that has got the airline industry into its present position. Unfortunately, the present mamagers have never been trained to lead out off the fix they have managed their company into. Instead all we see are the same tired old fixes, usually beginning with the lay off of valuable, experienced employees so that if a turn round takes place all of the new hire replacements need six months to get up to speed with their jobs.

Same old, same old stupidity time after time.

[PAXboy]

I have to say that this is standard practice across all commercial organisations that I have been involved with. In 22 years in commerce, most of them as a freelance, I have met some 140 such companies.

Every single one of them - given the chance - does what this report accuses the airline industry of.

It is a SOP and no one should be surprised. Change it? OK, all you have to do is change human nature.

[AA717driver]

My wife's cousin is a "go to guy" when a large computer company has problems. He has over 20 years with the company but is concerned about being furloughed. He says they could hire someone out of college and pay a quarter of what he gets. Sure, the quality would drop, but think of the savings.TC

[Flight Detent]

Looks like this trend is not only prevelent in the US and the UK, but also in little 'ol Iceland!
Cheers