Another shot directed our way!!

[B75/76]

Saw this on the Flt. Int'l site. There seems no doubt a drastic change in our working conditons is evolving. Is it going to be better or worse long term?

KAREN WALKER / WASHINGTON DC

International Air Transport Association director general and chief executive Giovanni Bisignani has attacked airline pilots for out-of-touch work rules.

Speaking at the IATA annual meeting in Washington DC last week, he said a new approach was needed in airline labour relations.

"Pilots should not hide behind old work rules, such as seniority lists, which are out of touch with today's competitive world," he told an audience of chief executives and senior executives from 130 airlines. "This industry needs to reward performance, not age or seniority."

Bisignani's remarks - warmly received by the airlines - herald a drive by IATA to force changes on all fronts as the industry faces its worst-ever financial crisis. He is similarly outspoken on "outdated" government regulations that he says represent "the strongest obstacles to change"; on industry taxes and security fees; and on landing fees and air traffic service charges.

But the warning shot to the pilot community is new. "Labour costs cannot remain immune from the change in cost structure needed by the industry," Bisignani said. "This is an opportunity for our pilot colleagues to work with management to safeguard this industry."

US Air Line Pilots Association executive vice-president Michael Geer says pilot seniority has never been raised "by the guys in the trenches" during restructuring. "These remarks are a different colour on what we would call labour-bashing and the idea of senior workers not putting in their fair share and being a drag on productivity," he says. "That is not appropriate and does not apply to the airline industry, where the seniority system is good for industry, good for safety and brings value."

[proview]

I am not employed in any way in the airline industry.

Of course there are many structural changes that must be made in the airline industry. Some of them relate to labour matters.

The seniority rules in airlines are almost medieval to the outside observer. Insiders consider them natural, just, and necessary.

Ultimately, I suspect that seniority rules must and will be changed. There will still be seniority, but it will be more like the rules for industrial workers (or, perhaps, schoolteachers).

This astonishing and long running grudge match between the old AC and the old CDN pilots is undoutably having an effect on the financial, investment, and legislative communities. The will to change is being built up.

I suspect the necesary first step will be a revamped Railway Labor Act in the U.S. Perhaps we will see some movement on this within 12 to 18 months.

Just speculating!

[DEFCON]

But the big shots deserve millions in compensation??????

[DEFCON]

...and until the pilots get off their high horses and become self regulating.