Northwest Air lays off workers and tells em to dumpster dive

[Sulako]

http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/15282158.htm

NWA workers facing layoffs take offense at money tips that include Dumpster diving
BY SHERYL JEAN
Pioneer Press

As if a pink slip weren't enough, some soon-to-be-laid-off employees say Northwest Airlines has insulted them by suggesting Dumpster diving, cheap dates and lowering the heat in their homes this winter to save money while they're out of work.

Northwest earlier this month sent the tips in a handbook to about 50 ground workers in North Dakota, Bozeman, Mont., and Austin, Texas, and posted the information on its employee Web site.

They are the first of several hundred ground workers who will lose their jobs as their work is outsourced to third parties under a concessions pact reached earlier this year.

Employee outrage has prompted Northwest to change parts of its handbook, called "Restructuring Q&A and Employee Support," and remove a list of 101 money-saving tips from its employee Web site.

"We do realize that some of the information in there might be a bit insincere and, for that, we do apologize," spokesman Roman Blahoski said. "There are some tips in there that are very useful and there are some tips that, looking back, were a bit insensitive."

It was the book's list of 101 money-saving ideas that some workers and their union, the International Association of Machinists, say went too far. "Don't be shy about pulling something you like out of the trash," suggested one tip.

"I realize that some person probably thought they were doing a world of good," said Bryan Dalzell, a Northwest customer service agent for 27 years and a union steward in Bismarck, N.D. "It came across to us, after losing our jobs after a lifetime of work, as patronizing and rather insulting."

Northwest said an outside company assembled the information.

NEAS, the Waukesha, Wis.-based employee-assistance company whose name is in the handbook, declined to comment.

The book offers advice on coping with job loss — from information about financial counseling to tips on how to stay healthy. It also included an advertisement for Coldwell Banker to help sell a house. The money-saving tips included using old newspapers for cat litter, asking friends and family for hand-me-down clothes and asking a doctor for free prescription drug samples.

"How condescending to tell people to move to a cheaper place to live and if you go on a date to take a walk in the woods. Give me a break," said Bobby De Pace, president of Northwest's ground workers union. "This is one of the worst things about how they treat their employees in the worst of times."

Jackie Diebel, a Northwest employee in Bismarck who will lose her job in November, said she wept when faced with the reality of the situation and the company's suggestions. "They want us to sell our cars, our houses, go to food banks for food for our families," she said.

The IAM represents some 14,000 Northwest baggage handlers, ticket agents and other ground workers nationwide.

The layoffs are part of a labor contract ratified in June that also cut the wages of the remaining ground workers by 11.5 percent. The agreement saves Northwest, which is in bankruptcy, $190 million in annual labor costs.

[Hedley]

I'll probably get crapped on by the militant union guys for this but ....

Not all jobs are really suitable as a long term, multi-decade career choices.

Do you really think you should plan on washing dishes at your local restaurant when you're 60 years old? Many jobs at an airline are really suitable, imho, for younger people who should move onto bigger and better things.

To those of you whom enjoy being served by 60 year old FA, or think it's a great idea to be tossing bags when you're 60, I apologize.

[TG]

Actually, one tip to have a workforce staying "young" is to keep their wages pretty low.
And I believe that's exactly what are doing some Asian's airlines regarding their cabin crew.

Now I would be curious to see Air Canada F/A's and groundcrew payscales

[KAG]

Can't speak for the ground crew, but new hire FA's on the "B" scale are paid like 18,500 a year. Not bad for someone just out of highschool and are looking for a cheap way to travell for a few years. But it certinally isn't a career prospect with wages like that...which is actually alot more than I made my first 2 years...what the hell was I thinking

[FamilyGuy]

Hedley there is absolutely no point or reason for anyone, especially not those "unionized economy destroyers" to jump all over you for stating your opinion in that post.

After all, you are a pilot man! As such you are extremely well qualified in every facet of everything known to man.

Let them eat cake.....

[ei ei owe]

Walk around the proper neighbourhoods and I'm sure you could pick up really nice stuff from the trash. Just gotta be choosy.

[hazatude]

Dumpsters behind strip mall are a virual horn-o-plenty of expired chocolate bars, chips etc.

[cougarhunter]

Although Northwest did a very demeaning and crass thing here, there is a lesson to be learnt here. What would you do if for example you had your medical yanked? Did you manage to nest enough to make your car/house payments for a couple of months? What about work? Do you have other job skills to fall back on if you can not get your medical back? Just a thought....

[tellyourkidstogetarealjob]

The IAMAW weren't to sympathetic when it came to the mechanics last year.

The union representing the mechanics went on strike. Because there was bad blood between them and the other unions they weren't supported by the IAM, pilots, or F/A's. Northwest effectively bust the union.

Now it's the IAM's turn. Gee, I wonder who's next?

What goes around, comes around.