Democratic Underground Latest Greatest Lobby Journals Search Options Help Login
Google

Senator Rockefeller destroys Delta airlines on the Senate Floor for their role in FAA Shutdown

Printer-friendly format Printer-friendly format
Printer-friendly format Email this thread to a friend
Printer-friendly format Bookmark this thread
This topic is archived.
Home » Discuss » General Discussion Donate to DU
 
Omaha Steve Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-27-11 08:56 PM
Original message
Senator Rockefeller destroys Delta airlines on the Senate Floor for their role in FAA Shutdown

Senator Rockefeller destroys Delta airlines on the Senate Floor for their role in FAA Shutdown http://1.usa.gov/oxV6Pm

Here is Rockefeller:

I wish I understood why the policy objections of one company-Delta Air Lines-mattered more than the livelihoods of thousands of people. Last year, the CEO of Delta made $9 million. Delta paid its top executives almost $20 million. Yet, it is fighting to make sure its employees cannot organize for fear that they may secure a few extra dollars in their paychecks. At the same time it is pushing for special interest provisions in the FAA bill, Delta announced it was abandoning air service to 26 small rural communities-leaving many of them without air service.

Delta then had the gall to announce publicly it would seek EAS subsidies to continue this service. Maybe Mr. Anderson and his colleagues could forgo some of their salary to help subsidize this air service. Maybe they could use some of the millions of dollars they are collecting in a tax holiday windfall to pay for this service. Their actions are shameful.

Let me be clear, House Republicans and their Senate allies have thrown nearly four thousand FAA employees out of work, stopped critical airport safety projects, hurt hundreds of small businesses, and gutted the Aviation Trust Fund, all so that Delta Air Lines doesn't have to allow its employees to organize in a fair and timely manner.

The needs of one company should not dictate the safety and soundness of our aviation system. We need to pass a clean extension that will get people back to work, and businesses and their employees back to work building out critical airport infrastructure.

Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
dgibby Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-27-11 09:00 PM
Response to Original message
1. Time for a boycott. n/t
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
WhiteTara Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-27-11 09:02 PM
Response to Reply #1
2. of what and whom?
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
dgibby Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-27-11 09:09 PM
Response to Reply #2
5. Delta.
We need to stand with the unions on this.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
WhiteTara Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-27-11 10:15 PM
Response to Reply #5
8. Oh. That is too easy for me.
I quit flying a couple of years ago. But if I do fly, true, it won't be delta.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
dgibby Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-27-11 10:19 PM
Response to Reply #8
9. I'd walk across the country before I'd get on a plane.
I never liked to fly anyway, and I refuse to be molested by airport security.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
DearAbby Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-27-11 09:05 PM
Response to Reply #1
3. Time for a National strike
in support of other Working Americans. This is theft. This will continue, unless we are willing to take a risk, to save this country.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
napi21 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-27-11 09:07 PM
Response to Original message
4. Parts of what he said may be true, but I'm missing something here.
Edited on Wed Jul-27-11 09:11 PM by napi21
Delta Pilots are already unionized. They recently had a vote to see if the flight attendants wanted a union and they voted no. Several years ago they had a vote by the maintenance guys on getting a union and THEY voted no.

If the Pugs are claiming that's the reason for not renewing the FAA trust fund authorization, they lying AGAIN!

Let me add, the airports they are eliminating are in extremely small towns. When I looked at the list, I only recognized ONE location on the list! The flights they had were flying at 1/2 capacity! They're a business, folks. With the cost of fuel, they simply cannot afford to keep flights like that.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Merlot Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-27-11 09:12 PM
Response to Reply #4
6. Pilots aren't the only employees who unionize
Ground Services (what left of them after automated do it yourself checkin), rampers/baggage handlers, operations, managers, administration, etc. Pilots are a minority of the people who work at airlines.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
napi21 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-27-11 09:18 PM
Response to Reply #6
7. The mai reason the Delta employees voted no on unionizing is
because almost all the other airlines are unionized and by necessity I suspect, their pay is very close to what those in the unions make. They didn't feel that it was worth it to them fo have to pay around $50/mo to a union. I know this because my son works for them & has for 21 years.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
mrmpa Donating Member (707 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-27-11 10:47 PM
Response to Original message
10. I've been looking for Rockefeller to be the voice of ...
progressives and the working class, since Ted Kennedy died. I hope he's finding his voice.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
burrowowl Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-27-11 10:53 PM
Response to Original message
11. Kick!
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Omaha Steve Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jul-28-11 06:42 AM
Response to Original message
12. Kick
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
DU AdBot (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view 
this author's profile Click to add 
this author to your buddy list Click to add 
this author to your Ignore list Thu Oct 31st 2024, 06:31 PM
Response to Original message
Advertisements [?]
 Top

Home » Discuss » General Discussion Donate to DU

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators


Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.

Home  |  Discussion Forums  |  Journals |  Store  |  Donate

About DU  |  Contact Us  |  Privacy Policy

Got a message for Democratic Underground? Click here to send us a message.

© 2001 - 2011 Democratic Underground, LLC