Originally Posted by
gloopy
I hear what you're saying and to an extent I agree conceptually. Of course there's very little ALPA can do to force the company into buying new planes and shredding labor law and EEOC rules.
If an EK FA eats hundreds of lbs of sugar a year and goes double or more the weight standards and then tries to sue (and get a size 40 red dress) because its a "disability" well we all know what would happen. Just getting US legacy FA's to wear hats would prompt cries to the high heavens, and there's nothing, absolutely nothing, that can or will be done WRT height:weight or any other physical attribute beyond what little (if any?) standards that may (or may not) exist in the FARs. If ALPA even tried to change that in the slightest, the entire MCF would evaporate defending against junk lawsuits and defensive PR campaigns that we'd lose anyway.
ALPA is trying to fight (or at least raise awareness?) about the insane practice of US government subsidies for the BA/IAM cartel/lobby but it looks like nothing is going to be done.
That said, if we gutted our work rules to match their gutter level regional 90+ hours 10-12 days off nonsense, I'm sure we could find the money for some improved IFE. Get the government to print some more funny money to pay US airlines the subsidy equivalent ImEx money, and we could improve our product that much more.
I agree, and don't forget about AGE. I did fly with the Number 1 F/A a while back, MSP-NRT he's about 88 or 89 (by now) and still flying. Even the other F/A's said they hate flying with him because he's just in their way, and they are one short, since he can't really do the job!
BUT...it's not ALPA's job to fight for F/A appearance standards. Perhaps under the banner of "Safety" but that's about it. It IS the Company's responsibility to make sure their F/A's can do the job they are there for, ie. evacuate an airplane in a timely manner.
The FAA and DOT could help, all they need to do is implement some type of physical performance test into their F/A recurrent training, like pulling a 200lb. dummy out the over-wing exit, then jumping into the pool and then climbing into a life raft, and then pulling that 200lb. dummy into the raft.
Most of our International F/A's are well into their 60's, 70's and 80's, many are obese. There is no way they would be able to evacuate an airplane after a hard landing on land, let alone in the water.
Just think how many more passengers (and F/A's!) would have died in that Asiana SFO crash, if they had our International F/S's??
