The End of Days... Northwest CVG

M. Ramsdell 

October 2006 

Once upon a time, 

I had the greatest job, in a great industry, working for a great airline in a great city. Those days are now so long ago, I can barely remember them. I just would like to share what it is like to work in one of the stations that didn't make the cut under Northwest Airlines restructuring plan. Our Northwest station in Cincinnati (CVG) will be closed October 23, 2006. Do not feel sorry for us. We do not look for sympathy or pity, but perhaps there is some relevance to the story that is unfolding here and in roughly seventy other stations across the Northwest system. We have been expecting that this day would come since the airplanes struck the towers on September 11th 2001. A few of us even thought about it happening well before that. That this day is almost upon us now is certainly not a shock to anyone. As the ending unfolds the Northwest Airlines has shown a cavalier disregard for the people involved whether they be employees, passengers or even those people who will ultimately replace us. This will not surprise anyone who has been following the saga of Northwest Airlines over the last few years. Our station once had 54 employees prior to the year 2000. Between September 11th and the current concessionary contract that has led to the outsourcing of our station we have averaged roughly 35-38 employees. Over the last few months our current staffing has dwindled down to 21 employees on payroll as we get closed down. Three of these people are out on OJI -Injury unable to work and as of today, and three others are on light duty as I write this. This gives us 15 "healthy bodies". People here are breaking under the stress whether it is mental or physical. Often there would be times where there was only one agent working upstairs at night or only two people scheduled to work outside. Many times there were more open shifts than warm bodies working because there was just nobody left to call to come in. That we are able to provide any level of service without incident is miraculous. This may meet the standards of what Northwest believes is adequate service; it simply does not meet our standards here. One of the things people need to understand is that while Northwest may have forsaken the employees of Cincinnati, these employees here never gave Northwest less than their best efforts. Many people across the system may find this fact distressing but we did not slow down or let up. We did our best not to let the impending station closing effect our stations performance. While very few of us gave Northwest Airlines any extra effort during this time, we still continued to do the job as well as conditions would allow. It would have been easy to delay flights or create problems and allow the station to spiral into utter disarray. This did not happen here, because the people here are professionals. Our allegiance has not been to Northwest for quite some time, rather it has been to the poor soul standing across the counter who had the misfortune of buying a ticket on our sorry-ass airline. We may make jokes about our employer, and we have a sense of gallows humor towards the company, but we manage to do the job no matter how hard Northwest makes it. The amazing part of the story, CVG has been essentially operating without a manager since early spring. Our manager saw the writing on the wall and left to take another job with the company. The inmates have been running the asylum since then, this station has been essentially on autopilot for the last six months. A manager from another station oversees our efforts on an occasional basis. Our exposure to Northwest management nowadays is limited to usually only once or twice a week and only for a few hours at the most. This station is currently profitable according to our "interim manager", who says he regrets he has to be the one to close the doors. We have to believe what the interim manager tells us about this place and we assume this is the truth. Our interim-manager is not really a bad guy, but as he assures us he understands our plight, it is clear to us that he cannot. There is simply no way someone who is in their thirties can understand what its like to lose the job that someone else has had for more than thirty years. Most folks here measure our time in durations of decades; the average time is more than 20 years most or all of it spent right here. Few people hold jobs for decades in one location anymore. In this regard, I doubt many people can really understand the loss the folks here feel. As he handed out the lay-off notices just maybe it was affecting him, he left without handing out notices to second shift seeking instead to return to his safe haven. His station is remaining open. The notices were left for the ticket counter supervisor and ramp lead to finish handing out. Perhaps he did not want to have to confront any more of the sadness or anger; maybe he was in fear for his personal safety. Hopefully, it was not just another day at the office for him. Our replacements are going to work for Pinnacle Airlines, as vendor employees, they will earn $6.85 an hour to start and then be bumped up to $7.45 after a brief probation period. They will eventually top out at approximately $11.00 an hour. One of our CSA's has taken the job to be the new Pinnacle manager; two other of our stations employees will join the Northwest transition team and train our replacements. Other Northwest employees from across the system have also lined up to join the transition teams set up to replace us during the station's change to the vendor personnel. There are people who will say that the resentment of these people is not justified and that they simply have no other choice. I will not be counted among them. These people will profit at the expense of others who have been eliminated and their actions will help lower the bar in a beleaguered industry. While I do not advocate harm being brought to them, or retaliation of any kind, in my mind this is an unforgivable course of action. Sure we all knew this day was coming, but their actions are especially reprehensible given the fact that people with whom they have worked for decades are now being uprooted or facing economic hardship due to the loss of their careers. Their actions advance the restructuring plans of management and this helps defeat the cause of working people. Here and across the system some people tried everything to fight the inevitable, to make the case that this station and others like it should remain open. Advancing the point that the people that work in this industry have value that exceeds their pay scale. In contrast, the individuals who take these types of positions are working to ensure the success of Northwest's plan, fighting for Doug Steenland's vision of an outsourced Northwest, and making it a workable reality. Eventually the working people in this industry will have to stop enabling the management of these airlines, because in the absence of a collective stand there is no "bottom" in wages or in working conditions. Airline employees will continue to pay the ultimate sacrifice, like the people in Cincinnati, and seventy other cities where stations are being closed. Either relocate, continue to work for less, or lose everything without a fight. Some of the finest people I have met in my life worked here in Cincinnati for Northwest Airlines, and they made the impossible happen on a regular basis. Some of these people will transfer, some will find other jobs, and all of them will eventually move on with their lives. Do not pity these people because they will do well in whatever task they confront. I know this because I have seen them in action. Feel sad for Northwest Airlines for the loss is truly theirs. Feel sad that they are willing to throw away people here and across the system like they are garbage. Feel sad for those who continue to work in the airline sector that continues to crumble and places so little value to the people who have given the better part of their lives working in it. Pray this troubled industry finds a way to stabilize. Pray for the other working people about to face the corporate razor. What is happening here is happening in roughly seventy other places around the Northwest system, it is happening at other airlines and in other industries. Please understand that the most depressing thing about our story is that it not special, and our problem is not unique. Fairy-tails have happy endings real life often does not. If I am wrong on this tell me why, or send your comments to: aloosecannon@fuse.net End of NW CVG in pictures--(Click Here) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Loose Cannon's views are not affiliated with any group or organization they are provided as only a point a view. Everyone is encouraged to be well informed and develop his or her own opinions. What readers do with the information provided is completely their own personal choice. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Please forward this on if you find it relevant.

Devin's Speech Project

February 21, 2013 to present,

Meet Devin Ramsdell he was born September 18th 2009, Devin is almost six now. Devin is mostly a good boy, like every kid he has good and bad days. Devin however had an issue that not all kids have, he was diagnosed with speech apraxia. While testing confirmed he is very smart, he had significant difficulty speaking. Most kids with apraxia know their words, they just can't say them right. Speech problems are not uncommon for kids Devin's age and they can range from very mild to severe. Speech apraxia is just one of many things that can delay or complicate speech development in children. Autism, hearing issues and vision issues are among some of the other problems that can contribute to speech development delays or difficulties.

Like other kids, Devin's issue with the speech apraxia was that he was able to hear and understand the words, but was unable to reproduce the sounds necessary to speak them.

Apraxia is sort of like dyslexia of speech.

With intervention the prognosis for kids with this disorder is generally good. Most schools test for and provide preschool programs to help children with this issue, however many schools face budget issues and federal, state and local funding are being cut to schools. These programs are in peril of being cut back or curtailed as many governments face crisis. Private insurance is also limiting or eliminating coverage, which it sees as voluntary and non-medical conditions. So many parents and there kids with these conditions who could realize positive outcomes are finding there are less resources available depending on income and insurance.

Devin unfortunately fell into this category. Despite a medical diagnosis, insurance denied his claim. Devin attends a public preschool program. Only because his speech development was considered enough of a problem to qualify; but many children who are borderline or undiagnosed are often turned away and denied access to proper care. Children who do not receive intervention may eventually recover and speak better; but most are often educationally and socially behind there peers. A slow start often leads to low self-esteem intellectual and developmental problems that put the child behind in life.



Click here to see YouTube Video Of Devin's Verbal Skills 09/26/12 

This was the motivation behind Devin's speech project. It was created in an effort to help Devin with his speech and eventually maybe even some other at risk kids. There are a number of resources and programs out there, but this project attempts to create just another free option. Hopefully, to help parents and children who either have no resources or are looking for an additional ways to help. Most of the speech programs available are somewhat flashcard based and while helpful, they can be limited on the number of sounds they help the child practice.  We were using some of other pay and free speech therapy programs that are considered the standards in speech therapy.  Some of these are programs are rather expensive.  After looking at and using these free and pay programs, it seemed a simple presentation program could be created that would surpass some of the speech programs that were available.  So, I just started doing extra slides some of which had moving pictures and animations to supplement sounds he was struggling with.  Devin soon found other speech programs boring and liked the slides we were creating better. This meant he would "work on words" longer, so this project was born.

Devin's Speech Project focuses on repeating each sound several times and uses randomly animated slides.

The idea behind this effort was to create a more interactive program that really focused on the different sounds. It also has randomly animated graphics and sentences that keep attention focused and pulls the child in. We also wanted more than a just a few flashcards or images for each sound we were working on.  For each sound we attempted to combine a sentence that also used the sound several times whenever possible. Some letters and sounds lend themselves to this easier than others. Devin's Speech Program is designed with only with improving a kid's speech in mind. The words are not always ones the child might encounter but will help work on the sound trying to be mastered. Comprehension is a secondary concern, and while the program is not a reading or vocabulary program it appears to have the side effect of helping with both. This program was not developed by a speech pathologist or speech therapist. Just a dad looking for additional tools to "work on words", there are over 50 separate presentations and 1250 slides. It may or may not work with every child but it really helped Devin and so we make it available to others for free.

The ultimate the goal of helping one child has been already met.



Click here to see YouTube video of Devin on 9/19/13 one day after his fourth birthday.

Devin showed phenomenal improvement during the time we put this project together. On a purely subjective scale, if we were at 10% to 15% age appropriate speech in January 2013, he was at about 90% of age appropriate speech about 12-18 months later. The cause of Devin's progress is not only this project to be fair.  First off, he is older now. Secondly, we also paid for speech therapy and he was also lucky enough to go to preschool because of his speech issues. Still, the effects of the project are undeniable. They were noticed by his speech therapist and others at the time. His progress was significantly ahead of what would have been normally expected during this time frame.

We still continue to look to find ways to share this effort and help other kids.

We hope Devin's story will help others in raising awareness and helping get resources to parents and children. Right now this project relies on a proactive participating parent working with the child. We feel that early intervention is critical to increase successful outcomes, and you should seek professional help if you believe there is a problem with a child's speech. We may someday add speech and sound to eventually make the program completely self directed by the child. If you have questions on issues with the project itself there is a section on "technical stuff" towards the bottom of this page. If all else fails you can contact us, most people seem to get it to work without to much issue.

We have also set up Devin Speech Project sites on both Facebook and Google Plus, these sites look to offer support to parents and children, as well as sharing both information and resources for speech difficulties. Check back here or follow us one one of the social media sites for the latest additions and updates. You can also follow this project on Twitter where our handle is @ARamsdell41018.  Please consider sharing any or all of this this information with others. We would always love to hear your feedback on how to improve this project. Tell us about your child's specific situation or about any information you would like us to share with other children that struggle with speech issues.

The actual project and it's presentations are at the links below.

Devin's Speech Project is at:

To view or download Devin's Speech Project presentations at Dropbox (Click Here)

Devin's Speech Project's presentations now available on Box (Click Here) 

Download Devin's Speech Project using Google Drive (Click Here)

Devin's Speech Project's You-Tube Channel (Click Here)

See project overview and practice notes for the project guide

Some of the comments we have received are here.

Related Books Articles and Other Resources


Devin's Speech Project and Selective Mutism.

Today what Devin works on a separate condition called Selective Mutism. Selective Mutism is an social anxiety disorder that makes children often totally unable to speak. Devin speaks very well and quite lot at home, but is working on developing confidence to speak in other settings. We still continue to work on his project even though his speech has improved. The project itself is not geared to help with Selective Mutism other than it can help build confidence it the ability to speak correctly. There is no research that indicates any link between Apraxia on Selective Mutism but we feel with Devin it very well may have been a contributing factor.

Many parents, teachers, doctors do not understand that Selective Mutism is a debilitating social anxiety that goes well beyond shyness. Often some professionals dismiss it as shyness and something kids will grow out of. This can lead to increasing and significant difficulty in adolescence and adulthood. Using social media we try to raise awareness of this problem for children, again believing that early intervention is critical to achieving positive outcomes. There are links and resources on Devin's Speech Project's social media sites and we look to expand this area on this site in the coming weeks. 

Our YouTube Video of the Moment:

Understanding and Managing Selective Mutism a Video by AnxietyBC is our latest video of the moment. Selective mutism is a childhood anxiety disorder that is diagnosed when a child consistently does not speak in some situations, but speaks comfortably in other situations. This 10 minute short video explains selective mutism and shows the viewer effective strategies for treating children with this disorder. The strategies presented in this video can be used by caregivers, teachers, and friends in various settings. We look to share videos that we feel can help others and raise awareness this is our video of the moment.  Please let us know of any videos or resources you feel can help in this effort.





Our other cause of the moment.

Our cause of the moment is local libraries. We support local libraries to help promote literacy.

Can reading to a child help those who are struggling with communication disorders or with literacy skills?  I believe so...

App of the moment:

Endless Alphabet

This is the first and only for pay app we have ever recommended, and is worth all three of the dollars spent. The letters make their sounds as you put the in place in the word.  If your child does the letters in order they also learn to spell. Clever animations and celebrations keep up the interest. Devin and his sister Hannah both love this app. We will change the "app of the moment" as we find other resources we like and want to share. Please share any you feel might help others.

Article of the Moment:

The Effectiveness of Language Facilitation (Link)

The like above is a great article from ASHA and an essential strategy for working with all children. It discusses the role of the parent/teacher in teaching language development.  We will change the "article of the moment" as we find other news or stories we like and want to share. Please share any you feel might help.

Devin's Speech Project - The Technical Stuff:

Adobe Flashplayer:

The animations in the project will not run unless you have Adobe Flashplayer or some equivalent.
On my android tablet they did not run but on our computers they did. The experience is better with the animations, and it would be better to keep the child engaged.  This was never a deal breaker with Devin.

Adobe Flashplayer can be downloaded here for Windows's P.C. (free).

Dropbox:

The project was created for and with Dropbox. You can sign up using the link below, if you install Dropbox on your computer, will get an additional bonus space of 500 MB. So will Devin's Speech Project. This will be helpful for the project when as it begins to add speech to the project which will have larger file sizes.

If you are not already a Dropbox user, please consider signing up by clicking here.

Update: September 2014

There have been recent upgrades to Dropbox. The new version of Dropbox opens up the presentations in a preview mode which does not format to the screen of some tablets and computers correctly. While in this preview mode there is an "open with" option which you can use to open the presentations in PowerPoint, Kingsoft  or other presentation software.

I wish there was a way to disable the preview mode in Dropbox but as of now there is not. I am contacting Dropbox to express my unhappiness. I don't know of any other work around at this point. This does not effect Google Drive and I may look for other ways to share the project. I will keep you updated.

To view or download Devin's Speech Project presentations at Dropbox (Click Here)

Google Drive:

Google Drive is a similar service to Dropbox. We have put the Google Drive link back up due to some recent issues with Dropbox. Dropbox is still easier for most people.

To download Devin's Speech Project using Google Drive (Click Here)

Box:

Box is another file sharing site that is quickly becoming one of the best on the internet. We have not had any issues on yet.  You will still need a presentation program to properly run the project. Which is why we recommend either PowerPoint (part of Microsoft Office) or Kingsoft Presentation(Freeware).

Devin's Speech Project's presentations now available on Box (Click Here) 

Kingsoft:

The goal of Devin's Speech Project is to be totally free. The best way to use the project still is to download the files and run in Excel or an equivalent like Kingsoft. The presentations were created and run on Kingsoft's Presentation Freeware but should run on any application that supports PowerPoint files. We would recommend Kingsoft's Presentation freeware given its price if you do not have Microsoft Office. The program can be viewed best as pictures or presentations with animations in a PowerPoint viewer via Dropbox. They can be downloaded to any computer, laptop or tablet for a much better viewing experience. To see the animations that are in the project, the presentation files will have to be downloaded and played in a device that supports PowerPoint files and has Adobe Flashplayer.

Kingsoft's Presentation Freeware can be for free downloaded here.

Kingsoft Office is now available for Apple products for free at this page.

Note to Apple users:

A few people have had issues with the I-pad and the I-phone, while most others have not. We saw an I-pad that was playing the animations correctly but the presentation was cut off at the bottom. The animations seem to generally work on I-pads with adobe flash-player installed.  If anyone can help with the easiest and most correct way to view this a presentation program using apple products, please share your best practices.  We use P.C. and Android tablet, and this works great on both, we can't really help so much with Apple stuff.  Still, by the numbers we get, 51% of users are on a Apple platform.  So many Apple users are using this project, which means people are figuring it out.  Maybe someone can send us some pointers.  Please send help to the e-mail address above.

Always feel free to e-mail us at aloosecannon@fuse.net

Examples of the project are below:

Disclosures:

Everything in the presentations was put together using freeware and was focused on images and animations from open source and free public sites. This is because we want to make the project available for free. Every effort has been taken to respect copyrights and an artist's wishes. Thousands of images and animations were searched to find the ones that were used. It is a credit to the Internet and free speech that so many images were available. The ones that we picked were superior in conveying the concept for the word and sound trying to be taught.

Due to the nature of the internet, it is possible and perhaps highly likely that an image or animation in this project may be subject to copyright. To any artist, photographer, or animator whose work is here and does not want it to be part of the program to help kids with speech issues, please email the contact address and your image will be removed. We sincerely apologize ahead of time and only chose your work because it was the best at expressing the idea we were looking for. There are several alternate images for every slide in this project. No profit is being made from the project and the goal from inception has been to keep the effort available to kids and parents for free.

MR

Google+

Is it as Simple as Sharing?

M. Ramsdell
September 2009

Those who have much are often greedy, those who have little always share. Oscar Wilde (1854 – 1900)

I recently was called naïve by a friend who opinion I genuinely value, the worst part is I suspect he is actually correct. I prefer to use the term idealist but this is just splitting hairs. What prompted the exchange and what has got me thinking, is if the world would be a better place if we truly practiced the ideals we were taught as children. Is this is even really possible in today’s world? For the purposes of this discussion I will focus on one of the simplest of values. I will attempt to make a larger point on the ideal of sharing.

The simplest of virtues are sometimes both the hardest to learn and teach. Raising my children has given me some perspective on this. I find myself shuttering when I hear myself say, or do things that I remember my parents doing to me when I was a child.

As a parent I sometimes find myself embroiled in moral dilemmas when teaching my children new things, and having to balance between what I consider to be “right” and principled, versus preparing them with dealing with how the world really works. I suspect every parent who has ever had to explain the difference between “little white lies” and “real lies” likely understands my point. Parenting can be fraught with these ideological landmines and a smart or insightful child can be tougher than any trial lawyer.

Sometimes we have to make adjustments in right versus wrong to explain how the world really works. 
What worries me is what if these minor moral concessions are what put us all on the road to ruin?

One of the biggest challenges and primary missions for parents and teachers alike is teaching the virtue of sharing. As a consequence of human nature, sharing conflicts with what may rank as one of the more powerful forces in the universe, which just happens to be greed. Children and adults alike are confronted with two opposite influences in trying to teach and to learn the socially preferred ideal of sharing, while confronting the evil of the demon of greed. Based on what I see in my world, and in the media, I have no choice but to accept that many of us may have not succeeded in confronting this demon. Greed is the stronger force that is basic to human nature and survival, and sharing sometimes seems only for the weak, or only applied when parents and teachers are trying to balance the needs of two wanting children.

Greed vs. Sharing: Licking the apple.

As a parent it is almost impossible to get my kids to share, sometimes I believe that sharing defies basic human nature in the same manner that “up” defies the force of gravity. Let me share a personal story that illustrates my point. My wife recently carved up an apple in to equal sections to be shared by each child. Seems simple enough right? It was going well with each child taking one piece at a time, until there were just two pieces left. Then my oldest realizing that they were at the end of the apple grabbed the last two pieces of apple and she licked them both thus ensuring that her brother would not get an equal share. This caused quite a ruckus in our family that day and resulted in my daughter being disciplined by her parents for failing to share. As she lamented the loss of computer and Wii time, maybe she learned the lesson that other excessively greedy people learn. Excessive greed may have consequences, but then again maybe not?

I am left to question whether the lesson is at all significant; after all she did get both pieces of the apple, which is what she wanted in the first place.

I am wondering if the true lesson that society teaches us, is that if you want the extra piece of the apple you had better grab it. Worry about whom you offend and the consequences later. Given the nature of society, maybe I should have lauded her creative way of ensuring that she got the larger share. I am worried both as a parent and as a person that we try to teach sharing but we don’t actually practice it. I am worried that as a force of human nature greed is just too powerful to oppose.

Let’s Share a Movie Quote.

The point is, ladies and gentleman, that greed -- for lack of a better word -- is good. Greed is right. Greed works. Greed clarifies, cuts through, and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit. Greed, in all of its forms -- greed for life, for money, for love, knowledge -- has marked the upward surge of mankind. And greed -- you mark my words -- will not only save Teldar Paper, but that other malfunctioning corporation called the USA.

– Michael Douglas as Gordon Gekko in Wall Street 1987

The above quote is somewhere between a caricature and an archetype of the behavior of some folks on Wall Street and in Washington. Take your pick of Bernie Madoff, Bernie Ebbers, Kenneth Lay or even Allan Stanford there are dozens of icons that emblemize this belief system. Others can discuss who that can best be referenced as poster-children of the greed dominated part of our culture. There are several and it is not really my point. While there have been stark consequences for many people like those I have just mentioned. It would have to be suggested that many others, even those who knowingly violate the public trust do not get caught or do not suffer any repercussions. It is clear at least part of the population ascribes to and benefits from the philosophy of greed. Despite the threat of whatever penalties are actually enforced, it is clear many people choose to behave this way and they do indeed benefit from greed. For many of us greed is good.

Our Culture of Giving.

What is equally astonishing to me, whatever we can point out about our nation’s culture of greed, our nation has also established a tradition of a culture of giving. In 2008 Americans gave 307.65 Billion dollars to various charities despite a falling economy. Even though that number was down in 2008, historically our country tops the world in charitable giving as a percentage of GDP. This is great news and something we should be proud of as a nation, and perhaps it just even might offset some of the culture of greed I referenced above. Yet, there still is something we need to consider before we pat ourselves on the collective back.

There is at least anecdotal evidence to suggest that contrary to what we might suspect that when it comes to sharing, this effort is not shared equally among those in our society. Those who can do more are not necessarily doing so. A report on Empty Tomb quoting data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditure Survey 2005: Cash Contributions for Charitable Giving by Income Level suggests:

“Although the people in the $150,000 and more income bracket gave the largest number of dollars to “church, religious organizations,” and to “educational institutions,” those dollars represented a smaller portion of income for that bracket that those in the lowest five brackets.”

It points out that lower income people actually give a higher percentage of their income to charities. While statistics often can be interpreted to fit any example, on some level it may make some sense. Sure there are glaring exceptions but most people who amass large wealth don’t usually accomplish this by simply by giving it away. While we may rank first in giving as a culture, I suspect we also could rank first in greed. It truly does not seem like our culture of giving balances out the much higher profile culture of greed. This is not about class warfare or socialism, nor is it to blame the wealthy. It is not about money or resources, because people have the ability to share more than just cash. Our time, expertise, and knowledge can make a difference to another person or group and is often more valuable to share. The question really is whether each of us can do more in how we share with others as individuals and as a culture. Can we do better in how we teach and set the example of sharing? The challenge is can we do a better job elevating sharing as a virtue?

The Challenge of Sharing.

How can we become a more sharing person when it is clear to me that sharing is not always easy for us? Of these two opposing forces of sharing versus greed; it is much harder to want to share, and it seems to defy basic human nature. How can I impact things and how can I give direction to my children so they aspire to the higher value of sharing. I believe the world becomes a better place one person at a time. I have accepted that in my life there is more I can do to be better person, and try to shift the balance from greed to sharing by starting first in my own world. If I can set an example and create some kind of a blueprint, it can become something that can be followed by my children and maybe even other people. If enough people do this maybe it just might help offset the culture of greed. These ideas are a work in progress they are open to amending feel free to share these:

1. Conspire to commit at least one extra random act of kindness per day, above any you might have normally performed in the events of a normal day. This is what I would consider drive by kindness and sharing. This is the small acts like holding a door open or letting someone into traffic. Unto themselves they are not a big deal but when practiced in large numbers they make the world a better place.

2. Perpetrate one extra premeditated and truly selfless act per week; it must impact the life of someone else in a positive manner. This is for me a more advanced thought out and well constructed effort. Consider this advanced sharing and kindness it usually requires thought. This can and hopefully will impact someone’s life in a positive way. Even if it is just for a day.

3. Start taking the time to really listen to another person to fully understand how they feel. Empathy is the sharing of emotion, all too often we hear what someone is saying but don’t understand how or why they feel the way they do. This can be a vital part of conflict resolution or avoidance. This is also a key in relationships and an essential part in sharing yourself with others.

4. Increase charitable efforts ether in the amount of time, effort, or money that I commit to these efforts. I should be able to do more if I put forth more focus on this. Often at times of great crisis or around the holidays we have seen our country can rise up to do this. The hope is that can I begin to do this better on any other average day.

5. Attack and defeat at least one thought of greed or selfishness per month. Either in my thinking or in others. This is the offensive part of the revolution. To start reducing the large numbers and benefits of greed, we have to be willing to say “Hey I think your being a selfish greedy prick” whether we have to say it to ourselves or others around us. To do what is necessary to stop the greedy bastard in each of us or those people around us. If enough of us do it loudly enough, it could even lead to prosecution of some of our worst violators of the public trust.

6. Be available to help facilitate the above ideas in others. This is the key to spreading the movement; defined as sharing the sharing movement. Help people to find ways to help people. Sometimes someone has to coordinate the cause and direct the efforts. This indeed can be a noble effort.

7. Most importantly be prepared to accept that none of this may actually make a difference, because greed is strong. Remember doing the right thing may not benefit you, and if that is why you are doing it you are missing the whole point of this exercise. In this case start over with point number one.


This is all really simple, but all shifts in thought usually start with a simple premise. You will come up with your own additional ideas on this. Please implement these as well, and share them with others. Could an increased focus on the value of sharing actually make a difference in our culture? Probably not, because ultimately none of these shared thoughts will matter to anyone. Even if the ideal of sharing was common in its practice, it isn’t like sharing can actually solve the world’s larger issues like wars, global hunger, or homelessness. Aspiring to be a more sharing person won’t fix the banking crisis, solve the healthcare debate or help educate children.

Or could it really help on these larger issues?

Smarter people than me will have to figure this out I am just an idealist at heart.

Then again maybe I am just naïve after all…

Thank you for allowing me to share my thoughts with you.
Feel free to share your thoughts with me.

If I am wrong on this tell me why, or send your comments to:
aloosecannon@fuse.net




---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Protect Insurance Companies

Please view the following Public Service Announcement:

From The Huffington Post:

In a video below from Will Ferrell, Jon Hamm, Olivia Wilde, and other celebs band together to "protect" insurance company profits from the evils of health care reform. "People are saying a lot of mean things about health insurance companies and their executives and it's gotta stop," pleads Thomas Lennon. "These great business men are American heroes," says Linda Cardellini. "So why is Obama trying to reform health care when insurance companies are doing just fine making billions of dollars in profit?" Will Ferrell asks. (Watch it by clicking here)

Read more at Huffington Post: Protect Insurance Companies PSA: Will Ferrell, Jon Hamm Speak Out Against The Public Option (VIDEO)

Protect Insurance Companies PSA from Will Ferrell

Can we “Jesus Up” the healthcare debate just a little bit?

M. Ramsdell
August 2009
aloosecannon@fuse.net


This is meant with all due respect to both sides of the argument and with sincere respect to those in the healthcare industry desperately striving to help serve the greater good …

Politics is like sausage — it is best not to see it being made. ~ Otto von Bismarck 1869

I don't know that I often agree with Bismarck, but it is usually really terrible watching American politics even when it's at its least contentious. The American political system usually either gives me a rash or leaves me needing a hug. Lately as a nation we are taking it to all new levels of insanity. The tone of American politics has devolved to a new low as terribly angry outbursts erupt in town halls across America not just over the usual budget battles or defense spending or even on whether to have a moment of silence for Michael Jackson. Now it’s gotten serious because we are going to decide how best to care for our sick our injured and diseased.

No better time for intolerance and hatred, and maybe just maybe even some good old American violence. It hasn’t been this exciting since the old civil rights days.

Nothing screams let’s take a gun to a town hall meeting more than a discussion on how to care for our nation’s sick people. Am I right?

No, this is not right -- yet somehow it seems this is exactly where we find ourselves as a nation.

I suspect the current arguments are being driven more by the fears, needs, and greed of humans than by the hand of the holy sprit. At the risk of being insensitive towards other religions that I have a tremendous amount of respect for, I am going to focus on the Christians in the audience some of whom seem to be the most upset on how the government might address this issue. At the risk of being cliché I wonder what would Jesus do, or at least I wonder what would Jesus think?

It is time for us all to find the higher ground, let me remind you of the scripture, from the New Testament.

Bartimae'us, a blind beggar, the son of Timae'us, was sitting by the roadside. 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" 48 And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" 49 And Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." And they called the blind man, saying to him, "Take heart; rise, he is calling you." 50 And throwing off his mantle he sprang up and came to Jesus. 51 And Jesus said to him, "What do you want me to do for you?" And the blind man said to him, "Master, let me receive my sight." 52 And Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your faith has made you well." And immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way. (Mark 10 46-52)

The amazing thing about Jesus, that there was no co-pay, no out of network costs or no forms to fill out, just pure holy healthcare for this just a blind beggar. While we grapple on what we should do with our current system, with the battle of private healthcare insurance versus Obama-care, maybe we can remember this shining example of how it works under Jesus-care. I suspect on any compromise that we as Americans come up with, whether it be in any private system or any public option, the new system will likely be inferior to any care that Christ himself might set up. Just maybe we can try to aspire to the benefits of the Jesus-care system.

Here is another reminder of the word of Christ…

If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? (1 John 3:17)

Much of the hostility in the debate it seems revolves around money, mostly over who is going to pay for healthcare reform and who is going to lose money when the reform passes. Insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, doctors and many citizens could realize a real financial loss if real reform is passed. It seems many in each of the different groups are willing to throw the other to the lions to avoid any real sacrifice of there interests. By almost all estimates roughly 47 million Americans have no access to health insurance and it is a number that is expected to continue to grow under the current conditions.

Yet many remain unconcerned about this because it does not directly affect them yet. I really don’t believe this thinking is in line with the teachings of Jesus. When someone without insurance has a serious medical condition and they have no medical insurance or means to pay they may go bankrupt, and their house could go into foreclosure. They cease to have disposable income and stop becoming effective consumers. After this happens to enough people this causes the plant or business you work at may shut down or cut back and then you may find you have no insurance. (See the economic meltdown of 2008.) To fix this problem it will likely require compromise and sacrifice of all of us.

We are all interconnected whether we realize it or not.

People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. (Timothy 6:9-11)

The statement above from the bible that is attributed to Jesus just might have a huge relevance on the current debate on healthcare. Just how much of the argument in this arena is being driven my self interest or ambition? Fear of losing my benefits fear or that it will somehow cost me more? If this individual greed was the only greed related to this subject, it would be easier perhaps. There is a huge amount of money at stake here healthcare, by some estimates healthcare accounts for as much one sixth of the total economy. There are huge players who have huge stakes in this game. None are about to see there piece of the pie diminished without a fight. Money isn’t a part of the issue here for many it is - the issue here.

Affordable healthcare is secondary to many players in this arena. Don’t believe it; take a look at some information what the top insurance executives by clicking here for 2004 to 2007 or here for 2008. Legislation in this arena will affect a huge part of our economy. There are millions spent by the health care lobbyists to defend their company’s ability to make the most profit as possible. If real reform costs them as much as one dollar they are going to fight it. I cannot help but wonder what Jesus would say about profiting off of another’s sickness. I can not help but wonder what he would say about reducing or denying coverage based on the payment that is available. Somehow I doubt he would be for this.

But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth.
(James 3:14)

I can not even guess how many of the assertions made by either side are outright falsehoods misrepresentations or purposeful omissions but even if it is just one it is too many. It seems argument from either side has been defined by bitterness, ambitions and falsehoods. While I certainly don’t speak for him, I doubt Jesus Christ would approve of how many are behaving in displaying their anger on this issue. Here are a few things I think to keep in mind when protesting healthcare.

1. Jesus endured great suffering for you and died for your sins – It is doubtful he would like it if you are wishing great suffering or death on others.
2. Nazis killed millions in concentration camps – There is no provision for this in any of the health care reform proposed by either side. Leave the swastika’s at home.
3. If you think you need to bring firearm to a protest either to protect yourself or teach the other side a lesson, you probably shouldn’t go.

We should be adult enough to have peaceful protests. The only way we will do better as a country and improve this system is if we begin to find ways to have a rational truthful discussion and if we are open to possible compromise and sacrifice. We need to be respectful both for the ideas and the needs of others. For instance, I agree with opponents of the public system when they say Jesus likely would not support federally funded abortions, and even though I am pro-choice I believe this would be a point I would concede. Compromise is part of the higher calling, provided we are looking to help care for those in need.

Remember our country exists perhaps at least as an indirect consequence of the life of Christ, after all many of the European earliest settlers came here to find freedom in how to worship him. Perhaps we are a part of his greater plan and this is part of a greater test. We have advantages as we are Americans, and we have freedoms and opportunities that were not available in previous eras. From our drive for independence basic rights and freedom our founders created an imperfect nation that established a system with the means to improve itself as time went on. Our constitution is not carved in stone rather it is written on paper created with the unique ability to be amended and improved. This nation has withstood world war, civil war, the battle for civil rights, Pearl Harbor and September 11th. Often only after great compromises and sacrifice by our citizens, yet it has progressed and improved through each challenge it has faced.

Our nation certainly can withstand a spirited healthcare debate, and it certainly can improve and advance the system we have. Whether we can do this in a civilized manner working towards a system that will serve a greater good of the people, versus divisive special interests and the greed of various individuals’ corporations and lobbing groups remains a whole other question.


Let’s go make Jesus proud of our nation.

Comments?
aloosecannon@fuse.net

Comments on The End of Days

I felt it was necessary to share the comments that have been rolling in. My goal was to leave something greater than marker scrawled on a aircraft bin to mark the passing of my station. In this effort I now feel successful...

There have been quite a few responses read on below.
It scrolls down a long way.
Thank you to everyone who has replied.
I will eventually respond to each of you.

MR

The End of Days... For Northwest Airlines in Cincinnati
by: The Loose Cannon

Online at :
My Left Wing:
Daily Kos:
TPM Cafe:
The Agonist.Org:
Future of the Union (UAW)
AMFA Local 33

Some of the comments and feedback on this piece:


----- Original Message -----
To: aloosecannon@fuse.net
Sent: Saturday, November 25, 2006 11:56 AM

To all my friends in CVG

I was hired by Mesaba as a pilot 15 years ago. I started out commuting from CVG to DTW and was later based in CVG. Over the years I became friends with most of you and have witnessed your professionalism first hand. Even though I worked for Mesaba, you guys always treated me great.

Back when I got hired, I believed that I would spend a few years at Mesaba and then move up the ladder to NWA where I could have a good career. Over the years and through the contract negotiations that I witnessed for ALL the labor groups I realized that we were all (Northwest, Mesaba and Pinnacle employees) nothing more than parts for NWA to use and replace at their whim. And the more infighting between the labor groups they can generate the better. This helps them pit one group against the other and leverage the overall pay lower.
I understand the animosity displayed here by the mechanics that wrote in towards the CSA’s. In my opinion, the only hope of stopping the downward slope is to work together across employee group AND company lines. If the mechanics strike, everyone strikes. And I mean EVERYONE. If the Mesaba or Pinnacle CSA’s strike everyone at all three companies strikes. Only then can you gain any leverage to actually bargain evenly.

As for me, I got tired of being treated the same as a spare part and left the airline business last year. I am lucky. I had the privilege of knowing and working with many exceptionally fine and dedicated people over the years. I am young enough (???? well maybe) to try something else to feed my family. I only gave 15 years instead of 20 or 30 years to a company that couldn’t care less about its employees. I miss the flying and I miss my friends, but I don’t miss the business.

Good luck to my friends in CVG and to all of you in the business.

Pat


----- Original Message -----
To: aloosecannon@fuse.net
Sent: Friday, November 24, 2006 5:37 PM
Subject: NWA


> Last March NWA would not grant me a LOA. After 24 years, with over 1600
> hours of sick time on the books. I wasn't asking for medical; I wasn't
> asking for any severance, just a LOA. I was in a west coast city where chaos
> was a everday occurence. Managers hid in their office, only to comment how
> much more the kiosks should be used. They asked senior employees to heave
> bags to the belt from the TSA because they were too cheap to hire one
> handler, or let an ESE help. Aircraft were loaded above the wing, yet there
> would be 2 guys to load below, during the holidays.
> I decided to downgrade from CSS to CSA pt, and I still found I could not
> stand the five hours I was there.
> One of my co-workers was on valium to cope with the stress. This was all
> normal!!!!
> I was told by the manager (30 and still wet behind the ears..) that I
> couldn't have LOA. I left NWA angry.
> I was greeted with an invoice in the mail for 3 hours of vacation time that
> NWA wanted from me. I am paying them $1.00 at a time.
> The union dropped a grievance I had against the company for the
> 2 days pay that was taken from me.
> It was an unprecedented case.
> I paid 24 yrs of union dues and I was dropped.
>
> You can blame our union for caving in to NWA. I have moved on, I work for
> a smaller carrier that actually did not contract-out its employees. I make
> less than I did at NWA, but I at least feel that I am wanted and count as an
> employee. Every single employee that NWA has lost is desirable in many
> other companies, not only airlines. We have the guts, tenacity and loyalty
> to move on to better jobs.
>
>
> Good luck to you all.
> Kathleen

----- Original Message -----
To: aloosecannon@fuse.net
Sent: Friday, November 24, 2006 1:53 PM
Subject: CVG Closing


You are absolutely right about Northworst airlines. After having some health problems, I decided to take early retirement and thus escaped the fate that my former co-workers now face here in JAX. It has been my contention that NW is doing the same thing to their employees that Enron did. The difference is that NW is using the bankruptcy courts as a tool to complete their mission. Another concern is that corporations copy the efforts of their competitors and a domino effect will occur as these so called measures to save money ripples throughout the country and begins to affect other industries. I have noticed that the same tactics being employed by NW have been adopted by the automakers so we can clearly see that the first domino to fall (the airline industry) has started a process that only God knows where it will end.

I can closely relate to your article because I have been frustrated by NW's management decisions; their uncanny ability to lose millions of dollars by making inept decisions, yet being rewarded with big bonuses; working without being staffed properly; disrespected by management and treated like something less than human; having feeling of resentment towards the company, yet,ever mindful that there was a job to do for the fare paying passenger.

I predict the same fate for other industries and the domino effect continues. Outsourcing weather overseas or via replacement vendors will become standard until workers become mad as hell, refuse to take it anymore and come together in unity. I do not feel sorry for CVG, JAX or any other NW station in transition. CVG, JAX and the other stations being affected share one thing in common. The employees are dedicated hard working people. As such, perhaps it is better that they move on and find other employment. I'm willing to venture that when they do find another position (transition employees excluded) they will be appreciated and treated with respect.

Gene, NWA Retired-JAX

----- Original Message -----
To:
Sent: Thursday, November 23, 2006 1:39 PM
Subject: RE: CVG


> I do not disagree with you at all. I was a CSS for NWA. I had my
> senority as a PT & FT CSA and PT & FT ESE, and I did this all in 7yrs.
> I planned what I did very well so that I may be able to work in any
> class in the NWA system when I had 3 decades of service like so many of
> my friends and coworkers. I fully planned on retiring from NWA. I too
> thought this was the greatest job anyone could ever have. I chose to
> leave NWA february 26th, 2006 to take a job with jetBlue Airways who
> started service in RIC on March 31st, 2006. I ended up leaving jetBlue
> for personal reasons, I have moved on to bigger and better things, no
> thanks to NWA. Although I do have to say Thankyou NWA for the vacation
> trips, fun while working, and most importantly the people I have met
> and made my friends over the years
>
> As crazy as it may sound I loved my job, even though NWA management made
> it very hard sometimes, I really really loved my job and do miss it. I
> worked in 5 cities for NWA (LAN, AZO, DTW, ORF, RIC). I had no plans of
> leaving my career, however when they annonced they were going to be
> throwing me into the streets with no regard for me, I said screw NWA and
> left first. I have met and worked with some of the finest people in the
> world. These people were talented, hard working, dependable, and most
> importantly PROFESSIONALS!
>
> I was talking to a former coworker who said that one of the new
> replacement workers (who are manning the bag room until take over in
> RIC) made the comment: "what difference does it make if the bag count
> is right? They are all going on the plane anyway, so what difference
> does it make!!! I don't know about you but this is very upseting and
> quite frankly it offends me! I worked to hard for NWA to replace me by
> people who care less about the job I loved. Truthfully after hearing
> that it will be a long time if ever befor I fly NWA again. We all took
> so much pride and care in what we did to make safety our number 1
> priority and they have just tossed it to the side like it doesn't matter.
>
> I like you and everyone in CVG do not want anyone to feel pity for me or
> my former coworkers in RIC. I ask that you feel pity for those left
> behind (pilots/FA's/Reservations) and NWA itself. They lost what made
> yesterday's NWA not today's NWA!!! I pray for the souls who purchase
> the tickets to fly an airline who has lost the touch for safety by
> hiring people who don't care about safety.
>
> In closing I read many of the comments left by so many of our Brothers
> and Sisters around the country and I pray for you to find happiness in a
> new career. I always say that when one door closes another always
> opens. I pray for god to give you the strength and courage you need to
> take that step of faith to tackle you new careers and dreams. God bless
> all of you!!!!
>
> Former CSS,
> Ray/ RIC


----- Original Message -----
To: aloosecannon@fuse.net
Sent: Wednesday, November 22, 2006 12:58 PM
Subject: Your NW letter/statement


Hi Loose Cannon,

I received your letter regarding NW from a friend of mine in RIC. It left me in tears. You were dead on with almost everything you said. It is truly how I have felt this last year. I mourn only for the job I once had, not the job I am currently doing. ETKT machines and small jets have taking the pleasure out of doing the job I have always loved. They have been slowly replacing us even before the transitions. No more interaction with the passengers, no more glorious pride in working a large jet. That pride and pleasure disappeared with 9/11 and our insane a/c and schedule changes. I wanted to thank you for putting in to words what I feel. The only exception I take is where you say that someone in their 30's can't understand.

I come from a family of airline employees. My Father is retired TWA/AA (forced out as an AA employee after the takeover), my husband is former Eastern and my father-in-law is retired UA. I took the job with NW a couple of years out of high school while I going to college as a good paying part time job until I decided what I wanted to major in. I fell in love, with NW, the industry, whatever you want to call it. Completely hooked. I know what my Dad felt all those years. I do believe it is in your blood. I myself will be just a month shy of 17 years when my station "transitions". I started at 20 and will be 37 next week. I have been/done everything from being a CI and GSC, trained in Cargo and baggage when no one else wanted to. I have been loyal and dedicated and plan to be until our last day.

When anyone I know asks me what I am going to do the truth is I can't say anything other than carry on. I am clueless as to what I want because this job has always been it for me. I have worked contracts with 4 other carriers as a NW agent, had knee reconstruction and lost two good shoulders to the ramp and yet I have trudged on. I have always loved my job. Between beatings I have often thought how much longer I can do this, working the ramp, deicing, but the love of the job has always prevailed. That isn't so anymore. NW has made that decision for me.

I work with fine people. Agents with over 35 years, 25 years and even as little as 5 years. We all feel the same empty pit in our stomach regardless of the time with the company. My pain is no different than a fellow agent with 9 years. The pride in a 15 minute turn with heavy loads in and out, the satisfaction of being able to accommodate someone that you didn't think had any options getting to their final destination, and even tracking down that bag that has been lost for a few days gives us all equal satisfaction. Most of us are moving on. I will not relocate for a job that has become so unstable or thinks so little of me. The ironic thing is that my fellow employees that will continue with the company are the ones with less than 12 years or the two that are so close to retiring they can't afford not to bump elsewhere. Those junior employees can't let go anymore than I can but they have the willingness or means to transfer. If this were the same NW I worked for 8 years ago I would rethink my decision but I won't for all the reasons you mentioned in your letter. I can't mourn the loss of the job you may be able recall from the 60's, 70's or 80's but the loss is no less on my part in what I feel for what I have done or contributed.

Thank you again for being able to say what many of us can't put into words. I wish you well in whatever you may do beyond Northwest. I am sure there is another company out there that can appreciate you or me. Either way, best of luck.

Warm regards,
ABE/CSA

----- Original Message -----
To: aloosecannon@fuse.net
Sent: Wednesday, November 22, 2006 10:06 AM
Subject: another NW employee with 29yrs of service


> My heart goes out to all of you---- my family ---- I also have 29 years
> with NWA..
> I'm in reservations, and i'm seeing our replacement also, but here in
> reservations, the new people are too smart to stay with NW. Most of them
> quit in a few weeks.
> My faith tells me that i'll be fine. There's a rainbow at the end of all
> this, and we will survive.
> We're strong people and I pray for those ruining our company. They will get
> what they derserve
> eventually...
> Take good care of yourselves,
>
>

----- Original Message -----
To: aloosecannon@fuse.net
Sent: Wednesday, November 22, 2006 4:47 AM
Subject: NWA

Join the club,,I am a displaced nwa Technician who proudly walked out the door with my fellow techs to stand up for what we believe in.Everyone decided to cross our picket line and now we are seeing the results,,, nwa getting what it wants, when it wants...goodbye unionism in america hello minimum wages! as far as I'm concerned you reap what you sow! I truly hope nwa goes belly up.

----- Original Message -----
To: aloosecannon@fuse.net
Sent: Wednesday, November 22, 2006 1:55 AM
Subject: you dug your own grave


Mr loose cannon, If you had enough wisdom to read the writing on the wall, why didn't you and the rest of the I.A.M. (iamascab) have enough balls to honor the mechanics strike and convince your gutless leadership to order a sympathy strike? Yes- I am a former NWA mechanic who had the C-O-U-R-A-G-E to tell NWA to stick it. You guys bent over. You reap what you sow. And let your fellow soon to be out of work IAM sissies know that ANC had a CSA who had enough guts/morals/ethics (you might have to look those words up) to stand beside the mechanics and walked off her job. What do you think your fearless (ballless) leader, Bobby DePace, had to say to her? He wrote her saying "Good Luck". Had the iam honored AMFA's strike, your precious little country club of a station would probably remain open. Think about that at your next job between welcoming customers to Wal-Mart and flippin burgers at your two new jobs.

A proud UNION member who understands the definition of SOLIDARITY, Joe O.

----- Original Message -----
To: aloosecannon@fuse.net
Sent: Monday, November 20, 2006 12:10 AM
Subject: [airlineactivists] Re: Comments on The End of Days...

Brother,

After reading the replies to your post, it is apparent that unless
we are "Executive Management", we are losing more and more. NWA does
not want committed workers. They have shown us by spending over $140
million to bust our tiny union. They perfer a migratory, unstable
workforce instead of a workforce that makes sure everything correct
before leaving the job. What a shame. They may have beaten us,
kicked us in the teeth and stepped on our throats while we voted in
a distasteful contract imposed on Sept 20th 2005, but they did not
break us. 444 days, beaten and bloodied, but still standing. NWA
can't outspend our integrity. At some point workers will have to
start banding together to break this "rich getting richer" economy
and save our middle class. Unions created the middle class and now
we need to maintain it. A wonderful human being, Richard Levins, has
brought our plight to print in "Middle Clas-Union Made". He gets it
and we need to spread his words in order for society to take a
favorable look upon unions. He has many Op-Ed pieces on
www.middleclasunionmade.com , that are free for posting. With a
Doctorate in Economics, he is surprisingly pro-union. We ordered 3
cases of books for our members and just handed them out at business
meetings. At $4 each, we found it to be much cheaper than therapy.
Our guys now have some hope that there are people who know the power
of unions; now we just need to convince ourselves. It is time to
roll up our sleeves and stop this raping of our middle class. Take a
look at this book, all 80 pages, and spread it around. We've lost
enough jobs and financial ground.

Good luck Mike. You will find life is very good looking at NWA in
your review mirror, and smiling!

Ted L.


----- Original Message -----
To: aloosecannon@fuse.net
Sent: Tuesday, November 21, 2006 1:20 PM
Subject: Fwd: The End of Days... For Northwest Airlines in Cincinnati

In a message dated 11/21/2006 12:27:39 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,

UR RIGHT ON TARGET...AND I HATE THOSE WORDS CAUSE THEY REMIND ME OF THE BULLSHIT DIAKOGUE OF A WANNA BE MICRO MGR...BUT WHAT U SAY IS TRUE...I WAS FROM JAX...JAX IS GONE...WE THE WILLING DID THE IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE UNGRATEFUL... AND LIFE WILL GO ON..BECAUSE IT HAS TO...THEY HAVE RUINED A WONDERFUL INDUSTRY AND EXTENDED THE GREYHOUND CROWD....
BEST PART IS THEY NEVER CARED...AS U U CAN CLEARLY SEE IN THE 101 WAYS...DOUG IS ALREADY TRYING TO GET OUT AND HAS A JOB LINED UP ON WALLSTREET..HE ALSO HAD A HAND IN THE DEMISE OF THE STEEL INDUSTRY...AND OUR GOV'T HAS LOST TOUCH WITH THE PEOPLE THAT BUILT THIS GREAT COUNTRY OF OURS...
THEY DAY WILL COME...OUR LOVE OF THE JOB WAS LIKE THAT FOR AN UNREASONABLE AND UNDESRVING LOVER...AND AS THE UNREQUITED LOVES OF ARE LIVES HAVE ALWAYS ULTIMATELY ENDED...WE ALL FOUND OUR WAY AND FULFILLING LOVES...SO IT SHALL BE WITH THIS..
THE BEST WAY TO GET EVEN IS TO LIVE WELL....
CIAO MY BROTHER/SISTER

ARCH/JAX

LOYALTY ABOVE ALL THINGS...EXCEPT HONOR......HONOR IS EVERYTHING..IT IS THE ONLY THING THAT IS YOURS..THAT NO ONE CAN TAKE AWAY

----- Original Message -----
To: aloosecannon@fuse.net
Sent: Tuesday, November 21, 2006 3:08 PM
Subject: Sure


I'm sorry I don't believe you, but when AMFA asked for your help we got a strong NO !!! I would be glad to help Northworst and their clowns replace you. It's too late for public support or sympathy, you sold that along time ago for your own skin. We told you that they were coming after you next! Do you believe us yet?

----- Original Message -----
To: aloosecannon@fuse.net
Sent: Monday, November 20, 2006 7:04 PM
Subject: CVG closing


Just read your story... I must say a good story.. You see I opened DAY in 1970 the same year CVG and CMH opened.
well they closed DAY in 1983 and I went on to MEM to finish my career..
I can now say I am retired and dont have to live through more of this pain people I know are going through.
You see I dont know who you are but I did know Larry, Dale, Mark, Chuck, and many others in CVG...
yes I feel sorry for those, but some of them are retired, I want to know how long have you been working in CVG, and do I know you,

RET, in 2005... worked in CLC in MEM... until the company screwed us there.. They seem to love screwing people.. thats what they are best at..

Jerry

----- Original Message -----
To: aloosecannon@fuse.net
Sent: Monday, November 20, 2006 12:04 AM
Subject: NWA in SAT


As a CSA in San Antonio that has now closed as of November 13th, you have expressed the views of many of us.
Well said and it is very sad to be leaving many of our fellow workers after 25 + years.

Tammy


----- Original Message -----
To: aloosecannon@fuse.net
Sent: Monday, November 20, 2006 6:51 PM
Subject: Your Cincinatti posting


Your pain and anguish comes through clearly, and it is understandable. Many people who thought they had careers in this, and other, airlines are finding they do not. Consolidations are inevitable, and seniority listings will be a mess with many more to be hurt in the next year or so, most likely.

It is a sad commentary that both management and unions over the years acted as though there is no end to the process of growing salaries, benefits and management not making prudent cost containment decisions elsewhere (such as hedging jet fuel prices, flying large aircraft for short hauls, etc.). Such a culture provides opportunities for upstarts, such as Southwest and Jet Blue to get a toehold and suddenly there is serious, cost-conscious, competition. Throw in 9-11 and the stage is set for the career damaging downward spiral we now see.

Northwest, Delta, whomever, now has to take any means possible to undo the high costs that were in the past manageable. Labor costs are the lion's share of those costs, so it is the employees who get hurt directly - the vast majority of whom had nothing to do with the years of poor decision making that produced the current situation.

I have no magic bullet to reverse this unfortunate reality. I can only wish you the best, wherever you land, and in the long run I anticipate that you will land on your feet somewhere.

----- Original Message -----
To: aloosecannon@fuse.net
Sent: Monday, November 20, 2006 12:46 PM
Subject: CVG letter


I agree 100%. I am a CSA in CLT, do to close DEC 4th, we have had atleast 3 years of constant turmoil by the company.....managers coming and going, staffing numbers changing.

We never reduced the quality of service to the public, but NWA certainly damaged the moral of everyone time and time again.

Most of us are leaving NWA, our new vendor is ATS and they start very low also.

Good LUCK. Gary (CSA 30 yrs)

----- Original Message -----
To: aloosecannon@fuse.net
Sent: Monday, November 20, 2006 12:42 PM
Subject: NWA article


Sadly enough you are not wrong. I had 23 years with the company had been in small stations and ended up in DTW at the end and back in the cleaning dept that I had started in. I was involved with the mechanice strike without any say of my own. I had p/t ramp and csa time but could not get full time and was moving around the country with my husband job. Ended up back in DTW and went back to cleaning to get full time. We never had a chance to cross the picket line to go back to any job as our jobs where outsourced. I just yesterday had to voluntarily resign to get my pitiful 10 weeks of severence pay and my vacation time that they have held since the strike. This has been very personal with me as I have always loved my job and given 110%. They got over 1000 sick hours also of mine. I just dont even know what to say except your article is so on target. I also thought I had made the wrong decision to leave CLE as I thought I would have still had a job there, but sadly they are closing that also. So life does go on but it sure has been a hard year and a half and the tears are still there daily. It is just so sad that the ones at the top will never have to feel any of this and what they have done to peoples lifes. Good luck to all of you and as anything else in life time will heal. -- Patty


----- Original Message -----
To: aloosecannon@fuse.net
Sent: Monday, November 20, 2006 7:52 AM
Subject: (no subject)


Your not wrong! I have lived this four times now, all in industry over the last 25 years. It has been slow, but I think it is rapidly moving at a faster pace because so many are starting to think about the reality of a One World Government. I never gave it much though, but I do now and those that will be at the top don't care about the United States, but rather the world.

Take Care,
Dave

----- Original Message -----
To: aloosecannon@fuse.net
Sent: Monday, November 20, 2006 7:21 AM
Subject: [Norton AntiSpam] FW: Returned mail: User unknown


This letter needs to forward to each and every email address in the country! You have touched each and every issue exactly. I myself work in DTW with XJ, I have worked with Mesaba for almost 15 years and know what you talk about. I currently work in the NW Control Center and what a joke it is. I have never experienced such unsafe flying. The things that go on right now are unbelieveable. I nor my family will never fly on any XJ or 9E flights. I wonder on a daily basis why we have not had airliner crashes daily. We have no safety issues anymore, the training is piss poor, the agents they hire for the big whopping $8.75 and hour are a joke,(I'm not sure any of them can read).I myself know that they don't want me there making the big $14.98 an hour that I by the way have been at for 5 years now. Oh let me restate that, the big $13.50 an hour come Dec 1st.. my pay cut goes into effect.They would rather pay someone $8.75 and hour and have people coming in and out lik e a revolving door as they do!While the upper management staff continue to hide money under MAIR Holding accounts to make it look as if they are so bad off. We at Mesaba all know better. I myself would like to see so Judge with some balls stand up and tell all of these Companies enough is enough. We can thank Delphi for opening the door to all of this mess, and the Judge that allowed it. I hope he can sleep well at night is his million dollar home,while us $13.50 an hour employees struggle to survive. I truly believe if they would further investigate we could see another Enron here. And as far as the wonderful FAA, well I guess as long as the envelope continues to be stuffed, and stuffed full nothing will happen with the safety issues that I see and experience each and everyday at Mesaba. Good Luck! I intend on sending this email out to everyone I know and hope they will forward to all they know.

To: "The Loose Cannon"
Sent: Sunday, November 19, 2006 11:58 PM
Subject: Re: Your BLOG on the Closing of Cincinnati
>
> I am 21 year FA for NWA based at LAX. I am starting to see the "new"
> faces at the smaller stations. It is very sad indeed this has
> happened. I am in disbelief over the whole ordeal we are all going
> through.
>
> I will be resigning in January . My wife was also a FA at NWA for 21
> years who just quit herself.
>
> I contacted you to let you know I have spread the link to your BLOG
> to several message boards and will be forwarding it to Doug Steenland
> himself. THank you for taking the time to write the article. While
> your company showed no value in your services you showed the value
> instilled in you by treating your fellow man, NWA PAX's, with utmost
> respect by not taking out your frustrations on them.
>
> God bless in your new endeavors.
>
> Jeff W.


Dear CVG NWA personnel,

I stumbled upon your blog in a google news search. I was immediately happy that if I found this, that so many others would be reading your writings, wither airline or not. My email address gives me away, and basically eliminates anonymity for me, but honestly I do not care. I am one of those UNFORTUNATE enough to be staying with NWA, but my feelings are important enough to me to be attached to an actual name.

I am an A320 FO in DTW. I haven’t ever been to CVG for NWA except for the January storm of like 2000 or whenever it was, where I tried to commute from Tampa to Detroit, through CVG on Delta, an ultimately got suck.

Throught the system we have been dealing with so many stations that are in the same situation that you are in. It is a sad thing for us all. It truly is sad for us. I want you to know how much support you really do have for you, but we are unfortunately in positions that don’t make policy. We worry about the winter months and the de-icing events that will come with these newbies taking care of our critical surfaces. I worry every night. I really do not look forward to this at all. It is a constant concern of mine as well as others. The people that have been with us, de-icing our planes for years that know what critical surfaces are so important will suddenly be gone, except for a few traders that have crossed to the other side. I truly hope that something BIG doesn’t happen this winter that will make NWA sorry in a grand way. My theory is this.. if it’s not done right it will be done over and over again, at whatever expense until it’s done correctly, and more importantly, until it’s done safely.

I was in BIL the other day and they are experiencing the same thing that you all are. I said to the agent … at least the bad marriage is over. There is finality. There can be closure. There will be no more limbo. In many ways you will be set free from this horrible company that has no regard for anyone but itself. To those of us that are left we are banished to this state of limbo where nothing changes and nothing gets better. The only ones left at NWA are either too old to retire, too lazy to get out, or too stupid to move on! Period!

Limbo is a terrible place to be. NWA has been playing with peoples lives for a long time. Have comfort in the fact that you have closure, you have a new beginning, whatever that is. You are set free. You can walk away and maybe make a better life for you, a life that would have been terrible here at NWA.

It kills me everyday to have to come to work only to have to spend the last days with so many good people, people that have invested their lives with a company that couldn’t give a crap. It hurts to see the puzzled faces when asked about their futures. I challenge you to rise up and achieve something greater than NWA could ever have offered you. I challenge you to leave the soap opera behind you and make a life for you and your family. I challenge you to take control of your life and to set your own course in life, never again allowing a company to lead you by the ear, to an empty promise or future. My heart is with you, and with every member of your station, and every member of every station that is the victim of NWA shortsightedness. By the time NWA realizes their big mistake you will all have moved on to bigger and much better things. When and if they ever come begging back, it will then be you that ultimately wins, as you have set yourselves free to pursue what is best for you and your families.

My heart is out to you all, but don’t fear the future, fear the past. It was full of so many terrible things that are all behind you now. Hold your chin up high, as you said in your blog, you are a professional, and in the end your professionalism will open new doors and create new opportunities for you and everyone you have worked with.

I thank you, on behalf of the airline that is incapable of thanking anyone. As a current employee I must take that responsibility. THANK YOU and best of luck to you and everyone.

Sincerely,

DTW FO A320



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I read your article on the FOTU web site and just had to e-mail you. I feel the pain you are experiencing and know how it is to give a company your life for three decades just to get kicked in the teeth at a time when life was supposed to be Golden. I am a Delphi forced retiree . There are days I just don't know weather to cry or laff at my plight. Hang in there and I pray this will turn out ok for you. They say that for every door God closes on you he will open an new one ,Peace to you and yours.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My wife found your blog on the net last night and I just read it. It is wonderful. She worked in the travel business for years before we met and I have been with United since 1988. Relate is a powerful word and hardly an adjective to describe the misery of the last five or so years in the industry. There seems to be so little hope, from the executive suites to the union halls down to hearing that your buddy at work moved in with a retiree because he could not afford the rent on his house. It is no Christmas presents this year because the stove gave out and Lord knows if and when the twenty year old truck will survive another winter.
We are making money at our station, but we are the last two work groups that have not been outsourced. Fueling has gone, cabin service gone, maintenance and stores, who knows and we on the ramp are wondering if we are the last to go. We know the kiosks are replacing customer service agents and the numbers of full time agents are shrinking. We keep functioning well but morale is gone, people work for themselves and their friends. People are also turning on each other, going to management about one another to settle scores or just to make themselves feel powerful.
It used to be that around this time of the year, all the airline people would have parties and get together and trade passes from each carrier so you might win a couple of passes on Lufthansa or Alaska. The parties are history and people stay in their respective airline work groups like frightened animals. I cannot tell you the number of horror stories I have heard from people I work with; divorces, bankruptcies, losses of homes and unreal stress levels of day-to-day work. Nobody goes unaffected by the cutbacks and salary cuts. I amazes me that people still do a great job in spite of what management inflicts. At operations, over the company newsletter reads a sign saying PRAVDA. No one believes what management (or what Bush says) with regards to the airline business.
We wish you the best in the future and whatever you can get from the airline, union or government for this disgrace. I know from my sources at IAD that United cannot hire people at nine bucks an hour for the ramp because most people in the area can make more working at Seven Eleven. I suspect getting people who can pass the physical and background checks will require a higher wage. Eagle Evergreen out here is hiring seasonal ramp for over thirteen an hour because they found they cannot hold on to people at nine an hour. Best wishes to you and a Merry Christmas and a Better New Year


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm considering another airline now (0.00 / 0)
I've had my issues with Northwest's management in the past, but continued to fly with Northwest because 1) I've never received bad service from its employees and 2) the airport that my family is closest to is a Northwest hub, and I could get nonstop flights there and back to wherever I was living at the time.
Now, as I hear more stories like this, I think that on this year's holiday trip, I'll fly another airline, even if it means I have to make a stop.

I've got the fever for the flavour, the payback will be later, still I need a fix - Bran Van 3000


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

by: Linnaeus @ Thu Nov 16, 2006 at 21:45:48 PM PST




I'm amazed (0.00 / 0)
I'm amazed Northwest even had flights in and out of Cincinnati, which is dominated by Delta. If I recall correctly, more than 95% of the flights in and out of Cincinnati were Delta/Comair flights.
And today, USAir, another failed airline, is trying to buy out Delta. In my opinion, these airlines should be forced to run themselves profitably before they are permitted to buy out a competitor.

Sorry to hear about what you're going through, Loose Cannon. Hang in there, keep your dignity separate from your job, and next time you have some Skyline chili or Graeter's double chocolate chip, remember that I'm with you in spirit.

In loving memory: Sophie, June 1, 1993-January 17, 2005. My huckleberry friend.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

by: Paul in San Francisco @ Thu Nov 16, 2006 at 21:52:38 PM PST




The US Airline Industry... (0.00 / 0)
...is a disaster waiting to happen.
Says the man who just bought another ticket to San Jose on Alaska.

I come from a family of pilots and those who work in the industry. My grandfather supported a family of 11 on his salary as a Transatlantic 747 pilot for TWA during the Jet Age. My aunt has worked for United as a flight attendant for 20 years and has faced the loss of her pension and salary givebacks. It's far more difficult for her to support her family of 3 kids, even with a husband who makes good money, than it was for my grandfather to support *10* kids.

And that's just the way this affects employees. The dirty secret of the airlines is how much "cost savings" they've achieved through maintenance cuts. It's a testament to the quality workmanship of union builders that Boeing's planes have been in the air for far longer, having flown far more miles, than they ever were designed to in the 1960s and 1970s. With quick turnaround times the room for error is ever smaller. Many of us fly so I won't say any more than that.

As anyone who's flown across the country now knows, flying is now incredibly inconvenient. Due to "cost savings" you no longer get a meal. Sure, airplane food always sucked, but at least it was better than crackers and starvation. Maryscott can tell of the catastrophe that the newest Department of Vaterland Sicherheit...er, Homeland Security rules created, the idiotic and unneccessary ones that banned liquids and water on planes over the summer.

So you have a true crisis facing airlines. The quality of service, never great (through no fault of the hardworking people who delivered that service), has fallen precipitously. Flying is ridiculously inconvenient, and increasingly delay-riddled. The workers are being worked to illness and injury, as this diary shows, and even then they're being screwed in the pocketbook.

Yet, if you look outside the US, the airline industry isn't in such dire shape. European airlines are doing well, Asian carriers are thriving. It's the US carriers that face total meltdown.

Whenever some right-wing fuck, or Democrat who doesn't know any better, praises the ingenuity, efficiency, and basic awesomeness of private enterprise and the corporate world, I point them to the airline industry, which corporations and their "brilliant ideas" have turned into a shambles. Corporations don't provide better service. They don't improve jack shit. Not in the airline industry. All they do is strip everything away and turn passengers and workers into animals in hopes of turning a profit. Fuckwits.

These days when I walk through an airport I have the feeling that I'm living in the Soviet Union and am about to board Aeroflot, only that they put a prettier façade on the terminal.

Even the architect of the 1978 airline deregulation has admitted it was a disaster.

Can you tell I hate airline execs?!

But I love flying. Love being in the air. It's in my blood. I just wish I had my own damn plane and my own damn license so I could avoid the whole corrupt and asinine system in its entirety.

This is the dawning of the rest of our lives - Green Day


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

by: eugene @ Thu Nov 16, 2006 at 22:14:04 PM PST



Doomed (0.00 / 0)
We're in the last generation to fly commercially.
I've been hearing stories of the flying horror show Bush's TSA has bequeathed passenges and cannot see any way to profitability for airlines, ever.

Ed Craig "Think this through with me. Let me know your mind..." Hunter/Garcia

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

by: epcraig @ Sat Nov 18, 2006 at 00:42:38 AM PST


why are airlines so incompetent? (2+ / 0-)
It kind of boggles my mind how bad they are at management. The only one I've seen that's fiscally sound is Southwest. The rest, Northwest included, just collapse on basic business principles all the time.

My wife worked for Northwest, in the IT department. She had just survived two rounds of layoffs when 9-11 happened. Three weeks later, she was unemployed. She's kept in touch with old co-workers who stayed on. Five years later, their pay is a fraction of industry standard for software jobs, the once-excellent benefits are gone, they're all dreadfully overworked. Why should anyone put up with that when there are plenty of other good jobs in the computer industry? So anyone sane leaves, leaving only the fearful and the incompetent behind. And then they wonder why IT is unproductive.


by Leggy on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 01:14:36 PM EST

Although I cannot imagine the (1+ / 0-)
depth of your pain, I do feel for you. I have been in the air cargo business for over 25 years and have seen the quality of service continually decline due to cutbacks and to out sourcing to low paid, independent handlers. These lower paid people will not have commitment to service and security that airline employees have. The list is too long, Allengheny, Piedmont, Western, Eastern, PSA....

by Russ on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 01:17:28 PM EST

I can't help but feel bad (2+ / 0-)
My dad was involed with the founding of the union movement, not as an oficer but as a foot soldier. Understand that the minimum wage and forty hour workweek were won not by negotiation but by busting heads!

It's a pity to see the sacrifices made by prior generations lost without a fight.

Parties divide, movements unite.

by Gegner on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 01:21:50 PM EST


I don't follow the industry closely anymore... (1+ / 0-)
...but NW's actions don't surprise me. More like sickening, actually.
NW's management has been hostile to labor for decades, so I'm not surprised that they are outsourcing as if that is any solution--look at what it did for ValuJet, after all.

Like the late Abigail Van Buren used to say, we choose how much abuse is acceptable before toeing the line. I definitely support you NW employees in fighting this particular bit of NW management madness.

Aren't they owned by CO these days?

Andy
Alton IL

Remember New Orleans

by AAbshier on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 01:23:19 PM EST

Flew NWA just last month (0+ / 0-)
I catch shit from my unionized buddies for flying NWA but I've been flying NWA for years because I like the people. Last month I hopped a 6:15 am flight to Chicago and moaned "Coffee... coffee." The flight attendant was good enough to bring me a cup even before the flight started - me, a lowly economy class passenger seated in the last row. We started talking, and I got a good earful of just how badly NWA has been screwing over its workers. This attendant is a single mom, working her ass off for less than half of what she made, etc. But despite all that, she overheard me moaning for coffee at 6:15 am and brought me some. I hope to hell she still has her job. Thanks for the reminder.

But who grants absolution
For sins that never were committed?

by gp39m on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 02:04:17 PM EST

So you train the new executioners. (1+ / 0-)
You know what happens to new turned stale executioners. Chop.
It's the new corporate play book,same as the old playbook.
People are a expendable resource.
It's out "There" just OPEN your eyes.

by Clzwld on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 02:26:02 PM EST



The End of Days... For Northwest Airlines in Cincinnati

http://theloosecannon.net/