Delta Airlines is spending less than 1% with African American businesses,
April 21, 2009
Mr. Michael Campbell
Executive Vice President
HR & Labor Relations
Dear Mr. Campbell
It was good meeting with you, Mr. Anderson and Mr. Gorman, along with Dr. Lowery and Rev. Milner to discuss a number of concerns that have been brought to our attention by your employees and members of the community. I felt the meeting was cordial and candid. One area that is of great concern to me and the larger community is Delta’s abysmal record on affording equal opportunity to African American vendors.
Delta Airlines is spending less than 1% with African American businesses, as confirmed by Mr. Gorman. That is outrageous and must be corrected. African Americans make up 13% of the United States and over 50% of Atlanta. As an objective standard, businesses are expected to do business based upon the percentage in the community in which they are doing business. In other words you should be doing 50% with African Americans, and certainly not less than our representation in the population of our Country.
You promised to revisit your decision regarding Dr. Georgiana Thomas’ bid on your amenities kit. Further, Mr. Anderson promised to meet personally with the Skycaps. Frankly, I was dismayed by his initial response, which suggested that he would not reconsider the decision to restore them as core Delta employees. I believe you have a very volatile situation dealing with inequity in pay for your employees doing the same job. It is a fact that you have at least one employee at Hartsfield, a former Northwest employee that is making over $13.00 per hour while the remainder is making less than $3.00 per hour. Additionally, you have many other Skycaps in cities such as Memphis, Seattle, Minneapolis, etc. who are being paid the Northwest wage of $13.00 per hour? That is a major problem in my eyes, and the eyes of the larger community.
In these challenging economic times it would be very difficult to understand how Delta could require these Union employees to take such a drastic cut in pay. Union busting is illegal in the United States. This is the kind of situation I believe Delta should avoid.
90 comments:
Thank you for taking a stand on behalf of Delta employees who play such an important role in the provision of quality services at the airport.
Dr. Thomas' body oil is excellent. I use it every day. Clearly product quality is not the issue. I am encouraging women to buy her products on line. We have the resources to support our businesses.
This information needs to get out to the larger community and I am committed to assist in getting more of us engaged in issues that affect our economic stability and quality of life. You can count on me. Henrietta Turnquest
In 1994 Delta cut the pay of the predominately Black skycap group by 65% while other employees took no paycut at all.The skycap group were already the lowest paid employees at Delta. In 1994 Delta also promised not to outsource this group because of the paycut they were implementing.In 2008 Delta broke that promise and outsourced the skycap group to thier own wholly oned company Delta Global Services,creating the same jobs that pay less wages with no benifits.Furthermore, Delta began charging baggage fees which reduced the income of skycaps by more than 50%.This is hurting black families all over the America.While paying less than $3.00 per hour, Delta has shown no sensitivity to such a small but loyal group.It reminds me of plantation owners trying to get rich off of slave labor.
It is a disgraced that a fortune 500 company Like Delta Airlines, base in Atlanta Ga. The home of the Civil Rights Movement, The home of Dr. King, would display such an Arrogant/Racist attitude towards the African American community that gives them so much business and support. Maybe its time for us to take our business elsewhere! and what type of labor laws do we have in Georgia that would allow a Company to pay and employee $3.00 per hour and take away there tips for bag fees?
Hello,
Thank you for your support of Georgianne’s Skin Treats, LLC. We are humbled by your concern. It is not our intent to force anyone to do business with our company. We strongly believe we have a quality product that can stand on its own merit. However, we are saddened by the fact that our hometown airline does so little business with minority firms and we wonder if it because few minority companies apply or the process is designed that few minority companies can qualify. Our product is manufactured right in Hapeville, in a 46,000 sq. ft. facility, where other well-known products are locally made. We are available on line as is Amazon.com, since today’s shoppers are technically savvy and we want shoppers from the World Wide Web to have access to our products. We offered an emollient lotion, a facial mist, a lip balm, foot oil, and other selected items in our bid for the international traveler, who would enjoy our Spa on the Go refreshing products. The opportunity to do just the tourist class packets would have been great, not to mention the products in the business elite class. If my history is correct, Mr. Nip Hill was technically the first minority contractor under Mr. C.E. Woolman. Other major companies, like the Russell Company, have done well. We want to know the opportunities are there, the process is inclusive and the playing field is level. Thank you. www.georianneskintreats.com
First of all let me say that I am happy that someone is speaking up for the fieldhands of america.(the non union worker). Without a union an employer can come in and cut your wages and outsource your department just because they feel like you as a minority make too much money. Not knowing for sure how much you make management in turn keeps asking you how much you make a day in tips. When you don't tell them they put their children where you work at so they can really understand what kind of money that you are making. I am talking about delta airlines outsourced skycaps. Our wages were already outsourced at 5.00 an hour. You tell the skycaps that you will talk to them about anything in the world except money when they ask for a raise. So the skycaps had never had a raise from 1994 to 2008. You as an employer post in the newspaper that Delta skycaps make 15,000 dollars a year through Deltas payroll but can make in excess of up to 100,000 dollars a year. Without having a college education. What was the relevance of that? Fourty percent of us had a college education and thirty percent served in the military. This was clearly a racist move. I know that I lost my house after they made this move. They knew that this would happen because we supposedly went from 100,000 dollars a year to 37,000 dollars a year. A 63% paycut. Who wouldn't lose everything after that? It is very sad that Richard Anderson can have this kind of response when He got 2.7 million in stock options at the end of Febuary. All I know is that a union worker still has her job doing what I used to do and making a lot more than I ever did. We were told that when they get rid of the union that they (the northwest skycaps) would also be outsourced. I have the letter. I felt like it was an all out attack on the skycap group because we were primarily black. Our wages were already outsourced so why did our group still get outsourced all together? The reason is because of the three dollar baggage charge implied just on the skycaps. They had found a way to take our tips. It was a penalty to check in with a skycap. But if you went inside it was free. I could see if you charged three dollars a bag evverywhere, but the charge was just put where you know that people make their living primarily off of gratuity. You as a skycap end up working for Deltas made up company that gives out no benefits. They wanted us to start off with that company making two dollars an hour. No medical or dental benefits. Start out with zero years seniority after I had already done thirteen plus with the company. And then rape us even more with three dollar baggage fee charge. If someone gave you a ten dollar tip and they checked in two bags you had to in turn give Delta six dollars of it and you keep four. Looked too much like corporate pimpin to me. I was so embarrassed for the company that I work for. I have never been the one to pull the race card but it was clear what had happened.
Delta, Please start doing business with minority suppliers, bring back the old Delta Skycaps and please don't interfere with your employees right to organize for union representation.
SUPPORT "GEORGIANNE'S SKIN TREATS" IT IS A GREAT PRODUCT, AND DESERVE TO BE USE ANYWHERE, BY ANYONE!
JASON
Thanks Joe for supporting the minority vendors, and thanks for standing up for the Skycaps. It was really shameful when Delta outsourced the Atlanta Skycaps Last year, especially considering what they went through in 1994 when Delta cut their pay from $13.00 per hour to $5.00 and none of the other 71,000 employees at that time took a pay cut. About three years ago, conservative talk show host Neal Boortz flooded the airways with dialogue concerning skycap tip earnings. He rated their profession as one of the ten most overpaid jobs in the Country. I knew right then that the skycaps were in trouble. Less than a year later several Major Airlines started charging a $3.00 curb-fee, which converted the skycaps into $3.00 per hour cashiers while the Airline kept their tips for themselves to shore-up the CEO'S bonus checks.I hope that all the Skycaps joined the nationwde class action suits against the Airlines for violating State and Federal tip and minimum wage laws. Unfortunately in the State of Ga. the labor Laws are very weak, which allow the companies here to treat their employees worst than they do in some of the "3rd World Nations" Hopefully the Delta employees will join in with the Northwest workers and vote to keep the union because this is the only job protection they have in a southern at Will/right to work state like Georgia.
Delta stinks. Lets Boycott them ASAP!
Thanks Joe for speaking out against Delta. In Atlanta, you would think Delta is the equal to the pope. I could go on for days about the injustice at Delta, but what's the purpose? All I can say is VOTE for the UNION! You can't trust Delta, it's time to trust yourselves. Vote Union!
I am glad to see that the Delta is being exposed in terms of minority contracts and the outsoucing of its skycaps.. From my understanding, the skycaps were some of delta most loyal employees.. As dept they had the highest average in seniorty. The least in terms of on the job injuries(oji) and probably the best attendance... They were the least paid in Delta Airlines and represented Delta very well as a first point of contact for traveling passengers... It really seem unfair to have some skycap representing Delta; making 13hr$ and contract working some formal Delta skycaps making 3hr$...I would like to see Delta reistate the original Delta employees as skycapss..
First, thanks to the one who made me aware of this websie. Delta, Delta, I can't believe that I have given them business all these years to year that they are, obviously not giving Blacks business. They are headquartered right there in Atlanta, where thousands of Black are in business and doing well. No excuse for refusing to take on Georgianne's product, I've tried it and like it. It would appeal to anyone, Black or White, so there is no excuse. Shame on Delta, but this is America, and they are based in the south. Still, it's a shame, as long as I live I will never understand why they hate us, we didn't ask to come here, they forced us, misused us, abused us, but yet, they hate us? go figure.
Oh in closing, try georgianne's treats, you'll love it!
Just in on Ajc.Com, Delta CEO Richard Anderson's Pay Compensation package for 2008 was worth 17.4 million while at the same time the company loss 8.9 billion dollars. Is this another Enron or what? The top Executives get rich while driving there companies out of business.(Bush Economics) I hope this news fuel the unions ability to get votes, because these 21st Century CEOs are only concerned about themselves, and they don't care if their employees starve to death.
Michaeal MUhammad of NorthStar Productions
In a time where change is ringing in the ears of the American people, it comes across as dirt in the face of black business, my label is in full support of ant efforts of Georgianne's skin treats, maybe Delta fail to understand that the said company has a growing base that is willing to stand with her and is also willing to put out the word about Delta failing to give this company the chance to go forth
Once again the rich get richer and the rich make the poor poorer.Richard Anderson and other top executives rake in millions, while cutting jobs for the least and refusing to do business with qualified black bussinesses.Delta needs to feel the power of the 1960's black boycotts.I think the only way they will understand is by the power of the boycott.There are plenty of other airlines in Atlanta that we can fly so let's show them our power.One day Southwest airlines will make it's way here and they will see where our loyalty lies.I hope the Delta employees will wake up and help themselves by getting a union for it is clear that Delta is not concerned about them.Shame on Delta.
I agree with previous comment by Mark Howard, suggesting revisiting the power of the Boycott. It's a blalant slap in the face of black business vendors to know that this Airline is giving them less than 1% percent of its outside business. During the Bush Administration a lot of companies stop enforcing their affirmitive action programs, because the conservative Judges appointed by President Bush are anti-affirmitive action, and they made it hard to when distrimination lawsuits. So we have know choice but to start boycotting these business that don't support the black vendors, the black community and the black employee groups like the Skycaps.
On Thursday, April 30th Delta Airlines announced that it was eliminating Skycap curbside-service in 38 stations. 98 percent of Skycaps are black and this will have a negative economic impact on the African American community. Delta stated that these cuts will save them 1.5 million dollars. The same day these cuts were announced, Delta also announced that CEO Richard Anderson's pay compension for 2008 was 17.4 million dollars, while the company had a 8.9 billion dollar loss. You would think that he could have sacrificed 1.5 million of his salary to save those curb-side workers jobs, while maintaining a service and convenience that the passengers have enjoyed for many years. I hoped that the rest their employees will be smart enough to vote in the union for job protection, because Richard Anderson don't give a dawm about them.
I,m a former Delta Skycap. We were singled out for supposedly making to much money. It started in 1994 with a 63% paycut, then a 5% paycut and another 5% that we were wrongfully included in, which equals 6.oo hr. As of Jan 2008 we were told we would be contracted by a company in which Delta owns. We were the best in the industry and we always praised by the customers for an excellent job done. We tried to get Mr. Anderson to see that bringing us back and intergrating us with the Northwest Skycaps he would have professional working with professionals and Delta would be "One Great Airline". But he referred us to the same Management that contracted the department out. What a disgrace to contract the lowest hourly employees and least costly. I pray to God that the union is the way. VOTE UNION that's our only chance because Delta's not to play fair. WE MUST GET OUR PENSION REINSTATED(frozen 2005).
As a pre-merger Northwest Airlines skycap in one of NWA hub cities I must correct this letter writer. First and foremost NWA has skycaps in all of their hub cities, I can assure you that even though you have stated that you know for a fact that NWA has skycaps who make over 13.00 per hour, you couldn't be further from the truth. I would have hoped that if you were indeed speaking on behalf of the skycaps in Atlanta and elsewhere you would have been armed with the facts so that your arguments would have had more validity. Where did you get that hourly figure from? It is a blatant lie. If you want the brass at Delta to look at these arguments seriously please have your facts straight first. In addition I think talking to Delta brass is a waste of time because I don't believe they are listening. If you want to help to get the skycaps there jobs back, why don't you talk to their fellow employees about voting union. The pre merger NWA skycaps are still working today thanks to union protection. Talk to these people about taking their heads out of the sand and VOTE UNION. And please next time research your facts and not just go on hearsay.
Georgianne's Skin Treats, presented themselves as a group of women wanting to do business with Delta Air Lines, Inc. The 1% includes all minorities. There was not one product fit for Delta?
To the Northwest Airline Skycap who's feelings seems to be hurt because the article may have slightly overstated your income ($13.00 plus per hour instead of $12.00 plus) and may have over looked a few cities that have NWA Skycaps. I think you missed the point and purpose of the letter. First of all Delta's brass is smart enough to now that the point Mr. beasley is making, is that the company has inherited Skycaps as a result of the merger, and now would be a good opportunity to consider reinstating The former Delta Skycaps that were outsourced last year, although they had been promised in 1994 that the department would never be eliminated this way. I do agree with you that the current Delta leaders don't care, and the only way the skycaps have a chance is that the union is jointly voted in on the ticket counter and ramp. Right now our ticket agents don't seems to get the fact that what happened to us can happened to them. I hope they wake up before its to late. VOTE UNION!
It's good to bear witness to the fearless few who are willing to share their experiences at, and with, wonderful Delta Air Lines. I am a former Skycap still questioning the integrity of this company. Why are we finding the actions of this company surprising? They are only keeping pace with their "good ole' boys" attitude. I was introduced to Delta's way of thinking years ago when I was taken on my first inter company orientation trip. Delta's jet base, a massive and awesome facility with capabilities of restoring and manufacturing airplanes, was made up of technical departments. You needed the aid of a bicycle to get around. Oddly enough, within all these different departments, there were no people of color. Those professional positions such as janitors, housekeeping and other menial jobs were saved for them.
Delta has no reason to feel compelled to honor the rights of the Sky Caps. About three years ago The Velvet Rope Tour was an orchestrated move by Delta to promote a huge company blitz to motivate its employee morale to stop the Union. I spoke with a Mr. Whitehurst, who at that time, was the upcoming CEO hopeful, who was to make "the financial move" for Delta. I asked him, "When are tips consider income?" He gave me a puzzled look. I explained that Delta included our tips with our rate of pay to cut our salaries, but when it was time to receive a raise or bonus, Delta said that tips are not income and therefore can't be included with our rate of pay for the increase. His eyes lit up and you could see the light bulb go off in his mind. He then deferred me to his liaison. Needless to say, I never received a an answer to my question.
Delta has outsourced the Sky Cap department, steering us to different departments by design. They are paying us more money by the hour at our new departments, but have frozen our pension at the Skycap salary of $5.00 an hour. This company has shown that it has no tolerance for fair play in regards to income, unless you are a part of it's executive branch. I don't feel Delta intends to restore the outsourced Sky Caps. However, they can do something about our PENSION...
If the Skycaps want their pensions back they better pray that their co-workers vote the union in.VOTE UNION!
We are all in this thing together. No doubt we need a union for fair play
What a shame, but as a former delta skycap I really am not suprised to see unfair an unjust decisions an actions being executed by those who lack moral integrity. Promise after promise was made and broken to our group from 1994 until the time we were contracted out to delta global services. As someone stated before we were a 98% black dept., mostly college educated or military trained providing the best customer service at the worlds busiest airport. There was no need to outsource us. If it walks like a duck it ain't chicken.
Please support "GEORGIANNE'S SKIN TREATS". The products are wonderful and everyone will love them. Once you try " GEORGIANNE'S SKIN TREATS " you will never go back to your former lotions and oils.
Thanks to the people who made me aware of this website. I work for a minority firm that does business with the federal goverment as well as the private sector. I travel almost every week and Delta is always my Airline of choice. Having fair and unbias access to contract bidding is the life blood to our company. I am so disappointed to read about Delta's dismal record of doing business with minority own firms. Whats even more disturbing is the fact that Atlanta is the home of so many black own businesses and Delta is the home base Airline that our community faithfully support. I hope that Delta's leadership team will find a positive way to address this problem. And I must mention that I dearly miss the old Delta Skycaps that Rendered such excellent service to me for so many years. Please do right by them.
Thanks to the people who made me aware of this website. I work for a minority firm that does business with the federal goverment as well as the private sector. I travel almost every week and Delta is always my Airline of choice. Having fair and unbias access to contract bidding is the life blood to our company. I am so disappointed to read about Delta's dismal record of doing business with minority own firms. Whats even more disturbing is the fact that Atlanta is the home of so many black own businesses and Delta is the home base Airline that our community faithfully support. I hope that Delta's leadership team will find a positive way to address this problem. And I must mention that I dearly miss the old Delta Skycaps that Rendered such excellent service to me for so many years. Please do right by them.
Someone please help open the eyes of the ticket agents and gate agents, that they are not exempt. Just because they are considered "Above the Wing" doesn't mean that they are "Above the Cuts". The Union may not be the best solution we have but, it's the only choice we have to have an ear that listens. Even if you don't care about yourselves think about the Northwest Skycaps that are about to be contracted out at the end of their contract 2010. Delta just diplaced skycaps in 38 cities to so called save money. Think about it, they will bring them back and they will allow Delta Global Services to take over the contract.
WOW! When I first read about Delta eliminating curbside service in (38 station), I never thought about the fact that They would eventually restore service to most of those station with Delta Global Services, A wholly own subsiderary of Delta Airlines, that way all the money recirleculates back to Delta. Who's to say that Delta want do this to the ticket counter and ramp if the union is voted out? because DGS does have ramp and ticket counter contracts in some stations. Smart move by Delta to create a company within a company. "Attention Delta Folks" You will all soon be working for DGS at minimum wage if you don't vote in the union.
Thanks to Joe Beasley for speaking up for the Delta Skycaps, as well as the Minority businesess, locked out from doing business with Delta. This web site needs to get more exposure, so I recommend to everyone who reads it, to forward it to family and friends, we can also have our church's secretaries to post it in the church news letters. Just think! World Changers and New Birth both have over 20,000 memmbers each and a lot of those members fly Delta Airlines regularly. There is power it numbers
May Gods Blessings be upon you all!
I'm a former Delta skycap, who is currently working as a csa(ramp) agent. In reading the letter that Mr. Beasley sent to Delta, there Was mentioning of Delta's CEO Richard Anderson Promise to meet with the Former Delta Skycaps. Do anyone know when and were this meeting is to take place? Since most of the Former Skycaps(75%) now work in other departments at Delta, it would be good if a memo can be release to inform the group of the meeting, thats if Mr. Anderson keeps his word!
I'm a former Delta Skycap working as a ticket agent, and I would cherish the opportunity to meet with Mr. Anderson and give him the long history of Delta's past and present blalant discriminatory pratices against the Skycaps, the only predominately black department at Delta. In fact a few of the bigot henchmen with 30 plus years of senority are still there. We believe that one in particularly was very instrumental in getting us outsource last year.
Mr. Beasley, would you please ask Mr. Anderson to keep his promise to hear our concerns about reinstatement or none the less adjusting our pension to the 2005 ramp level.
I'm a Delta Medallion passenger, and I am in and out of the Airprt all the time. I heard about this website through a friend of Georgian Thomas. I must say that I was surprise to see that less than 1%(percent) of Delta's business goes to Minority firms. I think that Delta could do much better in this area. This news is goung to spread nationally, so Delta needs to have a good explanation to why they are not business with Minority contractors. Also, while traveling so much the past 20 plus years I got to know a lot of the Former Delta Skycaps, and they were the best in the industry. I remember what they went through in 1994 with the 65% pay cuts. It was absolutely disgraceful for Delta to outsource their jobs last year, when they were already being attrition out at a very minimum rate of pay. Joe, I will personally contact you because now is the time that we all take a stand for those who may not be in the best position to fight for themselves.
Traveling is my passion because I love to see new places, things and people. For the past 30 years, I have chosen Delta Airlines as my airline carrier of choice. I have gone so far as to highly recommend Delta Airlines to friends, co-workers and family members as the airline to choose for their travels. You see, I viewed Delta as the safest, friendliest and best value package for my travel dollars.
Imagine my surprise when I heard of the internal treatment of this company towards its minority employees! I am woman and African American which makes me a “double” minority. Certainly, the rumors and bogglers could not be correct. Certainly, all this was misinformation against this wonderful company. It most certainly could not be true that this airline does not respect or cherish the dedicated employees that results in its superior ratings as a Fortune 500 company. Nor could it be true that upper management could justify attacking one area (that happens to be majority minority) with pay cuts, while rendering mammoth bonuses to executives.
One has to wonder how many top Delta executives worked his/her way to the top by way of these decisions. It would also be safe to say that one could surmise that these were strictly business decisions and companies make tough decisions all the time, especially in a distressed economy. But if this is the case, if an external audit was made on this airline would the negative/positive impact of these decisions also reveal that upper management took a “hit” in its pocketbook too? When the low level employees (Sky Caps) were forced to take a $5 per hour pay cut, would the “audit” reveal that upper management endured a similar hit?
I should also say that my stomach churned when I learned that this airline (that I have been advertising for) awards less than one percent of its contracts to minorities. As a “double minority,” I am appalled at this practice! Does Delta receive governmental contracts? Aren’t business entities that are awarded government contracts required to award business to a certain percentage (larger than one percent) of minorities? Did I miss something? Is this a subtle racial messages being sent to minorities?
In the distance customers could hear the words “Delta, Delta” as they arrived at Hartsfield Jackson International Airport. This phraseology resulted in friendly smiles from customers and the eager to assist Delta Sky Cap. Those were the days and times!
While a group of 60+ Sky Caps with a combine service delivery timeline of 100 years or more opened their hearts and souls to make Delta the #1 seed in customer service, the airline delivered a swift kick in the groin to these employees. As a Fortune 500 company leader, Delta strategically cut holes in this predominately black department. First, it severed the hourly rate of pay from $13 to $5 per hour. This faithful group of employees survived the stabbing and endured the pay hemorrhage. Then, when things seemingly couldn’t get any worse, they did. The Sky Cap area was eradicated and its function was contracted out. Because Delta valued and appreciated the great customer service these employees provide, Delta gave the Sky Caps two weeks to either retire, transfer to another job (regardless of pay rate), accept a job at Delta Global (starting with zero seniority) or quit. Talk about company loyalty!
It is imperative to say that this group was a highly motivated, high team spirit and morale group. It had less sick leave usage than any other department at the airline. It was crucial in helping Delta to be #1 in customer service for more than 10 years. The average length of service for this group was 15+ years. It seems that loyalty is a business concept of the past for it certainly did not exist between the Sky Caps and Delta.
There is an old Negro spiritual that says “there is room at the cross for you,” but based on Delta’s performance there is room at the cross ONLY for its executives who receive huge bonus incentives for screwing the little guy!
I'm a former Delta Skycap, and like every one else I would like to be re-instated as a Delta Skycap, and I would definetly want to see some type of exemption made to the pension plan, so that the ones of us who are CSA agents can have our pension base on our current pay scale. Let us not forget abou the brothers still on the curbside making $3.00 per hour and have watch their tips slowly disappear because of the bag fees and slow traffic, and from my understanding, Delta and DGS are about to cut them back to $2.00 per hour. I suggest that everyoone write their state representatives and request Georgia's Labor Laws be reveiwed, especially the "Tip wage" and the "At will law" wether you're a Skycap or not, these ancient labor laws affect your community.
Southwest Airlines, please come to Atlanta to show Delta how to operate an Airline, treat their customers and employees. You have shown them for the last 10 years, you don't have to be dishonest to make a profit and to be successful.
tracy curry re-instated the old skcap not DSG skycap. i had a friend that was a delta skycap for 24 year and he love his this job and the people he met. i got a phone call from him about a year ago telling me that his job was being contract out. i said there noway a company of delta airlines size could be saving that much money contracting a department out that only $5 an hour. i said what in the world is going on. when i visit him in atlanta i would always stop on the cubside man you talking about customer service. Mr. Anderson if you didn't know dept.140 you need to ask somene man those 68 skycap was the best. i didn't work for delta but i wanted to work with them.
Everyone should read this weeks "Atlanta Business Chronicle Magazine" Article, Black leaders unhappy with Delta's diversity.
Now that Delta has completed it's demise of their on Skycap department, it is already cooking up schemes to eliminate Northwest Airline's Skycaps, even though they are under contract until late 2010. If the union is voted in by Delta's employees, There is going to have to be major changes with Atlanta's Worldport management or this company will be in constant litigation with the unions all the time. They have that my way or the highway mindset and it will never change.
It sucks to work for Delta right now. They are clearly a racist company. Richard Anderson made 17.5 million last year? Wow... You divide it by 26 and you have what he makes every two weeks. Absolutely astounding. I see people comming from other companies getting supervisor and management positions over folks that have been with the company for years. Go figure. When the corporate cotton fields turn black or minority watch the payscale never go up. If you want to b realistic about it Delta has not given a raise to their employees since 2005. They cut our pay by ninteen percent then cut the benifits by ten percent. That is really twenty nine percent in all. They gave us three percent back. then they gave us another three percent back. I don't call it a raise because our initial pay was never restored first. I call it a give back. We need all of our money back. How can a man making a million dollars + a month and has been with the company less than a year say that your topped out employees can't even get their pay restored. We have saved the company a tremendous amount of money since 2005. The only one who seems to have benefitted from this is our top execs, and upper management. Our ceo makes more in a month than 300 of his topped out employees makes in a year. If you as a Delta employee does not see that you need a union then the next time you get pissed on by your employer (and it will happen) everyone knows Delta by now. Don't cry we should have had a union. You see your friends getting fired for little or nothing left and right only to be replaced by ready reserve.(Deltas own company DGS again)!!!! Getting rid of topped out employees only to replace them with two DGS agents making half the wages. I don't know what it is like to work for a union but I have seen and felt the pain of not having one. I have read the above letters and I know the Skycaps wish they had a union before they got outsourced or their wages were reduced to five dollars an hour. When are people going to understand that a union is for the worker that is why your employer fights so hard against it. Imagine if the pilots did not have a union a couple of years back what the company wanted to and would have done to them. If you think the skycaps got shafted the pilots would have been up shit creek. With a payscale like theirs there probably would have been a lot of suicide after the paycuts they would have taken. Protect yourselves people. I know that you are tired of hearing take this pay cut or quit we don't care.
Forget the old Delta skycaps and Delta does buisiness with who they please. What are you going to do about it... NOTHING LOL! We will reduce it to no percent how about that! If you are so smart skycaps then why are you still crying? You deserved five dollars and that's what you got!LOL LOL! Do you really think someone is going to speak up for you? People only care about themselves you fools. You have lived long enough to know that.
Well Folks, looks like some of the bigots at Delta have found this blog site. Let the fun begin!
"VOTE UNION" TO SAVE OUR NORTHWEST BROTHERS AND SISTERS FAMILIES, AS WELL AS OURS.
wake'up delta ticket agents and gate agents if they did it to the delta skycap then they are going to do it to you. I want you to think about something if a union is bad than why do the pilots have one and they have had it for more than 20 years. Vote Union.
To: LOL LOL it is peolpe like you that Big Company have used you to work for nothing. I don't need anyone to speak for me because the man above do that through me. Have a good day.
Folks, LOL LOL is just a very ignorant person. He/She will rather sink with the ship than to see minorities progress. But to Christ be the Victory, Amen!
BIGOTS! YOU CALLED ME A BIGOT! As you folks would say "keep it real". No one has ever cared about Darkies. You all are the problem. Companies only do what they have to do as far as buisiness is concerned because they are forced to.LOL LOL Please get rid of affirmative action. This way it can go back to the way it used to be. Those were the days! We all got paid good. You all will accept little or nothing. Five dollars an hour proves it! I guarantee none of us in management would not have worked for that amount. Get some pride about yourselves form yur own buisinesses and stop lookin for handouts!
TO our sick, un-informed friend LOL LOL. "RACISM IS ALWAYS RATIONAL TO A RACIST" And I'm sure Delta's leader is not happy with thrash like you asserting that your in Management.
I am in Delta Management, I can assure you that all Delta Executives and Employees value all people of different nationalities. It is a disgrace to see people like the one who claims to be in management to make such insulating remarks. We at Delta will work with Black leaders to increase the minority vendor participation, and hope to increase the level of blacks in management here at Delta.
Thanks to the Delta management personel for the previous blog dennoucing our sick friend "LOL LOL", and for expressing willingness to increase minority vendor participation and for your commitment to increase the level of blacks in management. I am a proud thirty year Delta employee and a former Skycap, now working as a CSA. I was hurt when Delta outsource our department last year. Primary because what our guys went through in 1994, and the promise that was made to allow our department to attrition out at a reduce rate of pay instead of across the board outsourcing. I do believe that some involved with that decision did not act in good faith, but I want allow the actions of an individual or individuals to to give me a negative opinion on Delta as a hold, because we do have a lot good people of "ALL COLORS"!
Delta'Delta' To' Mr. Beasley thank you for standing up for people of color and from a former skycap of 20 years my prayers of with you.
Iam a former skycap of 20 years I think the company has forget what it was build on.1.customer service 2.The airline with less customer complains.3 One of the safety airlines to fly on.Delta showed their skycap no loyalty.I take my hat off to the 18 former Delta skycap that stay in the department.I know its hard on them because of all these new bags charges and to lost all their seniority and benefits shame on Delta.I remember when you wore your Delta uniform into an store people would say you work for Delta you have a good job.Delta was one of the best company to work for 20 years ago not today.To Mr.Anderson would please look at bring the skycap department back of change our pension plan so we can retire on a CSA salary.
I am a former Delta Skycap that is really disappointed with the decision a year and some months ago of the removal of the sky cap from the curb. First of all I like to thank Richard Anderson for taking time out and looking at this situation because the people that did this was not passionate at all. Greg Kennedy was ask after rumor starting spreading about being contract out on a Tuesday which he assure the skycaps he haven’t heard such a thing and before something that drastic happen we would talk to the group and try to come up with something together but two days later we was contracted out and had a meeting to let us know we had a choice to go to ramp, gates or the ticket counter, in which the decision had to be made in one week. After so many complaining about such short notice they gave us an addition week. In closing the part that was so misleading was the reason why they was contracting the department out, management said it would save the company one million dollar that may have been the biggest joke I have ever heard. This is just one example why I think this a joke , during the month of December 15 thur the end of the month the ramp missed many bags due to late connection ,weight and balance ,and mainly because under staff which why cutting overtime in most area did not make sense trying to save money but the bags miss bags reached 4000 bags left behind waiting to catch the next flight in most cases the next day (international) during the month of December Delta lost many millions but on the other hand you want to contract whole department 70 plus people that you paying only 5.00 dollars an hour what a joke. If the skycaps can be contracted out making 5.00 an hour I do not think no department is safe in other word you may want to vote union.
In reading over the blogs, I notice that there were several inquiries about a possible meeting with Delta's CEO Richard Anderson and the former Delta skycaps. Two weeks ago(5/4/09), Mr. Anderson was doing a walk through on the ramp with Worldport VP, Greg Kennedy. I spoke to him briefly, expressing some concerns about the outsourcing of the Skycap Department last Year. My primary concern that I talked about was the state of our pension, given the fact that skycap's pension were frozen in 2005 at a rate of 7.50 per hour(60% of 7.50 is what our pension will be base on. Mr.anderson mention that he had ask Greg Kennedy and another gentlemen who's name I've forgotten to meet with the skycaps. Ironically the following week(5/11/09)Greg Kennedy and DGS President, C. Turner meet with the DGS Skycaps. Was this a mix up? Hopeful, Mr. Anderson still plans to me with the Former Delta Skycaps soon. It would be and honor to sit down and talk with him.
No mix-up! Mr. anderson has a schedule meeting with the DGS skycaps tomorrow(5/20/09), even though he promised Joe Beasley that he would meet with the former Delta skycaps. I think that Mr. Anderson is standing by his word to meet with the Delta skycaps, but someone underneath him is blatantly sabbatogging the former skycaps opportunity to meet with him.
I think it is honerable that Mr Anderson has said that he will sit and meet with the employees that he outsourced.It shows that he is concerned about their issues.Now it will be even more honerable if he actually does it.
All former Delts Skycaps, try to come to the meeting tomorrow at 12:30 P.M. at the skycap breakroom, regardless if you're on the ramp, cargo, ticket counter or curbside. Please Come! this is your meeting.
Why is the meeting being held with the contract skycaps anyway. when Delta outsourced the skycap department last year we had 68 skycaps with average seniority of 20 years( a combined 1360 years of service) and he is meeting with a group who only a handful of guys used to work for Delta. In fact the DGS skycaps are wondering why in the hell he's meeting with them, I heard that they were scared to talk in last weeks meeting with Greg Kennedy and C. Turner.
You Idiots! Don't you get it? He's meeting with the people who helps his bonus. Think about it! If you were the CEO an your bonuses were base on tangibles like cost performance, who would your loyalty be with? a group that you pay $3.00 per hour and allow you to steal away their tips for bag fees, or CSA's that make $22.00 per hour. Once he gets rid of the unions and convert 70% of the CSA jobs to DGS or ready reserves, he will then sit down and chat with you to thank you for working for less and helping him triple his bonus. "IT'S SAD BUT IT'S TRUE" Please Protect Your Jobs and vote Union.
I'm a Delta Platinum Medallion passenger who flies thousands of miles a year. But, I had no idea what was going on with the diversity issues at Delta until I read the article in last weeks business chronicle. It just goes to show that a lot of successful African Americans like my self get so caught up in our comfort zone that we forget how bad things really are for our brother and sisters. So, I pause to send a special thanks to Rev. Joseph Lowery, Joe Beasley and others who stayed the course in the fight for civil rights in our community.
DELTA'Delta' Iam a former skycap of 20 years I also was a witness to what Mr.G.Kennedy promise us.When we talk with him about the rumors of the skycap department being contract out.There is a old song name Smiling Faces Tell Lies and Pretend to be your friend.I respect Mr.Kennedy because he is one of Delta Manager but I believe he don't care and the former Delta skycap was right he showed no passionate in that meeting one year ago.Mr.Kennedy would visit the curbside and tell us how great a job we did but to turn around and contract it out.I have been working here since Eastern Airlines went out of business because of some bad management decisions are we going in the same directions.
Meeting! The former Delta Skycaps meeting wih CEO Richard Anderson was rescheduled for Wednesday May, 27. location and time unknown. Former Skycaps working as CSAs should contact Greg Kennedy for time and location of meeting.
I am a young 28 year old African American male; I am surprised that everyone is dependent on civil rights leaders who are only looking at personal gain when they approach American companies. If you all come together and marched, it would do a great deal. The Internet is a powerful tool, even if you all came together and build your own blog or posting on Youtube it would have an effect and expose companies whose injustice is evident. Have you ask your self’s what are civil right leaders really doing to help the youth? High school dropout is at an all time high, black teen pregnancy is astronomical. There are more black males in prison today than ever. Entrepreneurial and banking should be taught in high school. Did you know to get registered as a minority vendor with the state you have to pay $300.00? White companies to become a vendor to American corporations don’t pay anything. What are the civil rights leaders doing? …..When has there been a major marched in American for injustice against Blacks? I am sure all of you are older than me and crying to American Corporations when you’re not using the tools God Give You!!!!!
Stop being a hater, they can't be doing much personal gain, the blog is not updated regularly. Any help is good at this point for all
I think all former skycaps should pursue other things outside of delta and let it go. No need to complain about being contracted out now. Unfortunate but move on.
TO: MY TWO CENTS! Yes after the meeting Wednesday it seems like all doors are closed as for as being a Delta employed Skycap again. I think what gave many of us hope is the fact that Delta inherited Skycaps in several stations as a result of the merger. But, management has made it clear that if the union is not voted in above the wings, that they are going to outsource the Northwest Skycaps as well. Now, as far as the former skycap pursuing careers outside of Delta, I would like to say take your time and make a good educated decision and not an emotional One! some of the guys who left the company last year have regrets. For one, we are in a recession and the job market is terrible. and as for as opening a business, the recessinon makes that challenging as well. We had a very smart and talented group of skycaps who can definetly excell in other areas with Delta, other companies or self-employment. But remember that timing is everthing when making a career change. May God Bless and Keep each and everyone of you. KEEP HOPE ALIVE!
Well nice comment but the quote is not so good in that its from the very person Mr. Jackson that once had a good movement. His greed has put a bad mark on all civil rights leaders. Delta and other large corporations have no respect for the civil rights leaders because of Mr. Jackson's actions. The man is father to a daughter by another women, and a self proclaimed minister who would respects Mr. Jackson?
Most of the todays civil rights leaders are over 70 were are the young leaders who corporations would respect. There needs to be a massive march for injustic, who will lead it surely not Rev Lowery or Andrew Young. Al Shapton is to caught up thinking he his is a celebrity.
When Corporations see that a leader has the ability to draw millions against their company they will respond with change. None of the today's civil rights leaders are feared by American Corporations.
Well Pumkin, I'm with you on this march and protest thing. when do we get started? and lets make Delta Airlines our first target.
NOT SO HARD ON UOR TRADITIONAL CIVIL RIGHTS LEADERS! Yes, some years after Dr. King's assassination many of the of the traditional civil rights leaders started to do their on things. Some became politician, some found seats on corporate boards and yes some were able to use their status to make money, but that does'nt necessarily mean they were sell outs. They had to make a living to. Less not forget that when the Civil Rights Movement started in the 50's and 60's that there was not much of a black middle class. It was the traditional civil rights leaders who were beaten, had their hide peeled with high pressure fire hoses, jailed and bitten by police dogs just so we could enjoyed the freedom and priviledges that we have today. No they have not been perfect, but before we critized them I suggest we reflect and be thankful that these men and women had the courage to take a stand so that we could have a better life today. If you want to make a differance, there are many organization that you can invest your money and time in. Wether its the civil rights groups, child advocates, family and children advocates, education, etc. Just do something besides condeming the ones who's been fighting their entire life.
Nothing can excuse first having the balls to fight and now when rights have been given you get distracted and selfish. What civil right leader is still on the path of righteousness and not showered in material things. Who is really fighting for the rights of blacks?
If your income is coming from corporations there is nothing that should allow you to become middle class that funding is for you to enrich other with knowledge. I believe if King was alive he would live very modest and his help to others would be his first priority.
LAST WEEKS SKYCAP MEETING! I'm a former Delta skycap now working as a CSA. Thanks to CEO Richard Anderson for meeting with our group. It was great to see everyone again. Most of us came with two questions in mine. one, was Delta considering insourcing skycaps in Atlanta, and could an exemption be made to our pension plan so we could retire at the higher salaries that most of us recieve as CSA agents. It was disappointing to here that he could'nt or would'nt do something about either one. However there was one thing that came up that I think we should continue to fight for, and that is the unjust paycut that was force on us during the bankrupcy in 2005. Early into the bankrupcy everyone took a 10% paycut. Later that year Delta annuonced another 9% cut, but stated that everyone who made less than $25,000 per year did'nt have to take the paycut. at that time Skycaps pay was about $17.000 per year. But management told us that since we were in a tip oriented job, that they were going to assume that we all made at least $25.000 in salary and tips. though we were never able to use tip income to build our pension, or for bonuses. A double standard was applied here and I think that we should hire a good labor lawyer to take a look at this issue.
TIME TO SUE? Yes, now were finally talking the right language, lets move on this ASAP!
Suing is not that easy in these times, who will fund the legal expense? Also what are the merits of the sue.
Anyone that was a skycap in 1994 knows the merits of a lawsuit. I think the climate could'nt be better given the diversity issues that Delta is now facing. We should at least have a lawyer and the EEOC take a look at the patterns of disparate treatment since 1994 that has had a disparate impact on the lives of skycaps and their families.
THE UNJUST PAYCUT IN 2005: During the Bankrupcy in 2005 Delta inform the skycaps that they were going to force a 9% paycut on us even though we made much less than the $25.000 cut off that should have immune the skycaps from the paycut. we immediately contacted HR and inform them of the unfairness to use our tip income when it was beneficial to Delta, but the company would never allow it to count towards thing to benefit the skycaps, like our pension and bonuses. when Delta came out of bankrupcy in 2007 and announce the stock option and bonus program, we ask management to use the same tip income and salary figure that they use to cut our pay. HR initially said they would do it , but later came back and said no through managing/director, Ed Okelly. From 2005 to the date we were outsourced(3-1-08) the salary we lost during that period amounted to about $5.000(dollars). We should pursue recovering this stolen income.
RECOVERING UNFAIR (DISPARATE)PAY-CUTS! If we are going to pursue legal channels to recover lost income from unfair pay cuts, then we should go back to 1994 when Delta cut the skycaps in LAX and ATL pay from $13.25 per hour to $5.00 per hour. At that time the company had 71,000 employees an only 122 company employed Skycaps which at time were 99% African American. The paycut amounted to approximately $17.000(dollars) per year. If you make the adjustment for the raise that former CEO Leo Mullins gave us, and the paycut during the bankruptcy, it amounts to over $200.000(dollars) per Skycap from Jan. 1994 to March 2005 when our department was outsourced. thats a lot of money and if it had went to our 401k for 14 years it probably would amount to over $400.000(dollars). Since the promise to allow the skycaps to attrition out was broken and it appears that no adjustments can be made to our pension plan, then why not pursue our legal option for these many years of discrimination that the Skycap department have been subjected to?
Good luck trying that one in these times. In this great hardship discrimination will be on the rise. Corporation will think less of doing anything for people of color.
TO THE PREVIOUS BLOGGER OR SHOULD I SAY (DOUBTING THOMAS)! yes in a economic down turn many corporations will cease the opportunity to unfairly cut African American jobs all in the name of surviving, and some will think less of doing anything for people of color. However, we must not allow these corporations to forget that a large percentage of their products or services are purchase by the black consumer. So don't ever allow your mind to think that nothing can be done about racism!
That is the biggest problem African American's are doing nothing. Were not marching anymore against unjust. The civil rights leaders are not forming huge marching against corporations. Even the ministers are not forming marching, look at TD Jakes he is more interested in doing movies. If any one that could lead a huge March he can, but is he? African American's have gotten laid back and just allow things to happen and do nothing. Jesse Jackson, was the only person that seem to be helping but in the shadow is was cheating on his wife, sleeping around unprotected, wanting to cut Obama's nuts and said it on national tv. White American's know blacks have gotten confused and would rather chase material wealth then march the streets against injustice.
SIR! Will you please organize this march?
I am a former delta skycap now working as a CSA agent.I want to thank Mr. Anderson for talking with us.It was great to see the former delta skycap.I left that meeting feeling down but I said to myself its time to move on.delta is willing to go with the contract skycap.I have work for delta for 20 years and I am very thankful and I have no hard feeling in directions delta want to go in.I think the meeting went well and there was some good questions ask but there is one that still been with me after the meeting.The question was Delta had less complaints than another airlines for so many years.Mr.Anderson answer was he felt Delta was doing well in that department.Well Mr.Anderson would you please read the AJC Business June 4,2009.Delta had the highest rate of consumer complaints to the U.S.Department of Tranportion in the first quarter. Thank You Again.
To:Mr. Beasley thank you again I am a former delta skycap and I know it hard sometimes trying to get people to stand-up and fight with you thanks for fighting for the former delta skycap rithts.May God be with you.Thank You Again.
Attention Delta Employees! Protect your future. Vote Yes for union representation.
Voting yes for the union is the only way to keep what you have. They are working towards 80% ready reserve people.
In June I believe the old Delta Skycap had a meeting with Mr. Anderson. I left that meeting feeling down I was hoping that Mr.Anderson would re-state the skycap.Delta want to still go with Delta Global Skycap.Delta say they are saving million of dollars by contracting the skycap. Is it so funny a small group of employees that only $5 an hour could hurt Delta pockets.This month the skycap again will meet with Mr. Anderson and I hope that Delta Global supervisor will not be sitting in back of our meeting please can this last meeting be with only Delta old skycap.
Think Like A Man. Now is the time old skycap its only about 30 skycap left. Vote Union.
There is life after skycap
Post a Comment