Archive for airlines
Instead of letting the airlines profit again on their customers? What a smart and sensible idea. Oh look, a woman introduced it!
The House will likely consider a bill next week that would give homeless veterans unclaimed clothing recovered at U.S. airports.
The Clothe a Homeless Hero Act would direct the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to transfer all unclaimed clothing recovered at airports to local veterans organizations or other local charitable organizations for distribution to homeless or needy veterans and their families.
Rep. Kathy Hochul (D-N.Y.) introduced H.R. 6328this summer.
Del. Madeleine Bordallo (D-Guam) is co-sponsoring the legislation.
And if you missed it, here is my 55 second video “tribute” to Officer “Pepper Spray” Bologna.
H/t: @RealtorBo
Hey kids! Get ready! Get set! Because it’s about to be union crushing time in GOP Land!
Why, it seems like only three weeks ago when Florida Republican Rep. John Mica was blamed for shutting down the FAA. Remember that? Millions of dollars were at stake and 74,000 people were furloughed or out of work because of Mica’s stunt, not to mention the airport-safety projects that were put off.
And remember what the airline did with all that uncollected taxpayer money: They pocketed it. But all John Mica cared about were his own hurt feelings after having been politically pummeled:
“I’ve had a brutal week, getting beat up by everybody,” Mica told me, minutes after Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced a deal that would end the shutdown and avoid the cuts to regional air service that Mica wanted. [...]
Senate Democrats, seizing on Mica’s admission that the bill was a “tool,” refused to deal. They let the shutdown happen and railed against Mica after lawmakers left for recess.
Now the FAA battle is about to flare up all over again, as Greg Sargent notes. The GOP union-busters will try to make it harder to organize airline and railway workers, which is why the union most involved in this showdown, the Communication Workers of America, is taking a few preemptive steps to make sure they win this round. Like creating this web site, for example:
The CWA will keep their eye on Mica, who is the chairman of the House Transportation Committee, and take a pro-active role in what is sure to be an ugly fight:
[T]he CWA campaign will include appearances by airline workers at airports around the country, where they will try to educate the public about the fight. The new push will also include picketing in the districts of House Republicans who will be pressured to agree to a long-term FAA reauthorization without the union-busting provision.
But Democrats also matter in this fight, and this could be a major opportunity for them. [...]
[W]hen this fight ramps up again, right when the Congressional debt “super-committee” talks get under way, the incentive will be strong for Dems to find a compromise. Labor, however, badly needs a high-profile win, and will be expecting Dems to hold firm… [A] strong stance by Congressional Dems in the looming FAA fight could help reinvigorate organize labor’s faith in the national Democratic Party in advance of 2012.
Yeah, well, based on the Dems’ stellar reputation at the bargaining table, good luck with that.
Surprise! The Democrats did something right. Imagine that! Dana Milbank got a call from anti-labor Congressman John Mica, the Florida Republican who is being blamed for shutting down the FAA, and now rueful John is all kinds of remorseful and hang-doggy.
Altogether now: Awww.
About $20 million a week was at stake because of his stunt, plus 74,000 people were furloughed or out of work, not to mention the airport-safety projects that were put off. That should up the old unemployment numbers, huh? USA! USA!
And what did the airline do with all that uncollected taxpayer money? They pocketed it. Considering they’re legally people now, corporations sure do lack the compassion gene. But back to John Poor-Pitiful-Me Mica:
“I’ve had a brutal week, getting beat up by everybody,” Mica told me, minutes after Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced a deal that would end the shutdown and avoid the cuts to regional air service that Mica wanted.
“I didn’t know it would cause this much consternation,” Mica said. “Now I’ve just got to get the broom and the shovel and clean up the mess.” Switching metaphors, he said he wanted “to unclog the toilet, but it backed up. So I don’t know what to do, what to say.”
Well, actually, he did know what to do. He’s introducing legislation to pay all those workers for their furlough days. Good move.
As for not realizing what a mess he would cause, sorry, I don’t buy it. He should have had his toidy plunger in hand, a case of Drano, a heap of rags, and a big plate of humble pie standing by. So much for foresight.
Senate Democrats, seizing on Mica’s admission that the bill was a “tool,” refused to deal. They let the shutdown happen and railed against Mica after lawmakers left for recess.
Reid accused him of taking “hostages.” House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer pointed out that the shutdown cost taxpayers more than the program Mica tried to cut. Privately, Mica’s GOP colleagues harshly criticized him. …[H]e was stunned that Democrats took Republicans “by the short hairs,” as he put it. “Quite honestly we did not expect that.”
Psst, GOP! Expect the unexpected. You never know when the Democrats will fool you and play a winning hand.
You can read the rest here.
This makes me want to beat the crap out of someone.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Two Muslim religious leaders say they were asked to leave a commercial airliner in Memphis on Friday and were told it was because the pilot refused to fly with them aboard.
Masudur Rahman, who is also an adjunct instructor of Arabic at the University of Memphis, said by phone from the terminal at Memphis International Airport that he and another imam had been allowed to board their Delta Connection flight to Charlotte, N.C., before they were asked to get off the plane.
(snip)
Both passengers are Memphis-area residents. Rahman said he was dressed in traditional Indian clothing, and his traveling companion was dressed in Arab garb, including traditional headgear.
Rahman said he and Mohamed Zaghloul, of the Islamic Association of Greater Memphis, were cleared by security agents and boarded the plane for an 8:40 a.m. departure.
The aircraft pulled away from the gate, but the pilot then announced the plane must return, Rahman said. When it did, the imams were asked to go back to the boarding gate, where Rahman said they were told the pilot was refusing to accept them because some other passengers could be uncomfortable.
Rahman said Delta officials talked with the pilot for more than a half-hour, but he still refused.
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