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USM Forum -- Message Board -> AAUP-USM MESSAGE BOARD -> USAir & USM: more in common that the letters U&S
Post Info TOPIC: USAir & USM: more in common that the letters U&S
Frequent Flyer

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USAir & USM: more in common that the letters U&S
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US Airways, in an attempt to avoid going belly up, is recruiting volunteers who are willing to work with no compensation during the forthcoming New Year's weekend. USAir  also wants its employees  to accept major pay cuts in order to avoid corporate bankruptcy. The company has further announced that it plans to conduct an "enhanced review" of employees recent attendance record during a "sickout" in order to determine who should be disciplined or denied pay. These and other events reflect the  "bad blood" existing between USAir's management and USAir's employees.
 
The analogy between USAir and USM is striking. USM is also faced with a potential "belly up" outcome with regard to SACS accreditation.  A big question is whether the USAir employees will be willing to work with no compensation in order to help save the company. In order for USAir's plan to work, their employees must want  management to succeed. Sometimes, however,  workers can be so angry at management that they really don't care. Does the cadre of USAir's workforce perceive prior injustices as so severe that they have lost their will to fight for management who they view as abusive? How about USM's cadre of faculty who have seen freedom of speech, due process, and shared governance, erode? Will prior treatment of USAir employees contribute to USAir going into corporate bankruptcy? Will prior treatment of USM faculty members contribute to USM going into academic SACS bankruptcy? Sometimes faculty members can be so angry at "management" that they just don't care.  Does the USM faculty and the USAir employees have that in common? Perhaps.
 
There is much to be learned from the USAir/USM analogy which extends much further than is reflected in these brief observations.  The working environment at USM and the "management"/faculty relationship at USM appears to be just as bad, if not worse, than it is at USAir. Both outcomes will be interesting to follow. The IHL should have seen this coming.
 
 
 

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Emma

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A beautiful analogy!!!

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The Rock

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Excellent analogy indeed.  But for USM, the thousands of stranded, luggage-less passengers will be the current and past students and their worthless USM diplomas on the wall....



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Corporate Conscience

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IHL: Turn this business into a university.

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Miles Long

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Don't forget about the other analogy. USAir execs get huge bonuses and make hundreds of times more money than the rank and file, while the institution withers away.

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