The Reynolds Center has announced its 2008 fall workshop schedule.
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The Reynolds Center has opened registration for select 2008 free online seminars.
Topics include:
*Intermediate Business Journalism
*Covering Private Companies
*Business Journalism Boot Camp
Rumor turned to realization late Thursday as a $1.5 billion deal between US Airways and America West finally took off. But speculation about the fate of the airline business remained largely grounded.
The union, which would create the nation's fifth largest airline, could be the tip of the consolidation iceberg within this troubled industry.
"There is disagreement among observers in the industry about whether consolidation will solve some long-term problems," says Dan Fitzpatrick, airlines reporter with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "Right now, there are too many seats and too few passengers. This merger is a result of consumers demanding a low price."
But that bargain hunting comes at a much higher price for employees of the two airlines. Reports will begin to surface on who gets laid off as a result of the merger.
Pittsburgh, once the main hub of US Airways, has already seen its local employment drop from 13,000 to 5,000 since Sept. 11, 2001. Headquarters of the merged company will be based in Tempe, Ariz., meaning current central operations for US Air (in Crystal City, Va., just outside Washington, D.C.) will undergo a major overhaul.
"Some of the administrative structure in Crystal City will be shut down," Fitzpatrick says. "As far as the rest of the cities that US Air operates in, we've been told we won't see much of a change."
Airline lobbyists have been hard at work in the nation's capital to convince lawmakers that consolidation is the solution for the beleaguered industry. With US Air in financial trouble, Fitzpatrick sees no issues with approval from the bankruptcy judge or shareholders.
The deal could still be delayed due to a competing bid from another player in the field or possible union backlash.
"The unions must work out who will represent them and sort out who wins in seniority comparisons," wrote Dawn Gilbertson and Glen Creno in The Arizona Republic. "A strict comparison of seniority might weigh heavily in favor of US Airways' workforce since the company is much older, but neither side is willing to back down. "
Copyright © 2008 Donald W. Reynolds National Center for Business Journalism
