RV4,
So a mechanic retires somewhere at slightly less than 50% pay. So a Captain retires and gets an annuity somewhere around 50% of pay. So the Captain gets 50% of 210K? So what.
Big deal.
You aren't subsidizing the pilots, if anything, the APA has subsidized the TWU and the APFA. Both groups have been paid at industry standard or higher. APA pilots have made as much as 22% less than the pay at other comparable carriers for 10 out of my 13 years at AA. Go ask a pilot what overtime pay is, you get it. Go ask a pilot on 12/25 how much extra he gets that day. The answer is none, same as any day. Get a raise lately ? I haven't seen one in 2.5 years. In fact, I have taken a 36K paycut. Have you? I think its great the FA's and the TWU are paid near the industries highest. It's not your fault we aren't, it's ours.
Your problem is that the mechanics don't have their own seperate union and negotiations. The cabin cleaners are as close to you in job skills as they are to us. Do you want the lump sum option? Go negotiate it and stop crying about someone else who did.
You think APA pilots are overpaid? Leave out the 150 B777 guys getting 75 hour months. Look at the other 5000 AA Captains. Go talk to a Realtor in MIA/BOS/LAX/ORD/JFK and tell them your an AA Captain making the big bucks at around 170K a year. You'll get your ass laughed at.
Finally, spare us the 160 hour a month average. Subtract all the "could not duplicate, ops check normal" pencil whipping and calling daddy TUL for a deferral authorization and your productivity numbers will look like crap too.
33 PM AAviator wrote: 
