The following is from the West AFA E-line from their MECP, Gary...as he speaks often informing his members on the Status.
Dougie is no friend to labor. IMO, the West needs to keep the contracts SEPARATE, rather than drag their members into the AFA East sh** contract for the next 6 years! And if I were on the West, I would mount up a "picket" every single day on how Management disrespects and is unfair to labor inspite of rocket profits that seem to be only for the EXECS. The west are deserving of raises as their contract has been amendable for the last couple years; no agreement for increases for them...deplorable.
August 1, 2006
Single Contract or Status Quo:
In two web-casts last week, CEO Doug Parker said that if the company can't reach a single contract agreement with AFA (and other unions), then the company would merge the operating certificate but have separate contracts.
He said this after insisting that any new or combined contract must remain "cost neutral" which really means that the company won't put new money into a combined agreement, just insist that we shift money around.
His newest argument certainly flies in the face of his earlier stance that if we don't reach an agreement, the company can shove the west Flight Attendants under the east agreement.
It's a positive move that the company has abandoned that stance as it was a weak legal argument to begin with.
AFA's legal position remains that the company could not and can not eliminate our contract and throw us under the east contract at will. The AFA legal position is based on a court ruling involving – ironically – US Airways and the former Shuttle operation.
While keeping the contracts separate is an intriguing idea, the company's no-cost increase stance is an attempt and excuse to keep our wages substandard on all seniority levels for an indefinite time period. Additionally, separate contracts while operating under one certificate poses more questions regarding aircraft routing decisions and flying at each base.
Parker, and others in management, are completely wrong when they boast that other airlines are cutting hourly wages to our contract levels. Senior and junior rates at airlines that have gone through concessions are – on the whole – greater than our top wage. And other airlines have certainly not cut wage levels for those with 1-9 years of service to match our wage levels there. Not by any means. Even airlines in bankruptcy and airlines half our size and smaller have wages from 2-7 dollars an hour more than our wages for years 1-9.
We will not accept cuts to our vacation section and importantly, we have to guard our scheduling flexibility in any scenario, be it in a new single contract or having separate contracts.
As we wade through negotiations for a single contract, the company’s position on key sections will soon become apparent. The company's no-cost increase stance is completely unrealistic. When planning for this merger, the company knew that we needed raises on the west and a return to a respectful contract on the east. Instead, millions in bonuses have gone to executives and despite record profits the company says they can't budget for a good contract.
It will be important to stay informed on progress- or lack of progress- in negotiations over the next few months.
Dougie is no friend to labor. IMO, the West needs to keep the contracts SEPARATE, rather than drag their members into the AFA East sh** contract for the next 6 years! And if I were on the West, I would mount up a "picket" every single day on how Management disrespects and is unfair to labor inspite of rocket profits that seem to be only for the EXECS. The west are deserving of raises as their contract has been amendable for the last couple years; no agreement for increases for them...deplorable.
August 1, 2006
Single Contract or Status Quo:
In two web-casts last week, CEO Doug Parker said that if the company can't reach a single contract agreement with AFA (and other unions), then the company would merge the operating certificate but have separate contracts.
He said this after insisting that any new or combined contract must remain "cost neutral" which really means that the company won't put new money into a combined agreement, just insist that we shift money around.
His newest argument certainly flies in the face of his earlier stance that if we don't reach an agreement, the company can shove the west Flight Attendants under the east agreement.
It's a positive move that the company has abandoned that stance as it was a weak legal argument to begin with.
AFA's legal position remains that the company could not and can not eliminate our contract and throw us under the east contract at will. The AFA legal position is based on a court ruling involving – ironically – US Airways and the former Shuttle operation.
While keeping the contracts separate is an intriguing idea, the company's no-cost increase stance is an attempt and excuse to keep our wages substandard on all seniority levels for an indefinite time period. Additionally, separate contracts while operating under one certificate poses more questions regarding aircraft routing decisions and flying at each base.
Parker, and others in management, are completely wrong when they boast that other airlines are cutting hourly wages to our contract levels. Senior and junior rates at airlines that have gone through concessions are – on the whole – greater than our top wage. And other airlines have certainly not cut wage levels for those with 1-9 years of service to match our wage levels there. Not by any means. Even airlines in bankruptcy and airlines half our size and smaller have wages from 2-7 dollars an hour more than our wages for years 1-9.
We will not accept cuts to our vacation section and importantly, we have to guard our scheduling flexibility in any scenario, be it in a new single contract or having separate contracts.
As we wade through negotiations for a single contract, the company’s position on key sections will soon become apparent. The company's no-cost increase stance is completely unrealistic. When planning for this merger, the company knew that we needed raises on the west and a return to a respectful contract on the east. Instead, millions in bonuses have gone to executives and despite record profits the company says they can't budget for a good contract.
It will be important to stay informed on progress- or lack of progress- in negotiations over the next few months.
)
)
