American Airlines and Labor Negotiations

[WeAAsles]

Weez -- is this same "Magic Hammer" Tim claims to have? I think it may not be a management hammer, but the very same hammer that they use to drive square pegs into round holes with convoluted, and skewed arguments.

One would have to be as dumb as box of hammers, to believe them!

>SPIT<

Here’s an ironic and actually kind of humorous truth. Half the people who are in office now were a part of the last administration pretty much.

So if they were so terrible before what now suddenly is making them so stellar?

I’d have to doubt it’s the fat guy sitting in the head chair who never comes onto the Ramp to break bread with the troops.

It was the new VP Ralph Lopez who “chose” to change course and stop with all the stupid paperwork discipline.

 

[737823]

Here’s an ironic and actually kind of humorous truth. Half the people who are in office now were a part of the last administration pretty much.

So if they were so terrible before what now suddenly is making them so stellar?

I’d have to doubt it’s the fat guy sitting in the head chair who never comes onto the Ramp to break bread with the troops.

It was the new VP Ralph Lopez who “chose” to change course and stop with all the stupid paperwork discipline.

Weez he was in BOS circa 2008-2010.

Have you asked Tim H what he thinks?

Josh

 

[WeAAsles]

Here’s an ironic and actually kind of humorous truth. Half the people who are in office now were a part of the last administration pretty much.

So if they were so terrible before what now suddenly is making them so stellar?

I’d have to doubt it’s the fat guy sitting in the head chair who never comes onto the Ramp to break bread with the troops.

It was the new VP Ralph Lopez who “chose” to change course and stop with all the stupid paperwork discipline.

Ok Sidney Jimenez just shared this post on Facebook and took issue with me calling him fat. Ok perhaps I could have been more PC and used plump instead but the point I was trying to make is that my Local President is a sedentary individual who doesn’t do much more than sit in the office on 36th Street wiling away his hours at the Computer monitoring and conversing on Social Media pages when he should be out walking that RAMP as much as possible.

I don’t honestly feel this man is earning the $13,000 raise he has given himself and I’m going to support someone else to replace him that hopefully will earn that stipend.

And that’s absolutely not saying that someone can’t earn that $31,000 stipend.

 

[737823]

Ok Sidney Jimenez just shared this post on Facebook and took issue with me calling him fat. Ok perhaps I could have been more PC and used plump instead but the point I was trying to make is that my Local President is a sedentary individual who doesn’t do much more than sit in the office on 36th Street wiling away his hours at the Computer monitoring and conversing on Social Media pages when he should be out walking that RAMP as much as possible.

I don’t honestly feel this man is earning the $13,000 raise he has given himself and I’m going to support someone else to replace him that hopefully will earn that stipend.

And that’s absolutely not saying that someone can’t earn that $31,000 stipend.

 

[CremaDiLimone]

@ weaasles -

i have no issues at all with juan. murphy is the professor when it comes to workman's comp/injury time/disability...also has a good heart. he's done things on his own time for some former/current fscs, who needed/need help and are down and out on their luck.

my expectations of a local president may be different from your's. i don't like corruption and have seen incumbents lose due to a few bags of **** in their circle. lose them. i'd like to see the local fight/formulate top-heavy FT am shifts and also fight for specialized shifts - decrease the amount of 'pool', 'support', 'roc' shifts.

at the intl. level, i don't expect my union president to boss others and impose what ord wants upon all of the twu. like you said, if he's quality, it will be noticed.

 

[1AA]

http://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/iata-lowers-profit-expectations-for-2018/

 

[PIEDMONT784]

http://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/iata-lowers-profit-expectations-for-2018/

From your link--

"This is critical for attracting the substantial capital needed by the industry to expand its fleet and services, IATA said.
“The world is better off when borders are open to people and to trade".
“And our hard work as an industry has primed aviation to be an even stronger catalyst for an ever more inclusive globalisation,” concluded de Juniac"

What I find interesting is that that globalization is now considered essential to airline profits. We have a president that wants to kill globalization, and place tariffs on materials used to build jet aircraft . Tarrifs, which will inrease the cost of manufacturing these planes, as well as replacement parts...

http://money.cnn.com/2018/03/06/news/companies/aluminum-association-tariffs/index.html

All of which, most certainly gives the airline LEVERAGE at the table to resist union proposals for better pay and benifits...

This, along with NRTWA, sounds like the end of lucrative airline jobs as we know them!

>SPIT<

 

[swamt]

http://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/iata-lowers-profit-expectations-for-2018/

Sadly speaking here, but I think the airlines will use these articles to their advantage. Higher cost oil, higher cost for labour, lower cost return to investors and lower profits. Oh no the end of the world is near and we can't afford anymore $$$ for your contracts.
Folks, let's not forget that the new Trump tax reform take effect in 19 for the 18 year, so I believe they will more than offset or equal the differences at the bottom line. I think this is just a way to try and get out of paying more to the employees. I know were growing quite well in 2018 and even some late 4th Q growth will be announced this year as well.

 

[NYer]

Sadly speaking here, but I think the airlines will use these articles to their advantage. Higher cost oil, higher cost for labour, lower cost return to investors and lower profits. Oh no the end of the world is near and we can't afford anymore $$$ for your contracts.
Folks, let's not forget that the new Trump tax reform take effect in 19 for the 18 year, so I believe they will more than offset or equal the differences at the bottom line. I think this is just a way to try and get out of paying more to the employees. I know were growing quite well in 2018 and even some late 4th Q growth will be announced this year as well.

It could definitely influence the NMB as they use all types of information to persuade movement towards an agreement. If they deem that one side has moved towards the other they would expect a reciprocal movement from the other side. Their views are based on the industry specifically but also the corporate landscape in general.

Obviously, it also influences the stockholder and Wall Street as lower revenues lead to lower profits. That pushes the narrative to hold or even cut expenses and with the APA and APFA gearing up for their next round of negotiations the landscape can become more barren.

 

[CremaDiLimone]

?? i can't agree. the fact that the iata lowered profit estimates for all airlines in 2018 from $38.4 billion to $34.8 billion tells us what?

that the airlines are still unprecedentedly profitable? that's what it tells me.

an article like the one above can also be used by the assoc...or, articles that fare increases (which will show up in better margins in subsequent quarters) are sticking and that oil has crested in the short term and may further fall?

why would an article written by someone or some source that has an ulterior motive be give weight by the NMB?

NYer, you don't remember the 1995 contract? where were the articles that the airlines would have banner years 1995-sept. 2001?

american airlines did not argue backwards (bush recession/gulf war) and purposely omitted it's data for the near term?? american airlines then celebrated a hideous contract upon the twu??

 

[NYer]

?? i can't agree. the fact that the iata lowered profit estimates for all airlines in 2018 from $38.4 billion to $34.8 billion tells us what?

that the airlines are still unprecedentedly profitable? that's what it tells me.

an article like the one above can also be used by the assoc...or, articles that fare increases (which will show up in better margins in subsequent quarters) are sticking and that oil has crested for the short time and may further fall?

why would an article written by someone or some source that has an ulterior motive be give weight by the NMB?

NYer, you don't remember the 1995 contract? where were the articles that the airlines would have banner years 1995-sept. 2001?

american airlines did not argue backwards (bush recession/gulf war) and purposely omitted it's data for the near term??

It isn't just this one article, because as you mention, it is only one source. The NMB does use any means at their disposal to persuade and pressure the sides to come to an agreement. To me, all this public posturing by the airline has two objectives and one is to put their cards on the table to see if they can get a vote on something. As important, if not more, they are also setting the steps to show the NMB they have more from their stated positions. If they make that case who do you believe will be looked to takes steps towards the other side?

The financial pieces have been put out for public consumption so the Association can't return with anything lower than what has been shown, right? If that is the case then what pieces do you suppose the NMB will be pointing towards in order to get to a deal? Scope? Medical? Not much left that hasn't been TA'd.

 

[PIEDMONT784]

Sadly speaking here, but I think the airlines will use these articles to their advantage. Higher cost oil, higher cost for labour, lower cost return to investors and lower profits. Oh no the end of the world is near and we can't afford anymore $$$ for your contracts.
Folks, let's not forget that the new Trump tax reform take effect in 19 for the 18 year, so I believe they will more than offset or equal the differences at the bottom line. I think this is just a way to try and get out of paying more to the employees. I know were growing quite well in 2018 and even some late 4th Q growth will be announced this year as well.

Trump's tax plan will be offset by Trump's tariffs, at least as far as the airlines are concerned. At the end of the day, it will either be a wash, or an additional expense moving forward...

Especially, since AA operates a large block Airbus Aircraft that are manufactured in countries that are getting targeted for tariffs! Not only will raw materials such as aviation grade aluminum go up in price, but so will the cost of all imported parts needed to maintain our fleet of Airbuses!

Airlines will ABSOLUTELY use this at the table, Tim, of course will blame the Association and Union Leadership!

>SPIT<

 

[robbedagain]

Sad but true PI.

 

[WeAAsles]

It isn't just this one article, because as you mention, it is only one source. The NMB does use any means at their disposal to persuade and pressure the sides to come to an agreement. To me, all this public posturing by the airline has two objectives and one is to put their cards on the table to see if they can get a vote on something. As important, if not more, they are also setting the steps to show the NMB they have more from their stated positions. If they make that case who do you believe will be looked to takes steps towards the other side?

The financial pieces have been put out for public consumption so the Association can't return with anything lower than what has been shown, right? If that is the case then what pieces do you suppose the NMB will be pointing towards in order to get to a deal? Scope? Medical? Not much left that hasn't been TA'd.

So again it all comes back to something I’ve said many times before regarding compromise. If the worst case scenario on the Medical being that the NMB believes the Association should move in the direction of the Company and give some ground because the Company gave ground on other items, there we stand once again back in the middle don’t we.

We TWU pay 21% of the Total “projected” cost with no Caps and
IAM pays 14% of the Total cost on I believe they’re best plan (Not sure if they have Caps)

Solution towards the Middle 18% with Caps for the life of the Contract.

And that satisfies your NMB terms without either side being rigid.

 

[NYer]

So again it all comes back to something I’ve said many times before regarding compromise. If the worst case scenario on the Medical being that the NMB believes the Association should move in the direction of the Company and give some ground because the Company gave ground on other items, there we stand once again back in the middle don’t we.

We TWU pay 21% of the Total “projected” cost with no Caps and
IAM pays 14% of the Total cost on I believe they’re best plan (Not sure if they have Caps)

Solution towards the Middle 18% with Caps for the life of the Contract.

And that satisfies your NMB terms without either side being rigid.

Wish it worked that way, but it doesn't.