American Airlines and Labor Negotiations

[WeAAsles]

COMPANY PROPAGANDA
13 Sep 2018




Many of you have read the Special Jetwire issued by American Airlines regarding our negotiations. If you don’t read anything else in this bulletin, read this:

Beware of any negotiations propaganda issued by the Company. It contains partial examples, misleading statements and outright wrong information.

It is true that your negotiating team has reached tentative agreements on many good improvements for our joint collective bargaining agreements. However, American has not just given those out of the kindness of their heart – they were hard won by the tenacity of your negotiators and, most importantly, you deserve them!

American paints the picture that all you will ever need is right there in their proposal just for the taking. What they don’t tell you is that you would have to agree to concede vast amounts of work you are doing today. You would give up the better and less costly healthcare options ALREADY WON AND PAID FOR through bankruptcy. You would suffer less in retirement value that already exists in our Association and you would have to take less than other American Airlines employee groups. And, you would have to agree to wages that can fall below industry standards during the life of the agreement.

Things American will not tell you is that they demand to allow unlimited fleet work performed today to shift to vendors. They want you to concede scheduled line maintenance work by almost doubling the amount of that work performed outside of the United States from what is done today. They want overhaul maintenance to concede over 2,200 jobs during the life of the agreement. And, they want to shrink the facilities maintenance work to a mere skeleton of what the Association performs today.

Sisters and Brothers, these are CONCESSIONS!

Our members invested in our airlines through our bankruptcy contributions. We are the reason these carriers and this management were able to merge American Airlines and US Airways into the biggest airline in the world. It is now a carrier that is more profitable than it has been in its entire combined past history. It is an airline predicted to never lose money again. We deserve to keep what we bring to the table today in the form of the work we do, the benefits we have and the security we need.

Our proposals seek to allow our membership to grow as the Company grows. We deserve to share in the prosperity we make. We deserve to be rewarded for our sacrifices. Our proposals are reasonable and don’t overreach.

To the contrary, American has chosen this time to be greedy and demand that we continue to give back. They believe they can bribe us into concessions we would have to live with for the rest of our careers.

To that we say, hell no!

One more thing – American can begin the early out today. There is no need to wait.

Michael G. Klemm
President/Directing General Chair
District Lodge 141

Dave Supplee
President/Directing General Chair
District Lodge 142

So after the Company made the announcement later on in the day I took an opportunity to read the Jetnet page. It had a link to their Negotiations proposals.

They had a tab that said Scope “NEW” dated 9/12/18. So I opened that tab wondering what had changed? Surprised to find out nothing at all had changed since their last proposal. I still saw the same loss of Catering and Deicing that I saw months ago. Not even to mention the same items regarding M&R.

There was NO, ZERO, NILL, NADA, ZIPPO mention of salvaging all work in the 40 Stations presently held? There was no mention of reopening any former stations? And there was no mention of other work that they might want to slap a “When and where so directed” onto?

The Company knows full well by now that we’re on to their “When and where so directed” catch. And their attrition ideas.

Why don’t they just be straight out and transparent with the numbers of jobs they want to over time shrink us down to and what is their timeline to accomplish this goal?

Oh and what about the Commuter work? I would like to know who will perform that work in the future also?

 

[CremaDiLimone]

Cream do you really want to go to arbitration knowing we have 40,000 more employees then a comparable airline?

i don't believe it will get there, but if it did, the ratio of pain will increase on the company's side.

- we are the largest airline in the world.

- i don't believe that there are 40,000 combined fsc & amt to get rid of.

- they may need more fsc to work RJs in certain hubs.

your profit sharing check will be something to look forward to.

all that will not happen, due to the order of events. with the mediator, best case scenario is that we get what we were offered, while losing more jobs than expected and losing your lus/iam insurance. how long will that take?? didn't we discuss the inevitability of losing your insurance and getting NOTHING back for it? the only thing you'll get is time, the same time denied to twu members.

what is certain is that twu people will be voted out and some will turn on the assoc. to save themselves. i knew this was a f#ck job when the twu didn't make a deal on seniority, prior to accepting and forming the assoc.

it would have been political & professional suicide for iam big-shooters to be realistic and be open to getting something in exchange for their insurance. now, it will be political and professional suicide for twu big-shooters to tow the assoc. line.

 

[WeAAsles]

Always about sacrificing smaller stations. Has been in the past. If LAA insurance is a must have for the company how about a "me too" clause for Fleet and Maintenance concerning LAA insurance. If any other represented group on LAA property gains improvements to medical we get it too. Does that seem like a reasonable middle ground to you WeAAsles? Your middle ground proposal still gives away work and jobs. Nice try. Not taking your bait.

No bait ograc. I just don’t like the 180 Degree turn you took right after you discovered your Station was safe. This is not the ograc that I grew to admire and respect on here.

Whatever happened to “Lock and Load”?

Guess we can forget that now huh?

 

[ograc]

A mediator as you know can not force you to do anything, except when and where and how long you’ll negotiate. At any rate. If we brought out the current company offer and it passed ( which many believe it would) it then really wouldn’t matter if the company is bluffing now would it?

It would when they do not follow through. Correction: The Mediator also authorizes a "cooling off" period and the release to seek "self help". The only remaining leverage the Association has. You willing to take that risk? I know you are fighting till the end for the IAM members. I respect that CB. But the TWU members deserve representation and consideration also.

 

[charlie Brown]

So after the Company made the announcement later on in the day I took an opportunity to read the Jetnet page. It had a link to their Negotiations proposals.

They had a tab that said Scope “NEW” dated 9/12/18. So I opened that tab wondering what had changed? Surprised to find out nothing at all had changed since their last proposal. I still saw the same loss of Catering and Deicing that I saw months ago. Not even to mention the same items regarding M&R.

There was NO, ZERO, NILL, NADA, ZIPPO mention of salvaging all work in the 40 Stations presently held? There was no mention of reopening any former stations? And there was no mention of other work that they might want to slap a “When and where so directed” onto?

The Company knows full well by now that we’re on to their “When and where so directed” catch. And their attrition ideas.

Why don’t they just be straight out and transparent with the numbers of jobs they want to over time shrink us down to and what is their timeline to accomplish this goal?

Oh and what about the Commuter work? I would like to know who will perform that work in the future also?

The simple explanation for the reason you didn’t read anything different about scope is because they haven’t proposed anything different. And the company won’t come out and say how many Numbers they want to shrink the workforce for the simple reason, they want a green light for unlimited numbers. Whatever they determine down the road needs to be done. That’s what they are looking for with their proposal. Basically same thing they achieved with the cwa contract upstairs.

 

[ograc]

No bait ograc. I just don’t like the 180 Degree turn you took right after you discovered your Station was safe. This is not the ograc that I grew to admire and respect on here.

Whatever happened to “Lock and Load”?

Guess we can forget that now huh?

Dropped the lock and load because it offended some of our more sensitive posters. Just frustrated that after two years and more we are moving further from any agreement. My station and those like it are not any safer based on the JCBA negotiations. Because there is no agreement.

 

[charlie Brown]

It would when they do not follow through. Correction: The Mediator also authorizes a "cooling off" period and the release to seek "self help". The only remaining leverage the Association has. You willing to take that risk? I know you are fighting till the end for the IAM members. I respect that CB. But the TWU members deserve representation and consideration also.

I am fighting for all. So let me ask you? If your on the team, and you being from a small station is very aware of the when and where directed work, but you would bring out an agreement giving the company basically unlimited where and so directed work, just to dwindle the work force down to whatever number they feel is good? Sorry brother, I can’t do that. And that is for both sides, not just the IAM.

 

[bob@las-AA]

Always about sacrificing smaller stations. Has been in the past. If LAA insurance is a must have for the company how about a "me too" clause for Fleet and Maintenance concerning LAA insurance. If any other represented group on LAA property gains improvements to medical we get it too. Does that seem like a reasonable middle ground to you WeAAsles? Your middle ground proposal still gives away work and jobs. Nice try. Not taking your bait.

The “me too” clause doesn’t exist anymore.

 

[Kev3188]

Always about sacrificing smaller stations. Has been in the past. If LAA insurance is a must have for the company how about a "me too" clause for Fleet and Maintenance concerning LAA insurance. If any other represented group on LAA property gains improvements to medical we get it too. Does that seem like a reasonable middle ground to you WeAAsles? Your middle ground proposal still gives away work and jobs. Nice try. Not taking your bait.

Dave DGAF about line stations. In fact, he thinks you should be paid less than he is.

I can almost guarantee he’ll be the first in line to toss the small stations in front of the train.

 

[ALUS78]

Dave DGAF about line stations. In fact, he thinks you should be paid less than he is.

I can almost guarantee he’ll be the first in line to toss the small stations in front of the train.

Profound, hope you don't wake up with a horses head In your bed

 

[AANOTOK]

Dropped the lock and load because it offended some of our more sensitive posters. Just frustrated that after two years and more we are moving further from any agreement. My station and those like it are not any safer based on the JCBA negotiations. Because there is no agreement.

I have no shame in admitting I was one of those "more sensitive posters" you refer to. At the time when mass shootings, especially school children of elementary age were being murdered (and I had children at that age at that time), I just felt "Lock and Load" was inappropriate. But hey, I'm sure you're a grown man, you are more than welcome to say and do anything you want, especially in this forum. I'm only one person and I'm probably the only one who felt that way. But if I didn't tell you then, I'll tell you now, thank you for removing it.

 

[Racer X]

I understand Tim. I'm no fan of the TWU as my comment history. Just felt I should try to get you to tone down the Jetnet stuff. It's your right to do what you are doing.

Good to hear the company is happy with someone.

 

[ALUS78]

The “me too” clause doesn’t exist anymore.

Don't need a me too the pilots will have a contract before us we can work off that regarding health care

 

[Tim Nelson]

I am fighting for all. So let me ask you? If your on the team, and you being from a small station is very aware of the when and where directed work, but you would bring out an agreement giving the company basically unlimited where and so directed work, just to dwindle the work force down to whatever number they feel is good? Sorry brother, I can’t do that. And that is for both sides, not just the IAM.

first off, you voted to recommend a 400% health care increase at united and to get rid of small stations. And now your poor decision is coming back to haunt us just as I told you it would. Both the company and mediator look at other union contracts in determining what is fair.

If you are honest with our friend from jax, you would tell him that his station had grandfather rights. None of them would have had to leave. But you are lying thru your teeth. Man up!
For a moment, lets say you and your boy klemm are telling the truth and that the company offered unlimited contracting out as klemms letter said.
If that were true, the union would have showed the world and built all the solidarity it would ever need. But a funny thing happened. When we asked to see this God Forbidden offer, you goofs refused and said trust us.
Sorry but we deserve better. You are no better than the company. Something is wrong and we have to find out what is going on before employees are asked to piss away 4 more years.
You dont care. You are bought and paid. You cant even tell us an honest answer about who is the Executive team. You cant even be honest and answer the question if the iam pension is projected critical.
Cmon maaaannnn. Do you believe your own bs now?

 

[Kev3188]

Profound, hope you don't wake up with a horses head In your bed

He thinks I live in the Appalachians, so I’m good.