American Airlines' Response

[Mrs. McFly]

There's that, and they could also perhaps claim that US's actions are interfering with the due-process for the bankruptcy proceedings.

The debtor is held to a fixed timeline for submitting a reorganization plan, which includes implementing changes within their control and by rejecting contracts.

US is in effect creating a serious diversion that will eventually force the debtor to stop focusing on the reorganization and deal with the distraction they are supposed to be free from during the exclusivity period.

If US isn't muzzled, I have to wonder if AMR might have a case to argue for extending exclusivity beyond the 2005 revision's limit of 18 months. The 18 months is there to protect the creditors from management prolonging the process. It wasn't intended to allow the creditors to preventing management from doing their job.

How does this development come into play? There are so many wheels spinning very quickly that it is hard to wrap your head around all of it.

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-04-24/us-airways-said-to-approach-amr-bondholders-on-merger

 

[FWAAA]

Who is to blame for this? the employees? Management run the airline, they take credit for the success and should take responsibility for the failures also.
UA AMT wages during bankruptcy were comparable with AA and beside the pension other benefits were better. AA wants to take us below industry wages and benefits and there is the big problem. If AA wants better productivity they have to pay as the other airlines, that probably will mean lay off but I think is easier to be recall than to try to get the wages and benefits back. Just look at us now we are worst than in 2003 and the lay off people are back already.

Management's to blame. That doesn't change the objective, verifiable fact that employees at every legacy competitor have suffered multiple rounds of concessions (some in multiple bankruptcies) that cut deeper than the single round of concessions at AA in 2003.

I realize that your perspective is maintenance, and there's no denying that AA's mechanics are near the bottom of the payscale. Your union screwed up in 2003 by agreeing to fund most all the concessions via wage rate cuts instead of attacking the real problem: that every other airline was outsourcing a lot of heavy checks and obtaining real cost savings by doing so.

 

[Hopeful]

I realize that your perspective is maintenance, and there's no denying that AA's mechanics are near the bottom of the payscale. Your union screwed up in 2003 by agreeing to fund most all the concessions via wage rate cuts instead of attacking the real problem: that every other airline was outsourcing a lot of heavy checks and obtaining real cost savings by doing so.

I have to agree with this. As bad as it would've been then, it is going to be worse now.
Things are what they are with respect to the overhaul issue and outsourcing.

 

[amtide]

I realize that your perspective is maintenance, and there's no denying that AA's mechanics are near the bottom of the payscale. Your union screwed up in 2003 by agreeing to fund most all the concessions via wage rate cuts instead of attacking the real problem: that every other airline was outsourcing a lot of heavy checks and obtaining real cost savings by doing so.

You are right about this. Yes I look from the Maintenance perspective, the line had been subsidizing overhaul for long time. That is why we are so screw today and do not look any better in the near future.

 

[Buck]

You are right about this. Yes I look from the Maintenance perspective, the line had been subsidizing overhaul for long time. That is why we are so screw today and do not look any better in the near future.

Here we go again. The Line subsidizing Overhaul. Can you not have your union negotiate on your behalf and stop blaming the base mechanics? Have you approached the union with your concerns? If so, how are they responding?

Contact your closet officer to the bankruptcy committee and voice your concerns.

I hope you are successful and gain line and geographical premiums. However as long as an industrial union is your representative, I have my doubts.

 

[TWU informer]

Any action is often better than no action, especially if you have been stuck in an unhappy situation for a long time. If it is a mistake, at least you learn something, in which case it's no longer a mistake. If you remain stuck, you learn nothing.

 

[amtide]

Here we go again. The Line subsidizing Overhaul. Can you not have your union negotiate on your behalf and stop blaming the base mechanics? Have you approached the union with your concerns? If so, how are they responding?

Contact your closet officer to the bankruptcy committee and voice your concerns.

I hope you are successful and gain line and geographical premiums. However as long as an industrial union is your representative, I have my doubts.

Buck, nothing against the base mechanics, many friends there. Is just the reality, look at the other airlines. Why you think many airlines decide to outsource the OH? AA is not competitive with the Timcos and similar. Yes we have approached our local with this concern and they are in the same page. The answer is that we are outnumbered at the time of making decisions.

 

[AA89]

Another dead horse that continues to be beaten. While on the surface it appears that AA pays more for in-house OH than the other airlines spend on outsourcing, until someone shows us some numbers (and I'm sure a desk jockey will post something ) I am not totally convinced either way. MROs add profit to their wages/benefits and the company loses control of quality, cost and scheduling when they outsource. That's gotta be worth something. My question is, as it has always been: If in-house O/H is so good, or bad, where are the hard numbers to back up either position. Just comparing hourly wages is grossly innacurate.
BTW. I believe the company will always keep enough overhaul positions to outvote the line. So look for the other airlines to match AA before we are ever able to match them on line pay.

 

[Hopeful]

BTW. I believe the company will always keep enough overhaul positions to outvote the line. So look for the other airlines to match AA before we are ever able to match them on line pay.

I agree...But what you might see with the "T/A" that we are all waiting for might be it that it could provide for the allowance of a great number of OSM's. It may be that many OH mechanics will be moved to OSM in order to save a great deal of jobs.
The other option is having EVERYONE take another straight paycut in addition to the term sheets.

We will see soon enough.

But this "secrecy" and "confidentiality" nonsense needs to end. We are all affected by what we are going to get stuck with. We have a right to know NOW!

 

[Birdman]

But this "secrecy" and "confidentiality" nonsense needs to end. We are all affected by what we are going to get stuck with. We have a right to know NOW!

Who would have thought there would be any profit in a "pet rock"? It takes careful consideration in the marketing and packaging of the product. The LBO marketing has already began as something that you must have and the nice and tidy package with a bow on top will soon be presented.

 

[Hopeful]

Who would have thought there would be any profit in a "pet rock"? It takes careful consideration in the marketing and packaging of the product. The LBO marketing has already began as something that you must have and the nice and tidy package with a bow on top will soon be presented.

Couldn't agree more. The company has outplayed the TWU.

 

[AA89]

Couldn't agree more. The company has outplayed the TWU.

Outplayed?.......................Or are they still in bed together? That would explain the lack of enthusiasm compared to the other 2 unions about the USAir deal. Don't wanna flaunt the new girlfriend in front of the wife you know.
Either way we lose.

 

[777 / 767 / 757 Love]

Here we go again. The Line subsidizing Overhaul. Can you not have your union negotiate on your behalf and stop blaming the base mechanics? Have you approached the union with your concerns? If so, how are they responding?

Contact your closet officer to the bankruptcy committee and voice your concerns.

I hope you are successful and gain line and geographical premiums. However as long as an industrial union is your representative, I have my doubts.

Guys, as long as you continue to fight with each other, HELL, as long as all the unions fight on here and continue to fight with each other Management will continue to laugh, because it makes you guys look like crying babies who will attack anyone who does not do what they want and agree with them. That perspective places the public AND the courts on management's side and gives management less reason to respect you.

Respect each other, respect other people's viewpoints, and above all, take some responsibility. Management may suck in your eyes, but until you realize unions are not angels, you will never understand the other side. Ditto to management.


Cheers,
777 / 767 / 757