Each and everyone of us is hoping for a negotiated contract that makes us feel more secure about our future.
But here is the truth regarding our current situation.
Regardless of your seniorty, regardless of your status of Line Mechanic or Overhaul Mechanic. And regardless of your financial position/status as of this post. Let me tell you what should matter to you more than dollar or benefit recovery from the concessions of 2003.
American Airlines for quite sometime now has been placing any warm body into positions that are opened by retirement, death, or resignation. These advancements are happening regardless of ability to accomplish the job required.
The real problem within this airline and largest threat against your future is the fact that AA promotes or advances employees into positions regardless of their ability to effectively perform the function of the job at hand.
I have witnessed a major degradation of ability within the last 5 years. As a result of this failing business philosophy we are all in the crosshairs of failure. Sure you can place incapable employees into positions within a company this size for awhile, but eventually the ramifications of such practices will leave your airline, your maintenance base, your customer experience lacking the required basic element of survival, and that element is skill and experience to accomplish some simple task that may appear on the surface as irrelevant. But in time enough of this demolition management philosphy will place you in a major threat of failing to survive within a simple competetive enviornment. Let me be clear here, We Are Not in a Simple Competetive Enviornment we are in a struggle of our life time and our mangement is failing us beyond the basic principles of business.
Our Union and our Union Members should be placing a premium on a change of management direction instead of a premium on concession reimbursement. We are about to fail in terms that are equivelant to Eastern Airlines, Pan American, and even TWA. Meanwhile, and as we all sense this to be true, there is a group that believes changing unions is the answer to this delima, and there are those that believe that the answer lies within the dollars that can computed into pay and benefits. My opinion is that a change of corporate leadership and direction should be top priority at this time.
I will state without hesitation that I believe the most important item the union could obtain for us all right now is a change of corporate leadership that will secure this airline as a leader of the future industry profile. We are basically treading water without direction, without proper advancement of meaningful skill, experience and ability. We are watching American Airliines become extinct right before our eyes. And while we watch this,we are all upset by the lies and deceptions of Shared Gain and Shared Sacrifice.
Do not be so foolish to let your anger and your resentment regarding the lies and deception be your beacon of direction wthin the near future. Secure a change of Corporate Leadership first, then work towards the goal of restoring that which has been lost. I am sorry to inform you that failure to follow this simple advice will actually lead to complete and utter failure of us all. And in the end, the Union Membership will suffer absolute despair instead of temporary despair. I want a more permanent fix to this debacle, not temporary financial relief.
Do Not let your emotions over power your intelligence. Else we are all doomed.
We are in a situation that without proper union leadership, corporate leadership is going to destroy us all.
Get your Freakin Priorities Straight or be prepared for the worst.
Go ahead call me a fool. And in the end, all I will have is I told you so.
Just Sayin....