Um, please correct me if I am mistaken, but with the last furlough at the end of March, AA got only enough people to take an overage leave to save 80 some people. AA had to furlough 300 some F/A's after all was said and done. If people wanted to be off for the summer, why didn't they put in for an overage leave? If for nothing else, AA could have granted them and then went through the whole process again when they were to return. You are probably correct MK, I just don't see that many people taking the PLOA's. Hope I am wrong. As to why they didn't fix the overage last time, people went back and forth on here with their ideas on that regarding the issues with the New York State WARN regulations. So, still no hard numbers on what AA is looking for?
FA Leaves of Absence for the Summer
- Thread starter Skymess
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Remember everyone, We are in negotiations.... The fear factor works well...
Is just another one of AA's tactics??? Could be...
It would be if that were true.
jimntx
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Flyboy4u, it is very important that we not refer to this as an overage leave which is one type of contractual leave. What is being offered is a Personal Leave of Absence (PLOA) which is another type of contractual leave entirely.
Yes, it is being done to relieve an overage of f/as. However, an overage leave is and must be offered when a notice of possible furloughs is given to the union and to us. That has not been done. The offer of the PLOA is done in hopes of avoiding invoking the furlough mechanisms of the contract and Federal and State law.
Once those mechanisms have been invoked, the company and the union have no choice but to go through the contractual process of the whole shebang. Of course, since the company has learned of the loophole in the Federal and New York state WARN acts, I think the total number of f/as furloughed at any one time will be less than 500 systemwide and less than 250 at any one New York work location (think LGA). I am quite certain that of the 410 f/as who were subject to furlough in April (final count was 323. right?), it was no coincidence that 249 were LGA f/as.
So, 400 leaves being needed sounds about right for keeping the number of furloughs (if needed) below the threshhold again. Cynical? Moi? How could you say such a thing?
Yes, it is being done to relieve an overage of f/as. However, an overage leave is and must be offered when a notice of possible furloughs is given to the union and to us. That has not been done. The offer of the PLOA is done in hopes of avoiding invoking the furlough mechanisms of the contract and Federal and State law.
Once those mechanisms have been invoked, the company and the union have no choice but to go through the contractual process of the whole shebang. Of course, since the company has learned of the loophole in the Federal and New York state WARN acts, I think the total number of f/as furloughed at any one time will be less than 500 systemwide and less than 250 at any one New York work location (think LGA). I am quite certain that of the 410 f/as who were subject to furlough in April (final count was 323. right?), it was no coincidence that 249 were LGA f/as.
So, 400 leaves being needed sounds about right for keeping the number of furloughs (if needed) below the threshhold again. Cynical? Moi? How could you say such a thing?
eolesen
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So, the overage that everyone here has acknowledged for the past year or so is just a negotiating ploy?
The math is pretty obvious --
1) big planes go away, get replaced by little planes.
2) some routes get two little planes where one used to operate
3) others routes get one little plane where one big plane used to operate
There's no doubt the airline needs fewer FA's to fly the schedule than they did two years ago, so how do you think offering PLOA's is a negotiating tactic?
Looks to me like it's nothing more than a way to trim payroll temporarily, with the hope that attrition will take care of the rest of the overage.
BartlettAve
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American has been playing it safe for several years now. Its' conservatism WILL pay off.
American WILL NOT dissappear.
The problem is that it will pay off ONLY for those senior enough to make the cuts.
Apparently, seniority is the most important thing to AA FAs. And, that finally makes sense to me given all the past and pending staff reductions.
So, sorry to those of you junior, but that's just the way it's going to be at AA. If you were hired or acquired at an earlier time, it might be different.
Again, sorry.
I hope this company is going to do all it can to prevent this from happening - again!
BartlettAve
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In the airline business "junior" has nothing to do with years of service. It means those at the bottom of a seniority list.
If the rumored furloughs occur, it may affect AA FAs who have never been furloughed before. Furloughs are unfortunate, but a fact of life in the airline business. Nobody cares about the junior people.
The point of my post was that job sacrifices at AA are like martyrdom. Cost is being kept in line. When the economy and the airline industry rebound, AA will be once again be a powerhouse, and those surviving the cuts will be rewarded with continued job security.
jimntx
Veteran
I am whelmed by your concern for your fellow flight attendants. But, that's just about typical for members of the Blessed Order of the Perpetually Trip-Removed (dba, APFA). If you were a member of a real union, you might be taught to care about ALL the members, not just yourself.
I bet you are one of those f/as who constantly complains about
A. Having over 20 years and still being on reserve at DFW, ORD, MIA, or LAX
and
B. Passengers who have no concern for anyone but themselves and their own personal comfort.
But then, irony is lost on most "senior" f/as at AA.
I bet you are one of those f/as who constantly complains about
A. Having over 20 years and still being on reserve at DFW, ORD, MIA, or LAX
and
B. Passengers who have no concern for anyone but themselves and their own personal comfort.
But then, irony is lost on most "senior" f/as at AA.
BartlettAve
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I am not an American Airlines flight attendant.
I got my wake-up call a long time ago and have been watching from a safe distance.
You are right about your union, though. Other union-represented FAs at other airlines have many more protections for those furloughed.
Your top-out pay is quite nice, tho.
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