Holly Hegeman , Plane Business.
American Airlines Flight Attendant Contract Follies: Ebola Hysteria Has Migrated To The FAs
Welcome my friends to the American Airlines Flight Attendant Follies. (Not to be confused with the previous American Airlines Bankruptcy Follies.) However, I will admit, there is a strain of delusion, emotion, and rampant "not-knowing what the hell is going on" that seems to be strangely familiar.
This week, I present two, just two letters from a pile that I received over the last week from flight attendants. Some emails appear to be written by individuals, while others seem to have been written as part of a larger campaign to smear the union and its leadership.
Right off the bat, I have to say -- you can't underestimate the Ebola hook here. Just as we saw happen on the political spectrum the last few weeks, as the Ebola situation escalated, and all the nut cases came out of the woodwork, so it seems a dedicated group of flight attendants at American have also apparently forgotten how to think clearly, speak coherently, or consider a problem rationally.
I've read the Facebook posts. I've read the emails. It is as though the proposed tentative agreement, management, union leadership, and the Ebola virus suddenly got all wrapped up in one evil package over the last several weeks.
Granted, in any union election we always have three groups -- the large relatively quiet group in the middle, and then the two more aggressive groups on either end, with the "no voters" always the loudest.
Unfortunately, here, the "no" group seems to have been energized of late, and I see no rational reason why this should be the case.
So let's move on, shall we, and see what our totally unscientific group of flight attendants have to say about an industry-leading contract. An industry-leading contract that is now sitting at a premium to what the union will start with -- if this goes to arbitration.
Oh, and an industry-leading contract that was just altered over the weekend to the benefit of the flight attendants, as the company agreed to modify its proposed 40 hour a month minimum hour requirement for flight attendants to receive vacation, sick pay, and health benefits. The company changed the requirement to an annual 480 hour requirement, which will allow much more flexibility in scheduling.
Were flight attendants happy with the news? You would think so, wouldn't you?
But no, Monday I was shaking my head when I received feedback that the very people who had been complaining about the 40 hour requirement were now complaining about the change -- saying that it has come too late. That the union had said the contract on the site was final language. (No, read the site. That is not the case.) That Laura Glading should not have agreed to the change.
It came late because the company wants a contract and thought this would help get one.
As for Laura, I would have considered her derelict in her duties as union president if she had not jumped on an opportunity to modify the one contract item that seems to be causing the most heartburn for her members.
But what struck me the most over the last several days is the sheer overwrought emotional crap that is being distributed -- marketed as "the truth." That's right. I can catch Ebola even if you sneeze 20 miles away.
A reminder: I don't have a dog in this hunt. If I look at this process from the view of an analyst, there is not much downside to speak of for the company no matter which way it goes. Although yes, the company wants a contract, as they want the merger process to move along as quickly as possible. That is a positive for everyone.
As for the continued chant of "I'll take my chances in arbitration -- I'm voting no" -- the arbitration process is capped and floored. The current contract's total value is now way above where it will be if the process starts from scratch in arbitration. I still don't understand why many flight attendants cannot grasp this.
But, even now more than was the case before, because of the modification that was made over the weekend, if I were a flight attendant, I would not risk losing what is already there -- including a hefty premium the company threw in at the beginning as a sweetener.
But, oh, those are just pesky facts.
Of all the insanely strange emails I've received, I offer up two for your consideration.
"Your article is being passed around in all the private AA forums. I'm still voting no. Things are so bad I can't vote yes. I'm starting to hate this company. Nonstop 8 hour layovers in industrial parks with no food options. Hard 420. F that. It's bullshit. It's always been bad and now it's getting worse. I just can't believe HOW WORSE.
Long days. Nothing to eat. EBOLA. Still not making the money we were before 9/11.
It's like we've gotten used to this crap and we just keep on going, keep taking more BS. I could go on and on and ON.
I'm tired. So tired I can barely smile some days.
Okay I'm done venting. But one day I'll write about it…ONE DAY.
ANNNNNND.. one more thing…sorry….Just because it's doable on paper - legal (just barely) doesn't mean it's good or should be done consistently. I wish management would try working my job for a day. They're so disconnected it's unreal.
And I don't know that I feel too highly of the union either.
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO, HOLLY? Oh great one? lol. Seriously. What are we going to do. Lie down and take it…just keep taking it…because that's what we do. We lie down. We take it. And we let Parker roll over us with a beverage cart. UGH>
I HATE HIM. To be fair I might hate everybody."
Dear Reader,
I think you probably came close to hitting the nail on the head in the last sentence.
Here's my take on your rant -- as I know you have a successful second career, I would suggest that perhaps it's time you quit your job. It would appear that you are not enjoying it anymore and you want more out of your life.
Seriously, I'm not being flippant. Your situation is not made any better by the fact you have to commute coast to coast.
I think you'd be much happier. But I don't see any arguments that stand up here that make the case to throw out this contract.
Thank you.
Plane Business Worldwide Headquarters Staff
Next.
Hi Ms. Hegeman,
I'm not sure if you are following the labor dispute between APFA and the members represented by the union.
I wanted to make you aware the membership is appalled by the tentative agreement and even more so from the most recent "back door dealing" Laura Glading has made with management. We are outraged that, while we are boasting the highest profits in history and management continues to receive substantial pay and bonus increases, our work rules are being traded for what appears to be a "pay raise." Much of this raise will be used to offset the tremendous increase in health insurance premiums, deductibles, and out of pocket maximums with our new insurance. In addition, while they promised the best of both contracts and to "adopt and go" sections of language in our contracts, what they have done is bring to us the worst and change the language to reflect the lesser of both contracts in most instances.
We are disgusted. Do not let Laura Glading tell you anything else. The fact that she touts this as "industry leading" has led many of us to believe she is delusional.Not to make it personal, but the property taxes on her West Chester, NY home are more than our new hire flight attendants make in a year. She is clearly out of touch with her membership. Furthermore, the fact that she attended our CEO Scott Kirby's wedding has outraged everyone here and calls into question the ethics and conflict of interest created by her fraternizing with management.
We want her out, and we are working diligently to be sure she does not continue to represent us.
Regards, A CLT Flight Attendant with 14 years seniority
First, I must update you. This particular writer also sent me a follow-up note in which she noted that Scott Kirby was American's CFO.
I wrote her back and said no, he is American's President.
Little problem of credibility right off the bat. If you are going to blatantly sandbag someone, it helps to have your facts straight. Oh, what am I thinking...I'm trying to be rational. Then there is the accusation that Laura Glading is ...delusional. Yes, well.
Dear Reader,
Let me get this straight. Your airline is less than 12 months into integration, and has yet to produce meaningful synergies for shareholders and meaningful harmonization for customers. Your airline still has to complete single operating certificate cutover, conversion to a sole reservation system, merge the two frequent flyer programs, integrate over 700 plus information technology systems, harmonize hundreds of policies, manuals and other government-audited processes, and also completely the integration of a single maintenance supply chain management system….yet you’re appalled at being offered not only the highest flight attendant rates in the industry but 4% on top of those rates…and those rates are being offered to you and your co-workers before any of the above is done? (In fact, aren’t they going to be effective in early December, like a month from now, if the TA ratifies?)
Do I have that right?
Unemployment in this country remains above 6%, and many US citizens would trade places with you in a heartbeat (and oh by the way, I just heard that your co-workers no longer have to fly 40 hours in a month, just 480 per year to keep their benefits). Other airline employees are not so fortunate to work for the largest airline in the world, an airline that became that way primarily because your union President advocated for the merger.
Call me biased but in my view your union President has displayed leadership lacking in other unions. Frankly, I don’t care where she lives. Taxes in NY are high regardless and don’t forget, tax revenue pays for infrastructure, schools, and other government services. Your point about where she lives is called ...deflecting.
Your description of the facts sounds woefully laden with emotional rhetoric and is short on the facts. My question for you would be what planet are you living on (but that would be too sarcastic). Rather my question is do you understand the time value of money, and how much the membership has already benefited from seeing this merger come to life?
Actually that’s rhetorical and not a question at all.
Good day to you.
Plane Business Worldwide Headquarters Staff
Get the picture here?
Flight attendants at American Airlines -- vote yes for the contract.
Holly Hegeman Plane Business
