Humble AA

[L1011Ret]

I know no one can believe this but it is a direct quote from todays Jetwire

"Despite facing challenges throughout the years, and with a desire to continuously improve customer and community perception, American has been and continues to be a distinguished leader in the eyes of many. While humble as an organization, it is important to highlight the company's successes with employees."


I hope no one passes out reading that quote. Perhaps a new AA is being reborn?

 

[Nor'Easta]

Perhaps a new AA is being reborn?

I had to barf before I responded to your post. It's contract time and AA wants to look good to all its customers.

 

[Hunter]

I know no one can believe this but it is a direct quote from todays Jetwire

[...] "While humble as an organization, it is important to highlight the company's successes with employees."

I think maybe someone should ask the approximately 1000 original AA hired and 500 former TWA flight attendants that AA refused to include in the 2 year recall rights extension deal what they think about the successes the company has had with employees.

These flight attendants lost their jobs as a consequence of a terrorist attacks on our country that has been rounded characterized as a national tragedy. Why is their situation any different than 1200 other similarly situated flight attendants who were included in the extension? Most would agree it is a reasonable argument that these folks, the first to be sent packing, have paid the highest price in AA restructuring.

Sorry AA. You can run but you cannot hide from your deplorable behavior towards these employees that were victimized by terrorists and then further victimized by your hand. Do the right thing by these employees. Let your actions be worthy of the name by which you identify your company - American.

The world is watch.

Hunter

 

[eolesen]

Does anyone really expect the remaining 1200 saved from being dropped off the recall list to be recalled by the time the two year extension expires?

Short of a buy-out, I don't. If the folks at Davos were correct, AA is probably going to be parking aircraft within the next 12 to 24 months.

Why is their situation any different than 1200 other similarly situated flight attendants who were included in the extension?

Because they were far more junior?

IIRC, the nAAtives underneath the TW folks had to be hired after 4/1/01, so at most they had about two or three years seniority when they were furloughed, right?

If that's the case, don't expect a lot of people to get all worked up over someone who has more years on furlough status than they did on active payroll....

 

[Hunter]

Does anyone really expect the remaining 1200 saved from being dropped off the recall list to be recalled by the time the two year extension expires?

Short of a buy-out, I don't. If the folks at Davos were correct, AA is probably going to be parking aircraft within the next 12 to 24 months.



Because they were far more junior?

IIRC, the nAAtives underneath the TW folks had to be hired after 4/1/01, so at most they had about two or three years seniority when they were furloughed, right?

If that's the case, don't expect a lot of people to get all worked up over someone who has more years on furlough status than they did on active payroll....

I am not sure that Senators McCaskill, Bond, Kennedy, Durbin, Obama, Clinton, Boxer and a host of other members of Congress who indicated their support for the extension would take kindly to being "sold a bag of goods" by AA. Is that what you are suggesting went on with this deal?

Your argument that because those excluded in this deal were junior makes AA's decision a good one does not make any sense - either financially or practically. Financially, precisely because they are junior is why the decision does NOT make sense, lest you forget that junior = cheaper; never mind the fact that because they are experienced, these furloughed employees only require a FAA approved 3.5 week refresher training as opposed to the full blown 6 + weeks needed for a new hire.

From a practical standpoint, AA had an opportunity to trumpet to the world (and their union antagonists) their goodwill while at the same time currying favor with key members of Congress who just happen to sit on strategically significantly committees. Long after these flight attendants would have been either recalled or fallen off the list, AA will need help on something, support for a route authority application, relief from some onerous FAA regulation, consolidation, those that supported the extension will still be sitting on those committees. Uhhh, can you say penny wise and pound foolish?

No matter how you slice it or dice it, AA made a shortsighted decision. The good news is, they can still revisit the issue. The bad news is they probably won't voluntarily. To do so would be to admit they made a mistake. AArrogance, like pride, always comes before a fall.

Hunter

 

[eolesen]

Well, thanks to Bond & McCaskill, if AA winds up in a merger situation (if NW+DL and UA+CO come to light, it's possible...), then those FA's are likely to be dovetailed for seniority, and then the furloughees are even further screwed.

It's not shortsighted. It's following the letter of the contract. I find it ironic that union members expect AA to waive parts of the contract out of goodwill on a regular basis, yet they don't see a need for the union to waive portions of it when the company wants to.

 

[Hunter]

Well, thanks to Bond & McCaskill, if AA winds up in a merger situation (if NW+DL and UA+CO come to light, it's possible...), then those FA's are likely to be dovetailed for seniority, and then the furloughees are even further screwed.

The determining factor in whether something is right or wrong should not be how it affects the individual personally. In my case, even if enacting Allegany-Mohawk into federal law were to disadvantage me in the future as it possibly could, it is still the right way to handle seniority integration.

Thankfully, never again will self-serving, self-centered arguments of an uninformed mob have the catastrophic impact on life long careers of unionized airline employee such as the former TWA professionals. Never again and rightfully so.

When AA's unions showed such utter disregard for the fundamental principle of seniority, the very bedrock on which unionism rests, they disrespected their own and ultimately brought about this legislative intervention.

Hunter

 

[flyhigh]

has anybody thought about the flip side othese arguments? If AA changed the rules for these 1,200 people, how would it affect the other 70,000 or so emplyees? And don't just think about this specific instance...think about long term.

 

[Hopeful]

The determining factor in whether something is right or wrong should not be how it affects the individual personally. In my case, even if enacting Allegany-Mohawk into federal law were to disadvantage me in the future as it possibly could, it is still the right way to handle seniority integration.

Thankfully, never again will self-serving, self-centered arguments of an uninformed mob have the catastrophic impact on life long careers of unionized airline employee such as the former TWA professionals. Never again and rightfully so.

When AA's unions showed such utter disregard for the fundamental principle of seniority, the very bedrock on which unionism rests, they disrespected their own and ultimately brought about this legislative intervention.

Hunter

Again, aside from the pilots and F/A's, the TWU and IAM went to the arbitration process with Arbitrator Kasher and He ruled based on Allegheny Mohawk taking into account the size of AA compared to TWA.

This is the process that will by law rule future integrations. But keep in mind Kasher did dole out three different seniority dates ---100% for the overhaul base, 25% for some stations and 4/10/01 for others.
THAT WAS THE WAY IT WAS SETTLED UNDER ALLEGHENY MOHAWK AND IT PEOPLE FROM BOTH AA AND TWA WILL NEVER BE HAPPY...

Be careful what you wish for..............