Although I sympathize with the passengers who have been affected by the situation at JFK over the past few days American has to bear most of the responsibility. Employees are demoralized. The holiday's are upon us and with the past snow storm, they had an opportunity to make extra money with overtime. Where they once would have worked around the clock deicing at double time, now it just doesn't seem that important to work all the OT. American went after our contracts and paychecks with a vengeance. They expect all of us to do more with less. Well guess what, with the paycuts, sick time loss, vacation loss, double time loss and holiday pay loss, etc,etc,etc, employees have learned to do more with less in their personal lives as well. To expect employees to come in and give 110% is beyond belief. Yea, yea, we all are aware that the passenger pays the bills, but the employee has bills to pay as well.
Bear in mind that we are in an industry where people want only to pay $99 to fly coast to coast on multimillion dollar aircraft. I wonder how many of these people would pay $99 dinner for two at an upscale restaurant once a month. Employees have been forced to work for less just so airlines can charge these ridiculous fares. Kinda like when US firms move all their manufacturing to third world nations where people earn pennies an hour. But you never see executive jobs being moved there.
And C5DRIVER is right when he states that this was the beginning of the end of Eastern and Braniff. But guess what? American's ranks are full of people who worked for Eastern, Braniff, PanAM and every other failed carrier who were force fed pay and benefit cuts and were expected to give it their all for the passengers and company survival! WHAT GOOD DID IT DO THEM?
If American wants to solve the morale issue, they know what they have to do!
People need their Pay and benefits restored! NOT JUST THEIR EXECUTIVES' COMPENSATION!
We've been told by upper management who were trained at the Wharton School of Business that money isn't a motivator. WHAT A CROCK!
It sure has motivated its executives who have left AA for higher compensation!