Layoffs announced at AA

[Flyboy4u]

You will not be able to do it over the phone. A quick reaction is seldom the best move. You might want to check your contract article 31 before you continue on.

I have reviewed that article till I am blue in the face. I don't see how it can hold up in court. If the Union and company actually followed this article there would be a lot less of facing furlough again this time. Also, if u look at the 2003 furlough there were over 500 on the dues arrears list at the time we were thrown on the street. Again I say, stop all pay to the APFA. All they are doing is taking your money!

 

[FA Mikey]

You can be dues arrears for many reasons. If you are on a payment plan you are safe. Try it out and you will join the long list of people who have ended up terminated by the company. Is it legal? Yes it is. Has it been tried in court? Yes it has. Has anyone ever beat it? Nope. BTW you will find similar language in the pilots and fleet service contracts.

 

[nbmcg01]

So do what I do when I want to access the sterile area: go to aa.com and buy a full fare refundable ticket to someplace cheap for the last flight of the day. Print your boarding pass online and go to the meeting. While at the meeting, change your mind about your trip. Before departure time, call to cancel or go online to cancel the ticket and begin the refund process.

To attend a meeting of a UNION that you are a member in good standing? PLEASE!

That could also be thought of as fraud..

 

[eolesen]

Blame TSA, not AA for the "buy a refundable ticket" trick. They're the ones requiring a name check be done for anyone entering the checkpoint, and with SecureFlight coming this fall, that's the only workaround which complies with what I've seen...


FA's are taking the worst of it because they've not taken it as bad as everyone else over time.

Someone brought up the fact that if unlimited recall had a cost, it wouldn't exist at US. I'll flip that around -- US had no choice except to honor unlimited recall (and take any hit for the cost of maintaining it) because they didn't explicitly limit it the way APFA did.

 

[nbmcg01]

Less likely to furlough because of furlough pay??? Come on ... Once again this is American Airlines... Surely you know how they operate by now or maybe not...

A little union history... Furlough pay was negotiated for that very reason. The company was less likely to seasonal furlough if they were obligated to pay furlough pay. Some airlines have as much as 4-6 months and if I'm not mistaken in 2003, non contract received 18 months. Yes, 18 months. Especially in this economy, with jobs hard to find, a small cushion is always appreciated. NEVER in the history of this provision has any union GIVEN furlough pay away for any reason. At the APFA this transpired because the former President was "fussy" that recently acquired members dared challenge the union and that the company had given those acquired pay and company seniority credit.

Now that the furloughs are encroaching on others (than the last acquired) the union is FINALLY suggesting that other members fly only their published lines, etc. WHAT? Lower the line value. In this economy it would have been prudent to negotiate an extention of the current illegal RPA for a no furlough agreement. F/as could always be better utilized by putting additional f/as on flights to increase customer service.

Never think it can't happen to you. I was furloughed with 33 years. All it takes is an acquisition. And think your SCOPE will stand up? It is patterned after ours..lol Never say never.

 

[WingNaPrayer]

I am surprised at AA allowing union meetings on there property.

(sic)
Mike - I would be surprised if they had a choice. Even so, I think AA/Mercer would rather let the meetings take place on their property where they can snoop in on the doings rather than behind locked doors at some hotel meeting room. I'm doubting there are any rooms on AMR property that they can't bug one way or another.

Besides, the amenable dates of these contracts have long since passed and AA/Mercer is just having a field day with labor! Do you think the pies the union leaders are taking in the face from AA right now are cream pies, or meringue?

These unions have no leverage, no muscle and no balls! Somebody needs to find Jimmy Hoffa fast! AA is management heavy for this very reason, to protect them against union action of any kind. Problem is, it takes 15 lo-ball management types to equal one labor empolyee.

I can't wait for my next survey, or focus group invitation!

 

[WeAAsles]

God bless all of you.

 

[jlynne]

If the Union had agreed to lower the ALV <Average Line Value> which they did in the last round of furloughs by two hours we would have avoided the first furlough. Now, if you lower the ALV by five hours you would avoid almost all furloughs. APFA said NO!!!!

Was this REALLY offered to APFA? As one of the 1200 expecting a furlough notice next week, I'm so disappointed if AA offered this option and our union turned it down. What would be the negatives of this other than the more senior members losing a little bit of pay? I've never heard of this before, so maybe there are some other negatives that I just haven't thought of - or is it, once again, just looking out for the senior members? Someone inform me please.

 

[AC AA LA FA]

Was this REALLY offered to APFA? As one of the 1200 expecting a furlough notice next week, I'm so disappointed if AA offered this option and our union turned it down. What would be the negatives of this other than the more senior members losing a little bit of pay? I've never heard of this before, so maybe there are some other negatives that I just haven't thought of - or is it, once again, just looking out for the senior members? Someone inform me please.

not true.

 

[WeAAsles]

I personally don't think that any senior member should have to give up there base hours to accommodate someone there junior? I'm sorry. Not working OT is the right thing to do. If everyone did whats been suggested then we would all be part-timers. One day many of you may be seniors and will think the same way I promise. It's also not fair to expect someone with seniority to bear the burden of those below them. That's what seniority is all about and it's the only thing we still do have to maybe protect our jobs. Please don't blame me because I'm older and have been here longer than you. Because thats where this can go and I have my rights also.

 

[FA Mikey]

(sic)
Mike - I would be surprised if they had a choice. Even so, I think AA/Mercer would rather let the meetings take place on their property where they can snoop in on the doings rather than behind locked doors at some hotel meeting room. I'm doubting there are any rooms on AMR property that they can't bug one way or another.

There is nothing secret going on. It would be easy for the company to find out exactly what was being said at a hotel on in OPS.

 

[galleyguy4u2]

I personally don't think that any senior member should have to give up there base hours to accommodate someone there junior? I'm sorry. Not working OT is the right thing to do. If everyone did whats been suggested then we would all be part-timers. One day many of you may be seniors and will think the same way I promise. It's also not fair to expect someone with seniority to bear the burden of those below them. That's what seniority is all about and it's the only thing we still do have to maybe protect our jobs. Please don't blame me because I'm older and have been here longer than you. Because thats where this can go and I have my rights also.

I guess it's still about an all about me world and screw the rest. I was not brought up that way. I was taught differently. :blink:

 

[WeAAsles]

No! It's about you thinking only about yourself really. No-one likes layoffs but it's just the way things are going in this economy right now. I'll offer you a meal and maybe even a roof over your head for awhile to help you out. You know as well as I do that AA wouldn't do the right thing and let people have there hours back after the economy gets better!!!!! We'd be part-time forever. Less accrual for retirement. Do you really think AA would give that up? Call it what you will but I have NEVER worked a minute of OT when someone in my station has been on layoff. I won't give up my full time but that I will do in a heartbeat for you. And I don't have to do that either but thats the right thing to do. Think about it Galleyguy.

 

[galleyguy4u2]

Well I guess you did not vote for Obama, when he said something like work less and save job's. Oh, I forgot AA is from Bush territory.

 

[WeAAsles]

Ok Galleyguy this isn't going to get us anywhere. When I was in your shoes I felt the same way as you do. I lost my house and wife during one of my layoff experiences years ago. I wished one of those old farts would just retire and get out of the way so I might stay? Damn this one guy was over 70 that I worked next to! Over 30 years with the company too. I thought man this guy is selfish for being here and not getting out of my way. He had no right to stay when so many of us were getting laid off. Then I talked to him. Jeez I never knew back in the 70's these guys were laid off EVERY year. I didn't know what his personal situation was and why he wouldn't retire? I found out! He told me! After I was done talking to him all I could think of was who the hell did I think I was? I was nobody compared to this man. He started in AA when I was in diapers. I still was angry about being laid off but I never thought that someone with more seniority should get out of my way ever again.

GalleyGuy and anyone who might be affected I really do wish you all the best. I really pray that all of you are back very very soon with Godspeed and safe.