Manager bonuses rankle American Airlines pilots

[Paul]

American Airlines pilots have dropped plans to consider changes to their contract that would boost productivity because they object to the carrier's plan to pay bonuses totaling $95.8 million to some managers.

The Allied Pilots Association board revoked authorization for the talks, which were approved in November as part of a plan to further lower costs and increase efficiency at American, the world's largest airline. American, a unit of AMR Corp., shouldn't pay the cash bonuses while it continues to lose money, the union said in a message Friday to its 13,000 members.

The dispute threatens American's effort to return to profitability and continue avoiding bankruptcy by working with its unions to increase revenue and reduce expenses. Talks to settle the bonus dispute failed, and an arbitrator will begin hearings on the issue Wednesday.

Seattlepi.com

 

[TIME FOR CHANGE]

The rank and file get the AIP every month. In managements eyes they feel they should get their AIP/bonus. The only difference is they get 1000 times more than you. Is it fair or insanity. I'd have to say :blink: insanity :blink:

Tell them if they want more money and bigger bonuses get a job with beers.
Symantec gave him 300K in stock options and a signing bonus.
By looking at the shape of AA over the last 8 years I dont think he is worth it.

 

[Vortilon]

I say BRAVO to the pilots union for taking a position against these absurd management bonuses at a time when the company is still struggling. No person in any of AAs executive positions is irreplaceable. If they need more cash, start sending resumes'. Don't forget to put down how you helped piss away 12 billion dollars in less than 5 years, and helped run a once profitable airline to the brink of bankruptcy. I'm sure a lot of perspective employers would take a look at that and say "hey now theres the kind of brains we need here".

 

[PhxMama]

Why not pay them bonuses? You wouldn't want to lose their "talent" would you? Apparently, all airline execs are irreplaceable because they are all paying bonuses to their leadership that has led them into bankrupcy. They are under so much "stress". Im sure they lose sleep trying to figure out how they can lose more money so can they downsize and then get bigger bonuses for doing it. I hope all employees back their unions and all the other unions when they take a stand against this crap!

 

[eolesen]

As much as I'd rather see labor and management working together on productivity issues, I actually have to applaud APA for taking this step.

The $96M in bonuses -should- be issued as checks to every employee on payroll since 2003, with each employee getting the same dollar amount, and none of the seniority/salary nonsense which went into profit sharing calculations.

 

[IORFA]

I agree, I never understood why the pilots thought they were anymore important than the rest of the employees. Without us serving the customers, making reservations, checking them in etc... there wouldn't have ever been any profit sharing to give them a higher amount than the rest.

 

[B.O.B.]

I agree, I never understood why the pilots thought they were anymore important than the rest of the employees. Without us serving the customers, making reservations, checking them in etc... there wouldn't have ever been any profit sharing to give them a higher amount than the rest.

Don't forget who's in the cabin serving customers without any protection!! We have protection on some flights, but not all. We go through 6 1/2 weeks of training and our main job is SAFETY!

The pilots are no better than any of us. They're a number just like all of us.

 

[TWU informer]

As much as I'd rather see labor and management working together on productivity issues, I actually have to applaud APA for taking this step.

The $96M in bonuses -should- be issued as checks to every employee on payroll since 2003, with each employee getting the same dollar amount, and none of the seniority/salary nonsense which went into profit sharing calculations.

That's BS, the $96 Million should not be paid to anyone until the company turns a profit on a consistent basis. Then everyone should share equally.

 

[Bob Owens]

As much as I'd rather see labor and management working together on productivity issues, I actually have to applaud APA for taking this step.

The $96M in bonuses -should- be issued as checks to every employee on payroll since 2003, with each employee getting the same dollar amount, and none of the seniority/salary nonsense which went into profit sharing calculations.

Are you turning into a Communist? Or are you just trying to establish some credibility with the rank and file?

 

[Hopeful]

Are you turning into a Communist? Or are you just trying to establish some credibility with the rank and file?

I must say, I like the even distribution concept regardless of one's position in the company.
They are getting a payout based solely on the stock's performance while the rest of us are supposed to jump for joy and be forever grateful for a $25 AIP payout!

 

[TIME FOR CHANGE]

As much as I'd rather see labor and management working together on productivity issues, I actually have to applaud APA for taking this step.

The $96M in bonuses -should- be issued as checks to every employee on payroll since 2003, with each employee getting the same dollar amount, and none of the seniority/salary nonsense which went into profit sharing calculations.

Are you feeling OK
Sounds like you are turning away from the dark side.
The force is strong in you young skywalker

 

[goingboeing]

I agree, I never understood why the pilots thought they were anymore important than the rest of the employees. Without us serving the customers, making reservations, checking them in etc... there wouldn't have ever been any profit sharing to give them a higher amount than the rest.

The amount of compensation given to the pilots was agreed upon by AA and the APA.Don't blame the pilots for your union's willingness to sell short your services to AA.

The pilots are LITERALLY in the DRIVER'S SEAT!
An airline pilot has to have a lot more than 6 weeks of training to perform their job.
The mid 1990's FA strike proved that the airline could still operate without FA's.They continued flying cargo and mail with no passengers.

One of the reasons that unions are in trouble is because they and the membership exploit wage and benefit class envy.This causes division and all union airline employees will keep taking it in the shorts until we unify with the pilots who can turn the tide on this downward spiral.
The reverse of this is that the pilot's can also drive down OUR wages and benefits by continuning themselfs to take concessions.

Quit blaming the pilots for all your troubles.

 

[MCI transplant]

I must say, I like the even distribution concept regardless of one's position in the company.
They are getting a payout based solely on the stock's performance while the rest of us are supposed to jump for joy and be forever grateful for a $25 AIP payout!

<_< Hell!--- Even the dreaded TWA paid $100 for the same thing AIP!!!!! Yea! I know, and we went bankrupt! But as the ol' timer said, "That's another story, for another time!"

 

[eolesen]

Are you turning into a Communist? Or are you just trying to establish some credibility with the rank and file?

When it comes to profit sharing, I've always felt that the distribution formula sucked, and that recognition needs to be equal whether you're a building cleaner or a vice president. It has nothing to do with being a communist, socialist, facist, nationalist, or any other political ideology.

That said, this is totally separate from variable compensation. I firmly believe in that as well, provided the financial and operation metrics used are entirely within the company's control.

 

[Mach85ER]

Don't forget who's in the cabin serving customers without any protection!! We have protection on some flights, but not all. We go through 6 1/2 weeks of training and our main job is SAFETY!

The pilots are no better than any of us. They're a number just like all of us.

"Protection"?

There is never any "protection" on board for F/A or Cockpit Crew. Any "protection" on board is strictly to prevent the unauthorized use of an aircraft for destructive urban renewal. If that "protection" happens to help prolong the health of FA's and Pilots, it's just gravy.

Give the 6 1/2 week training story a rest. I'll be a little more impressed when a reputable group ranks our inflight customer service in the top 5, and will kiss the feet of our cabin crews when we are ranked #1. Until then, I will just politely step around the 5 forward galley FA's reading "Star" magazine for 7.5 hours of a 9 hour flight. (I salute those many who still do a great job and make the trips go fast )

I think the pilot profit sharing is the same as other groups today. It might be more if paid out on a W2 basis. The old one was much more and was a little different in that it was agreed to in lieu of payraises that other carriers received.