MCIE to close!

[MCI transplant]

<_< ------- http://www.kansascity.com/2010/09/22/2243483/american-airlines-overhaul-base.html

 

[TWU informer]

I can't imagine what that would feel like if it were the Tulsa Base and I were still being employed when it happened.

I heard today that some welders and machinist will be absorbed into Tulsa.

I will try to find them Monday and greet them with open and helpful arms.

Good Luck to those that are leaving, and Good Luck those going the DWH.

 

[paul1]

I can't imagine what that would feel like if it were the Tulsa Base and I were still being employed when it happened.

I heard today that some welders and machinist will be absorbed into Tulsa.

I will try to find them Monday and greet them with open and helpful arms.

Good Luck to those that are leaving, and Good Luck those going the DWH.

Well get ready the end is near

 

[MCI transplant]

<_< ------- At one time in the not too distant past, MCI employed over 6,000 people. There were over 4,000 when I transferred to the Base in the early 1990's.

 

[High Speed Steel]

<_< ------- At one time in the not too distant past, MCI employed over 6,000 people. There were over 4,000 when I transferred to the Base in the early 1990's.

MCI, Its sad to see the end to MCI and I would hate to have to go through what you guys went through. I'm glad AA was able to throw out a life vest to TWA and keep you guys around. I've thought about the emotional impact of this for some time now and I'm sure it will be hard on many former MCI folks. What hit home for me was thinking of our retiree's here in Tulsa. What if this was to happen to Tulsa? I don't think much about life after work right now because I'm too young to retire but I do notice when our retiree's come back for Holiday's they enjoy having a place to visit their old friends.....Best of luck to all former MCI folks and thanks for sharing the link to the pics... very cool 🙂

 

[CIO]

American Airlines closes the doors on KC overhaul base today – Soaring in the early 1970s, the aircraft overhaul base at Kansas City International Airport employed nearly 6,000 people. However, like a plane losing altitude, that job figure fell through the decades: 4,900 … 3,500 … 2,600 … 1,000 … 450. Today that number hits zero for American Airlines, ending five decades of commercial aviation maintenance that provided good-paying jobs for generations of workers. There will be no ceremonial goodbyes, just cleaning up and removing belongings for the 50 salaried employees and 400 union workers left…. At one recent event, about 3,000 former TWA employees and current American workers gathered at Wheeler Downtown Airport’s TWA Museum. They noted the end of an era that began in 1956 when TWA began leasing the base and moved its maintenance work there…. “I’m really happy American Airlines gave us nine years,” Johnson (M.E. Johnson, an aviation mechanic who was hired in 1974) said. “It was enough time to raise my kids and get them into college.” Johnson was one of thousands of American or former TWA workers at the base who could make such a claim. “Over the years, the overhaul base has been a tremendous asset for the Kansas City economy,” said Bob Marcusse, president and CEO of the Kansas City Area Economic Development Council. “It provided great jobs for thousands of people and created a wonderful set of work skills.” However, Marcusse said that though much of the base was empty even before American’s departure, he is optimistic about its future…. (In order to view the entire article, click here or go to http://www.kansascity.com/2010/09/23/2246289/american-airlines-closes-the-doors.html) (Kansas City Star)

I want to take the time to say Thank You to all the excellant hard works in Kansas City, I visited the base several times and was well received each time! Most were grateful the TWU worked hard to save MCI.

In Solidarity,
CIO

 

[TWU informer]

I want to take the time to say Thank You to all the excellant hard works in Kansas City, I visited the base several times and was well received each time! Most were grateful the TWU worked hard to save MCI.

In Solidarity,
CIO

Yep, when it happens to another Union it is complete and utter failure.

When it happens to the TWU, most were grateful the TWU worked hard to save them.

One day you will actually hold your own Union to the same standards you attempt to hold others. Well maybe not you, but most members will see right through your double standard smoke screen. I know I do.

Lets see the TWU first went to bat against their seniority. Then they allowed 4000+ plus jobs to be decimated and an Overhaul Base to close. Hang on the best is yet to come.

I remember in 2003 your claim was we need to stop complaining about the concessions because the TWU saved 13,000 jobs and Three Maintenance Bases. Today, thousanads of the jobs are gone from the payroll a maintenance base is now gone, and yet we still work under the concessions. But of course now we are grateful, not ashamed that the TWU tried but failed. B)

 

[Bob Owens]

Yep, when it happens to another Union it is complete and utter failure.

When it happens to the TWU, most were grateful the TWU worked hard to save them.

One day you will actually hold your own Union to the same standards you attempt to hold others. Well maybe not you, but most members will see right through your double standard smoke screen. I know I do.

Lets see the TWU first went to bat against their seniority. Then they allowed 4000+ plus jobs to be decimated and an Overhaul Base to close. Hang on the best is yet to come.

I remember in 2003 your claim was we need to stop complaining about the concessions because the TWU saved 13,000 jobs and Three Maintenance Bases. Today, thousanads of the jobs are gone from the payroll a maintenance base is now gone, and yet we still work under the concessions. But of course now we are grateful, not ashamed that the TWU tried but failed. B)

I would say that the majority of my coworkers have a pretty good idea of what they are going through. Most have seen an employer shut down. We have veterans from EAL Pan Am, Capitol, New york Air, Peoples Express, Branniff, Trans America, Polar, Flying Tigerrs, Arrow Air, Air Florida in addition to TWA. Everyone here has battle scars. Some agreed to concessions in order to "save the airline" most would never vote to do it again.

Doesnt matter what the union is, TWU, IAM, IBT, AMFA, companies fail, its never a good idea to work for less in order to prop up a failing business, all it does is make us poorer and drag down other workers.

Its sad to see a the disruption but there's a danger in getting emotionally attached to a corporate logo and feeling at home on the property of some corporation.

These workers have skills, they will survive.

 

[Ken MacTiernan]

cio,

"I want to take the time to say Thank You to all the excellant hard works in Kansas City, I visited the base several times and was well received each time! Most were grateful the TWU worked hard to save MCI."

In Solidarity,
CIO

Now why would you visit MCI? Who received you? Did they know who you were? "Most" were grateful? What did the others feel?

 

[FWAAA]

A very sad day for Kansas City, but with 100 fewer mainline planes than it had on December 31, 2000 (before the TWA asset purchase), AA has no need for a maintenance base in MCI.

 

[MCI transplant]

I would say that the majority of my coworkers have a pretty good idea of what they are going through. Most have seen an employer shut down. We have veterans from EAL Pan Am, Capitol, New york Air, Peoples Express, Branniff, Trans America, Polar, Flying Tigerrs, Arrow Air, Air Florida in addition to TWA. Everyone here has battle scars. Some agreed to concessions in order to "save the airline" most would never vote to do it again.

Doesnt matter what the union is, TWU, IAM, IBT, AMFA, companies fail, its never a good idea to work for less in order to prop up a failing business, all it does is make us poorer and drag down other workers.

Its sad to see a the disruption but there's a danger in getting emotionally attached to a corporate logo and feeling at home on the property of some corporation.

These workers have skills, they will survive.

<_< -------- I haven't said anything on this subject to this point. But I've got to say I agree with Bob totally. It's a sad day, and a lot of my friends will be effected by it one way or another, but life goes on. They'll have to deal with it. As Bob says, "they will survive"!!! I don't want to sound hard, and, God knows these people have been through a lot. I've worked with these people and know they are highly skilled, and will deal with this like we all have to in life's up's, and downs!

 

[Duke787]

I don't think MCI closed because of the TWU, but it proves that the TWU shouldn't take less in a contract to save TUL. If AA is going to sell TUL then AA WILL sell TUL. I say no more line maintenance concessions to preserve TUL life style.

To the MCI guys, enjoy your retirement, and to the guys that are moving to the line stations......welcome aboard.

 

[MCI transplant]

<_< ------ Well! Maybe the close of MCIE may not be such a waste after all.------But only time will tell!

 

[TWU informer]

I don't think MCI closed because of the TWU, but it proves that the TWU shouldn't take less in a contract to save TUL. If AA is going to sell TUL then AA WILL sell TUL. I say no more line maintenance concessions to preserve TUL life style.

To the MCI guys, enjoy your retirement, and to the guys that are moving to the line stations......welcome aboard.

Hope you have enough seniorty to survive the massive bump and roll.

 

[Duke787]

Hope you have enough seniorty to survive the massive bump and roll.

I have plenty of seniority, their seniority isn't that high, but the real question is IF they are able sell their house in TUL for even $250k, (all of a sudden 3000 homes on the market), where are they going to buy a house for that? If they do the commute, there are not that many flights to TUL. I don't think the TWU is going to do that special layoff deal where the TUL guys were able to go to DFW like they did a few years back.

It seems like poetic justice after all those years of 'If you don't like it transfer to TUL"


For the MCI guys, good luck to all of you.