The bottom line here is this was paid for by American - they know we can do "more" when on the property and unhappy.
Horton wants rid of most aircraft maintenance and if we go out, there's almost a guarantee a BK filing will ensue as that's also what the SOB wants to do. It will nicely tailor the company to the management's liking.
I haven't a problem with going out so much as I have a problem with doing what the friggin' management wants us to do.
Re: negotiation - I'd like to see the TWU hire professional negotiators - that would easily outclass the company's panel of idiots and get people on our side that actually know what they're doing.
Alas - that would probably stop the corporate payouts to Little Jimmy.
I doubt that they want to get rid of Aircraft Maintenance. Why would they? We are already at the bottom. We are only asking for mid point between where we are and where we were.
Last Spring I asked Arpey if doing OH in house costs more, he claimed "the Jury is still out". Well, the way I took that is he didnt want to say "No", because then they would lose a big bargaining chip even though that is the correct answer. By leaving whether or not AA should continue to do OH in house as a question it leaves those in OH with a lot of uncertainty, that translates into more leverage at the bargaining table for the company.
That question is a driving force with many on the committee, especially those who also hold International titles. So much so that driven by the M&R President of Chicago's desire to "show the 6th floor" that "we are serious about filling those white spaces" on the dock plan that a three year proposal with two three percent (on base pay so its really a 2.5% increase) increases was passed through the committee last June. We have since returned to our original table position, only because the company said NO, but the dock plan review wasn't a crises, a few on the committee made it out to be but it wasnt. What will happen with the next crisis? And there's always a crisis in this industry.
The company said that due to the drawdown of work as older MD-80s are phased out and replaced by newer 737 aircraft they would have 'white spaces' on the dock plan that if not filled with other(3P) work would represent a loss of around 800 to 1000 jobs by 2012. At a separate meeting with the company they admitted that they expect to lose 300 to 400 mechanics per year through attrition, thats why they wouldnt approve the VBR for the line.
So, we would lose more people through attrition than jobs through a drawdown in OH work yet the committee was so determined to maintain "numbers" that they were willing to offer the company a three year six percent contract.
My biggest concern isnt that Horton wants to file for bankruptcy and rip off the Institutions that own nearly 80% of AMR, I dont think he does, nor do I think they want to get rid of most of maintenance. My biggest concern is that the "negotiators" from some of these M&R Locals are willing to settle for so little. Without even having the question as to the competitive value of having "in house OH" answered they are willing to accept bottom pay for all of us to try and make sure it is. Management has yet to claim that they could have done all that they have done cheaper if they outsourced, they only cite "we do more in house than anybody else" or "Our labor costs are the highest in the industry" but thats not the same as saying that they could have done what they have done cheaper by outsourcing.
No matter what happens or how cheaply we sell ourselves the company has no intentions on filling those white spaces with 3P work and OH will continue to shrink even faster than the line but slower than overall attrition.
The problem is that the value of "In house OH" is wiped out by having an extremely disgruntled line maintenance workforce who take very little consolation in the fact that they earn over $10hr less than other mechanics on the same airport, have less vacation, less Holidays, less sick time and worse work rules so that they can ensure that AA keeps OH in house and are able to maintain headcount despite attrition and a reduction of AA work in Tulsa in the future. I explained this to Steve Luis who appeared unmoved. The cost of this disparity and the impact it has on morale is only going to intensify. So sure the company will have the best overhauled planes in the world but it wont help AAs bottom line if we wont get them off the gate. Even the best OH planes in the world need a motivated line maintenance workforce to keep them flying.
