NMB Ingores APFA

[upsilon]

[snip]But I agree, at this point in time, if proven in fact he is not a legal president under our Constitution, would through our legal system, and Country, into chaos! Something I feel we don't need in these troubling times!----- Hell, I feel we have enough on our plates as it is!

God forbid we should have that political hack Biden. That would be a worse situation than Obama!

As for the NMB, I thought they were "supposed to" be a neutral party? But obviously, it would seem, we're playing with a staked deck here! And more politics are factoring into their decisions that they like to admit to.

Back to the topic of the thread

 

[galleyguy4u2]

From Snopes:

http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/citizen.asp

 

[tech2101]

<_< ------- Check out the link I gave above on Elana Kagan and her ties to Obama and his Birth!

No.

 

[upsilon]

In perhaps a in vain effort to get this thread off Obama and back to the subject, I'm posting the entire message of Laura Glading. If no one wants to discuss, so be it. But please start your own thread in the Water cooler to discuss Obama's qualification.

APFA President Laura Glading
Special Update on Negotiations
Thursday March 24, 2011

We've been in negotiations with the company for almost three years without a contract. Our anger with the company and frustration with the National Mediation Board (NMB) is at an all-time high. Negotiations, however, do not happen in a vacuum. We must continually evaluate not only our immediate circumstances, but also those of the airline industry, the nation's economy and international events.

In our meeting with the NMB in mid-February, the Board members indicated that their decision to release a party into a cooling-off period was based, in part, on the financial condition of our airline and the nation's economy. Although American suffered the only loss among major airlines in 2010, we were hopeful that it would recover this year. Unfortunately, that does not appear to be the case. Analysts are now predicting that it will lose over $300 million in the first quarter and that it will remain in the red for the year. These projections were made before the recent earthquake and resulting tsunami that devastated Japan. These tragic events disrupted American's operation and will, for the time being, reduce American's revenue in the Pacific. It will undoubtedly have a more dramatic impact on the revenues of our Oneworld partner Japan Airlines (JAL). American was relying on our new Haneda routes and JAL's partnership to bolster our position in the region. Since March 11, our members once again are demonstrating their dedication and commitment to their jobs, performing their duties in the midst of this turmoil.

Yet another indication of American's problems is the difficulty it had in selling securities that it issued earlier this month. On March 7, American Airlines announced a public offering of $1 billion in bonds-- effectively borrowing from institutional investors over a five-year period. But investors' response was less than enthusiastic. They questioned the value of the collateral package American had put together and whether it was sufficient to support a $1 billion loan. According to one analyst, because the collateral was considered "fairly weak," investors were demanding that American pay a higher interest rate than it initially anticipated. As a result, the company will have to pay more for borrowing this money.

While American Airlines' lagging performance is not our fault, it is clearly becoming our problem.

As will the National Mediation Board, we must also consider the economic reality facing our country. Who could have imagined three years ago that this country would be in the financial state it is, with the unemployment rate hovering around 9 percent? The political reality is to a large extent defined by the state of the economy. Consequently, it is clear to us that the White House will avoid any kind of disruption. And we cannot lose sight of the fact that the National Mediation Board answers to the White House.

Based on the totality of these circumstances we must, reluctantly but realistically, conclude that the NMB will not release the parties into a thirty-day cooling off period any time soon.

We know Flight Attendants are hurting and I hear heartbreaking stories each and every day. Many of you are suffering, going through foreclosures, and not being able to pay bills and seeing your credit destroyed. Meanwhile, AMR Executives still refuse to recognize our sacrifices. And in their annual unconscionable display of excess they will once again take their undeserved bonuses next month while Flight Attendants and many Americans are struggling to make ends meet.

We are outraged and simply cannot ignore another year of overindulgence and greed on their part while we are overwhelmed with the uncertainty of our future. Events will be held around the system on April 20 to protest and expose their avarice, and to what lengths these executives will go to ensure they receive a lavish reward, despite a dismal performance. Additional information about these events is forthcoming.

This has been a long and difficult fight, and labor and collective bargaining are now under attack across American. We remain committed to not only getting a contract that Flight Attendants need and deserve but will continue to fight for the rights for labor and against the erosion of the middle class. Please read the document posted on my page at APFA.org for more information on the assault on workers' rights across our nation (http://www.apfa.org/images/national_officers/laura/assault_on_workers.pdf).

As has been the case since our negotiations began, we will leave no stone unturned and we are exploring all our options that could possibly result in reaching an agreement. To that end we will be meeting with the NMB's Director of Mediation Services in the coming weeks to discuss whether we could possibly reach a deal outside of a cooling-off period. We will keep you updated on all developments.

I want to thank each and every one of you for your hard work and determination. Over the past two weeks I have been reminded of the professionalism of our Flight Attendants in the face of the devastating events in Japan and continue to be inspired by you and honored to serve as your President.

 

[eolesen]

Not a thing there regarding AMR and the APFA I can disagree with.

"While American Airlines' lagging performance is not our fault, it is clearly becoming our problem."

What I do disagree with is the whole notion that unions define the middle class when they only represent 12% of the population, and some of those 12% are in very high paying jobs (e.g. pilots) which don't fit the middle class lifestyle or take-home pay.... but that too is a discussion for the Water Cooler.

 

[damajagua]

I wonder what Laura Gladding new slogan will be.

Restore and More..... In the trash

May day Pay day.......in the trash

 

[lineguy43]

Not a thing there regarding AMR and the APFA I can disagree with.

"While American Airlines' lagging performance is not our fault, it is clearly becoming our problem."

What I do disagree with is the whole notion that unions define the middle class when they only represent 12% of the population, and some of those 12% are in very high paying jobs (e.g. pilots) which don't fit the middle class lifestyle or take-home pay.... but that too is a discussion for the Water Cooler.

The pilots would be those senior captains at the majors. Other pilots i.e. regionals etc certainly are making working mans wages. Others would argue that even senior major airline capts are middle class also. They make more than most working class joes but not rich by any means.

 

[Maark767]

I wonder what Laura Gladding new slogan will be.

Restore and More..... In the trash

May day Pay day.......in the trash

I understand what you are feeling but what is the union suppose to do?? Look what is going on all around us??? How can we fight with everyone against us?
We were making some progress but the world/economy has just continued to go south.
The union has it's back against the wall.
Wait and see how other unions on the property are dealt with.... NOBODY is getting released , so now what???
Scary times indeed..

 

[galleyguy4u2]

I wonder what Laura Gladding new slogan will be.

Restore and More..... In the trash

May day Pay day.......in the trash

That was funny, Next slogan will be......Our hat is in the ring..........in the trash.

Unity.....In the trash.

New president/Union? Now that's a thought.

 

[eolesen]

Look what is going on all around us??? How can we fight with everyone against us?
We were making some progress but the world/economy has just continued to go south.
The union has it's back against the wall.

Seems to me both the union and company have their back against a wall. The company can't get out of the financial hole they're in without the workers cooperation, and your union leaders have promised more than they can deliver...

 

[damajagua]

That was funny, Next slogan will be......Our hat is in the ring..........in the trash.

Unity.....In the trash.

New president/Union? Now that's a thought.

New union president. New AMR executives that would
rise to the occasion at hand and tackle the real issues
that are at hand at AMR.
I have said it before and I will say it again leadership comes from the top. It's time to change course here.
We are loosing sight of what the real situation is.
The future of AMR is on the table here. We can continue
fight each other manegement against labor or we come together and fix it once and for all. The problem I see here
Is that we have senior executive that have fail to engage
labor as business partners instead of viewing as adverseries. The very future of the company is at stake but
We have leadership that continue to rewards themselves while employees have been working under concessionary
contracts. And on the other hand we have employees that have every right to be upset but that are also in total denial
of what the real situation facing the company is. There is no way AA can compete with the new DL and UA. We can
not compete with low cost airlines. Wake up people the writing is on the wall.

 

[FrequentFlierCA]

Seems to me both the union and company have their back against a wall. The company can't get out of the financial hole they're in without the workers cooperation, and your union leaders have promised more than they can deliver...

Spot on.

It makes me wonder where the give will come from when a deal is finally done. Obviously both sides have to make moves, but neither seems willing at this point. It's difficult to see Glading accepting that her FAs are among the highest paid, and moderating on the wage issue.

When's the next APFA leadership election? Glading might have to go the way of Lloyd Hill for any progress to be made.

 

[Rogallo]

It makes me wonder where the give will come from

Through BK!!

 

[BigMac]

TUL's propaganda
http://www.newson6.com/Global/story.asp?S=14332540

 

[fltguymk]

So, no 30 day cooling off period to heat up the negotiations..... Who will approach the other first?