- Dec 21, 2002
- 5,998
- 347
Pilot suspended over jet sticker
By TREBOR BANSTETTER
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
An American Airlines pilot has been docked a month of pay -- worth about $12,000 -- for pasting a small sticker on his MD-80 aircraft that was critical of executive bonuses at the airline.
The pilot, who is based at Dallas/Fort Worth Airport, had placed the sticker on the exterior of the airplane in May, over a logo for American's "oneworld" airline alliance. According to officials with American's pilots' union, he was frustrated by comments made by Jeff Brundage, the company's vice president of human resources.
After an investigation, the Fort Worth-based airline recently decided to suspend the pilot without pay for 30 days.
"We think that this punishment is extreme," said Michael Leone, an American pilot who is vice-chairman of the D/FW chapter of the Allied Pilots Association.
"No reasonable person would even consider placing such a financial hardship on one of our pilots and their families" for a minor infraction of company policy, Leone told union members in a memo. "The punishment clearly does not fit the crime."
Sue Gordon, an American spokeswoman, said the carrier typically does not comment on individual employee matters. But she said American followed its normal procedures in the case.
"We're simply following the steps that are outlined in our collective-bargaining agreement," she said.
The sticker was a violation of Federal Aviation Administration rules, according to the airline.
It was unclear which comments from Brundage upset the pilot. But many employees were angry when Brundage told the Star-Telegram that "if they want to make what executives make, then they need to become executives." Those comments came after pilots had marched at the airline's headquarters.
According to the union, the pilot apologized to airline management and said it would not happen again.
"But that wasn't good enough for management in this outfit," Leone said in his memo, and added that he believed the airline is making an example of the pilot to quell criticism.
The case is the latest flare-up between American's management and its employees over the bonuses, which paid about $160 million in company stock to about 800 top executives and managers in April. Employees have complained that they continue to work under reduced wages and benefits while executives enjoy the lucrative bonuses.
Hundreds of American employees marched at the company's headquarters and at airports nationwide in April to protest the bonuses.
It was unclear exactly what the sticker said, but American employees have sported stickers and patches at union events that read "PUP OFF" and "PUP YOU." That refers to the "performance unit plan," the original name of the executive bonus plan.
The union has asked members to donate to a fund on behalf of the pilot and so far has raised $1,100.
Last week, AMR Corp., American's parent, reported a $317 million profit in the second quarter. Its shares (ticker: AMR) closed at $28.59 per share, up 7.4 percent, in trading Monday.
By TREBOR BANSTETTER
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
An American Airlines pilot has been docked a month of pay -- worth about $12,000 -- for pasting a small sticker on his MD-80 aircraft that was critical of executive bonuses at the airline.
The pilot, who is based at Dallas/Fort Worth Airport, had placed the sticker on the exterior of the airplane in May, over a logo for American's "oneworld" airline alliance. According to officials with American's pilots' union, he was frustrated by comments made by Jeff Brundage, the company's vice president of human resources.
After an investigation, the Fort Worth-based airline recently decided to suspend the pilot without pay for 30 days.
"We think that this punishment is extreme," said Michael Leone, an American pilot who is vice-chairman of the D/FW chapter of the Allied Pilots Association.
"No reasonable person would even consider placing such a financial hardship on one of our pilots and their families" for a minor infraction of company policy, Leone told union members in a memo. "The punishment clearly does not fit the crime."
Sue Gordon, an American spokeswoman, said the carrier typically does not comment on individual employee matters. But she said American followed its normal procedures in the case.
"We're simply following the steps that are outlined in our collective-bargaining agreement," she said.
The sticker was a violation of Federal Aviation Administration rules, according to the airline.
It was unclear which comments from Brundage upset the pilot. But many employees were angry when Brundage told the Star-Telegram that "if they want to make what executives make, then they need to become executives." Those comments came after pilots had marched at the airline's headquarters.
According to the union, the pilot apologized to airline management and said it would not happen again.
"But that wasn't good enough for management in this outfit," Leone said in his memo, and added that he believed the airline is making an example of the pilot to quell criticism.
The case is the latest flare-up between American's management and its employees over the bonuses, which paid about $160 million in company stock to about 800 top executives and managers in April. Employees have complained that they continue to work under reduced wages and benefits while executives enjoy the lucrative bonuses.
Hundreds of American employees marched at the company's headquarters and at airports nationwide in April to protest the bonuses.
It was unclear exactly what the sticker said, but American employees have sported stickers and patches at union events that read "PUP OFF" and "PUP YOU." That refers to the "performance unit plan," the original name of the executive bonus plan.
The union has asked members to donate to a fund on behalf of the pilot and so far has raised $1,100.
Last week, AMR Corp., American's parent, reported a $317 million profit in the second quarter. Its shares (ticker: AMR) closed at $28.59 per share, up 7.4 percent, in trading Monday.
