pilots and flight attendants BOTH sign a merger agreement!

[NewHampshire Black Bears]

Wings,

US was profitable for two reasons only--one was paying the lowest wages in the industry, and the other was leading the way with ancillary fees and nickel and diming of customers. Parker told me to my face at one meeting with a large group of customers that their profit in 2009 was EQUAL to the amount collected in fees. Remember these are the "customer oriented" managers who tried to charge for soft drinks and water....

If all things were equal and labor was paid even close to the industry standard, US would not be a financial standout, and would likely be somewhat in the red or comparable to other major carriers.

To the fine folks at AA, I say be careful what you wish for...Parker considers both employees and customers as liabilities, not assets...

If only we could get Gordon Bethune out of retirement.... 🙂

Art.

If we could Only get..(uncle) Bobby CRANDALL out of retirement !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[silverbird007]

Again, the MCB legislation doesn't and has never required anything, including DOH. All it does is require arbitration if the parties can not agree on a seniority list. If you agree to being stapled, no one will stop you. That is exactly what WN was trying to do to the F9 pilots. The said no and WN left. Worst decision those guys/gals ever made in my opinion. I mean who really wants to work for a company that has never had forced layoffs and pays above industry standards pay rates. Must have been tortuous to even contemplate.

No ones is going to agree to be stapled, I cant see either AA or US fas giving up anything especially with AFAs policy of DOH. So more then likley we will be integrated DOH.

 

[IORFA]

That's not what you said before. I was just pointing out that it can happen. In this situation, I agree a staple won't happen. Anything else, I won't even wager a guess. One should never assume anything in life. I still think the F9 pilots missed the boat big time by not agreeing to be stapled with the inherrant fences and large increase in pay to work for a profitable carrier who has never involuntarily furloughed anyone. Still just my opinion. They seem to be way better off now, don't you think? That was sarcasm, by the way. By the way, just because AFA wants something, doesn't mean they will get it. Same goes for APFA.

 

[jimntx]

no more staples, the former TWA fa's lobbied for that. Either way if your junior at AA your gonna be even more junior if we merge. Were's my buyout? LOL

Sorry, dear. They don't have to buy out you and me. We'll just be furloughed. At least I can retire, and collect what there is of my frozen pension. And, I might be wrong, but I think they have f/as on furlough that are senior to us. I'll just have 11 years in January.

 

[777 / 767 / 757 Love]

Sorry, dear. They don't have to buy out you and me. We'll just be furloughed. At least I can retire, and collect what there is of my frozen pension. And, I might be wrong, but I think they have f/as on furlough that are senior to us. I'll just have 11 years in January.

Your union thinks sacraficing the future and pay is a worthy price to get rid of current management. Parker scammed everyone at AA, and this whole ball of wax is going right down the shitter. AA is no longer, and the service it provides will go away and this country will be left with two big airlines with services akin to low cost carriers, and one large one that pretends to be a premium carrier but really isn't.

What a total sh** show this whole thing has become. GAME OVER.

Cheers,
777 / 767 / 757

 

[Itestwell]

Wings,

US was profitable for two reasons only--one was paying the lowest wages in the industry, and the other was leading the way with ancillary fees and nickel and diming of customers. Parker told me to my face at one meeting with a large group of customers that their profit in 2009 was EQUAL to the amount collected in fees. Remember these are the "customer oriented" managers who tried to charge for soft drinks and water....

If all things were equal and labor was paid even close to the industry standard, US would not be a financial standout, and would likely be somewhat in the red or comparable to other major carriers.

To the fine folks at AA, I say be careful what you wish for...Parker considers both employees and customers as liabilities, not assets...

If only we could get Gordon Bethune out of retirement.... 🙂

FFOCUS should start a campaign to tank this merger. Bring 'em to their knees like the AW/US merger. 😱

 

[Art at ISP]

Test,

They took care of the AW/US merger on their own. And sad to say, we were initially optimistic about that merger...and I am not ashamed to admit we were wrong big time.

And yes, everyone else followed suit with fees, but US led the way with ridiculous fees, and they remain the most customer unfriendly-such as charging their elite passengers for choice seats, while all the others exempt their high level FF's. FFOCUS has been successful in leading efforts toward customer friendly change-we were behind alot of the efforts to rescind the charge for water and soft drinks, and we maintain a back channel line of communication with most of the majors so we can help when customers with LEGITIMATE issues get stonewalled.

When profits are roughly equal to fees, something is wrong with pricing.

That said, to the AA folks, be careful what you wish for.

 

[AMFAinMIAMI]

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/joint-statement-of-us-airways-and-american-airlines-185710142.html

 

[AMFAinMIAMI]

Dear American Team:
As we start a new year, I’d like to thank you all for capping a year of extraordinary work by delivering for our customers during our busiest season. This dedication underscores why I have so much confidence in the future of the new American.
As you know, we continue the process we embarked upon months ago to carefully assess how we can deliver the greatest value for our stakeholders and the best outcome for our people and customers. Together with our Board, and the Creditors’ Committee, we asked our unions and those of US Airways to join the discussions underway in order to better evaluate the potential benefits, costs and risks of a potential merger. All parties are operating under a confidentiality agreement, and while I cannot provide any details, I can assure you we are conducting a collaborative, fact-based analysis to determine the best plan forward for American.
As part of these joint efforts, last week APA announced that its Board voted to approve a proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which is now subject to review and approval by American, US Airways and the US Airline Pilots Association (USAPA), the union representing US Airways’ pilots. Discussions with our other unions and those of US Airways are also in progress. I have been personally involved in all deliberations regarding the overall strategic review and focused intently on creating a framework with the unions and for all our employee groups that keeps American competitive and allows us to build a successful future.
The proposed MOU will be reviewed alongside other factors under evaluation, as part of making an informed decision about whether a merger should be pursued.
I know many of you have questions about what happens next and how long this evaluation will be underway. While I cannot give you a precise date, I can tell you that we expect to bring this to conclusion within a matter of weeks. As we do, our objective is unchanged – to create the most value for our owners and the strongest possible American going forward. All of our efforts have been aimed at building on the extraordinary progress we have already made.
In just over a year, we have moved faster and performed better through our restructuring than any airline in history. Our collective efforts have created a strong foundation for the future of the new American, which is on course to become a premier global airline, equipped to compete against the best in the world. Staying laser-focused on serving our customers and running a great airline must remain our highest priority.
Thank you again for your commitment, and I look forward to sharing more information as soon as possible.

Sincerely,​

Tom​

 

[AMFAinMIAMI]

APFA Signs MOU

APFA has agreed to a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), clarifying several points contained within the Bridge Agreement the union signed with US Airways last Spring. This MOU further illuminates the financial benefits of a merger to AMR’s creditors. APFA is currently operating under a judicially-enforceable non-disclosure agreement (NDA) with regards to merger discussions, which means that as long as this restriction is in place, we are not able to divulge specific details of the MOU.

AmericanAirlines + US Airways
"Our Future Depends On It"

Leslie Mayo
APFA National Communications Coordinator

 

[jimntx]

Note that they have "agreed to things and clarified points" that will affect the future of all f/as on both sides, but they can't tell us what, nor, AFAIK, will we be given the opportunity to vote on these things and clarified points. They must be taking instruction from the TWU.

 

[swamt]

Note that they have "agreed to things and clarified points" that will affect the future of all f/as on both sides, but they can't tell us what, nor, AFAIK, will we be given the opportunity to vote on these things and clarified points. They must be taking instruction from the TWU.

I'm still waiting to hear that the TWU and the IAM have signed onto the MOU. Why only the pilots and F/A's so far? I think I remember the TWU was ok with the bridge agreement, but never heard that they signed on with the MOU. Unless I missed it completely.

 

[jimntx]

There isn't "the" MOU. There are multiple MOUs--at least two...pilots and flight attendants. But those MOUs only address those specific work groups. Perhaps the TWU has not yet received their instructions from the company as to what they will be agreeing to and signing off on.

 

[Itestwell]

Test,

They took care of the AW/US merger on their own. And sad to say, we were initially optimistic about that merger...and I am not ashamed to admit we were wrong big time.

And yes, everyone else followed suit with fees, but US led the way with ridiculous fees, and they remain the most customer unfriendly-such as charging their elite passengers for choice seats, while all the others exempt their high level FF's. FFOCUS has been successful in leading efforts toward customer friendly change-we were behind alot of the efforts to rescind the charge for water and soft drinks, and we maintain a back channel line of communication with most of the majors so we can help when customers with LEGITIMATE issues get stonewalled.

When profits are roughly equal to fees, something is wrong with pricing.

That said, to the AA folks, be careful what you wish for.

Ok, so where is the FFOCUS campaign to stop this merger dead in its tracks, so the same fate doesn't happen to the good people at AA? I'd get going if I were you! 😀

 

[Itestwell]

Art, please correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't all of the majors enjoying huge revenues from the same type of fees that you speak of?

Yes, but US started it! :angry2: (Actually, AA started the fee happiness with the baggage charges, but that's neither here nor there).