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On 1/1/2003 2:13:08 PM UnitedChicago wrote:
G4G5:
"While I admit that things are bad at AA they aren't nearly as bad as UAL's difficulties."
Duh. I never said they were as bad...I said that AA is not in great shape. People don't realize that because all of the attention is on UA.
When UA emerges with a cost structure far below AA's...what are AA's options? Do you truly think that they can match UA's cost dollar for dollar without CH11? I don't think so. There's no incentive for the unions to match dollar for dollar.
AA will either be a higher cost carrier - UA will kick their ass - or they will go CH11 to match dollar for dollar.
Have a nice day.
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The attention is on UAL for obvious reasons, that was my point AA is not in the same shape.
"There's no incentive for the unions to match dollar for dollar."
Maybe you should spread some of that glass half full cheer with the IAM. There you go again concerning yourself with AA's unions when you can't even get your own unions to agree. What you need to do is look at a little history, Eastern's in particular.
The IAM is pissed and they are not going to play nice in the sand box. First thing you need to understand is that an A&P's trade is the most transferable in the industry. Any airline mechanic can look in the classifieds and find a job of equal or better pay. The last time I looked their weren't many,"wanted current and quallified 747 pilots/Intl FA's". A lot of these guys are feed up with their ESOP loss and are not going to give back a dime. I spent 5 years as an A&P and their comes a time when you say, "screw it". Why should I work outside, on the night shift, weekends, holidays, yada yada for this, when I can make the same money repairing elevators for Otis working inside, days, no weekends, holidays off, better bennies, retirement, yada yada.
Or the, "someone is going to fly to Asia, these gates won't go vacant". "What's it to me, just a different paint job and a new name on the check, give me a couple years and I'll be making the same pay for some one who gives a S$%&." I've seen both types.
This is what most folks who have never turned a wrench don't understand. They have a tendancy to say,"those guys have a lot to lose, they just don't get it, or they will get on board" That's easy to say when you don't have to change a brake on the ramp at ORD in middle of January at night. When mgt comes and say we want you to do this for 13% less, oh by the way we also want......... You stop and ask yourself, "is this what I signed up for"? So please don't talk to me about AA's unions or how UAL will kick AA's butt without going Ch11. At least not until the IAM decides it wants to see UAL live another week.
Happy New Year.
19 PM UnitedChicago wrote: 
