Aloha & Yasoo,
Posted on Tue, Aug. 27, 2002 Kansas City Star
LABOR SCENE: Former TWA employees cry foul
By RANDOLPH HEASTER
Columnist
American Airlines made assurances to Missouri State and local officials that its latest cutbacks would not disproportionately affect American employees in Missouri.
However, because of the way union seniority issues were settled after American bought Trans World Airlines, ex-TWA pilots and flight attendants will face the brunt of the layoffs in their employee groups.
Possibly 900 to 950 former TWA flight attendants could be laid off as a result of American's announcement earlier this month to reduce flights and staff, said Julia Bishop-Cross, an American spokeswoman in St. Louis.
In addition, up to 550 former TWA pilots may end up on furlough under the restructuring plan, she said.
Unlike ex-TWA mechanics working in St. Louis and Kansas City, the former TWA pilots and flight attendants now working for American went to the bottom of their seniority lists. That means they began ac***ulating seniority for American in April 2001, which would put their status below most American employees.
On the other hand, ex-TWA mechanics, stock clerks and fleet service workers who work in Kansas City and St. Louis were allowed to keep their seniority ac***ulated at TWA because of an arbitrator's ruling. In addition, American said earlier this month that its latest cutbacks won't affect its maintenance operations.
About 1,000 former TWA flight attendants were furloughed last October after American and other major airlines made cutbacks after Sept. 11. A layoff of an additional 900 to 950 would mean that only 2,300 or fewer ex-TWA flight attendants would remain at American, said Sherry Cooper, a former Machinists union official for TWA's flight attendants unit. American's flight attendants are represented by the Association of Professional Flight Attendants.
We will have lost nearly half of our work force since October, she said. Less than 2 percent of American's flight attendants have been laid off. That's not proportionate.
Cooper said particularly irksome is that American is continuing to operate what were once key TWA routes but not using the former TWA flight attendants on those flights.
Another layoff of 550 former TWA pilots would mean that 859, or 40 percent of the total number of ex-TWA pilots, will be on layoff, said Glenn Stieneke, a former union official for the TWA unit of the Air Line Pilots Association. American's pilots belong to the Allied Pilots Association.
As for American's pilots, Stieneke said the latest layoff will mean that a total of 386 will be out of work, or 4 percent of that group.
As you can see, the balance is way out of whack, he said.
Bishop-Cross of American said that the numbers of ex-TWA pilots affected this time could be mitigated depending on the number of older pilots who accept what the company calls a bridge-to-retirement option.
Senior American and ex-TWA pilots a year away from retiring will be offered pay for that year without working. Those who accept will then retire after that year is completed with their benefits intact, Bishop-Cross said.
For flight attendants, American is offering one-year, unpaid leaves of absence and early retirement options to try to reduce the number of involuntary layoffs, Bishop-Cross said.
Cooper, the former TWA union representative, said the ex-TWA flight attendants are continuing to fight for their seniority rights through a federal lawsuit in New York.
So I guess the feeble arguement for the APFA stapling of TWA F/As was that we are, lucky to have jobs, doesnt hold much water now. When you have APFA members, like Mikey, saying that bidding/occupational seniority, doesnt really matter, well try telling that to the 50% of the TWA F/As that will be out of a job because of it. Having nearly 50% of the TWA F/As out of a job and less than 2% of the AA F/As, is not fair, equitable, or equally shared as promised. Not by anyones book.
ALOHA, 007
Posted on Tue, Aug. 27, 2002 Kansas City Star
LABOR SCENE: Former TWA employees cry foul
By RANDOLPH HEASTER
Columnist
American Airlines made assurances to Missouri State and local officials that its latest cutbacks would not disproportionately affect American employees in Missouri.
However, because of the way union seniority issues were settled after American bought Trans World Airlines, ex-TWA pilots and flight attendants will face the brunt of the layoffs in their employee groups.
Possibly 900 to 950 former TWA flight attendants could be laid off as a result of American's announcement earlier this month to reduce flights and staff, said Julia Bishop-Cross, an American spokeswoman in St. Louis.
In addition, up to 550 former TWA pilots may end up on furlough under the restructuring plan, she said.
Unlike ex-TWA mechanics working in St. Louis and Kansas City, the former TWA pilots and flight attendants now working for American went to the bottom of their seniority lists. That means they began ac***ulating seniority for American in April 2001, which would put their status below most American employees.
On the other hand, ex-TWA mechanics, stock clerks and fleet service workers who work in Kansas City and St. Louis were allowed to keep their seniority ac***ulated at TWA because of an arbitrator's ruling. In addition, American said earlier this month that its latest cutbacks won't affect its maintenance operations.
About 1,000 former TWA flight attendants were furloughed last October after American and other major airlines made cutbacks after Sept. 11. A layoff of an additional 900 to 950 would mean that only 2,300 or fewer ex-TWA flight attendants would remain at American, said Sherry Cooper, a former Machinists union official for TWA's flight attendants unit. American's flight attendants are represented by the Association of Professional Flight Attendants.
We will have lost nearly half of our work force since October, she said. Less than 2 percent of American's flight attendants have been laid off. That's not proportionate.
Cooper said particularly irksome is that American is continuing to operate what were once key TWA routes but not using the former TWA flight attendants on those flights.
Another layoff of 550 former TWA pilots would mean that 859, or 40 percent of the total number of ex-TWA pilots, will be on layoff, said Glenn Stieneke, a former union official for the TWA unit of the Air Line Pilots Association. American's pilots belong to the Allied Pilots Association.
As for American's pilots, Stieneke said the latest layoff will mean that a total of 386 will be out of work, or 4 percent of that group.
As you can see, the balance is way out of whack, he said.
Bishop-Cross of American said that the numbers of ex-TWA pilots affected this time could be mitigated depending on the number of older pilots who accept what the company calls a bridge-to-retirement option.
Senior American and ex-TWA pilots a year away from retiring will be offered pay for that year without working. Those who accept will then retire after that year is completed with their benefits intact, Bishop-Cross said.
For flight attendants, American is offering one-year, unpaid leaves of absence and early retirement options to try to reduce the number of involuntary layoffs, Bishop-Cross said.
Cooper, the former TWA union representative, said the ex-TWA flight attendants are continuing to fight for their seniority rights through a federal lawsuit in New York.
So I guess the feeble arguement for the APFA stapling of TWA F/As was that we are, lucky to have jobs, doesnt hold much water now. When you have APFA members, like Mikey, saying that bidding/occupational seniority, doesnt really matter, well try telling that to the 50% of the TWA F/As that will be out of a job because of it. Having nearly 50% of the TWA F/As out of a job and less than 2% of the AA F/As, is not fair, equitable, or equally shared as promised. Not by anyones book.
ALOHA, 007