TWU Waving White Flag Already

[Hopeful]

John Conley never met a white flag he didn't enjoy waving. This is pathetic!!!
*********************
Fuel costs could cut union demands on American Airlines
By TREBOR BANSTETTER
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
PHOENIX -- Skyrocketing oil prices may cause a "seismic shift" in the airline industry that could affect ongoing labor talks, a top union official said Thursday.
"Look, we're at $100 crude," said John Conley, air-transport division director at the Transport Workers Union, which represents ground workers at American Airlines as well as some employees at American Eagle, Southwest Airlines and other carriers. "I don't know that it bodes well for us being as successful [in negotiating new contracts] as we had once hoped."
Conley appeared on a panel at the International Aviation Symposium in Phoenix. Several industry insiders said that the price of fuel, which is the No. 1 cost for airlines, could devastate the industry.
"This could very well be a seismic-shift year," Conley said. He said the environment "could be an opportunity to consider not being as intractable as folks have been in the past."
Analyst Gary Chase of Lehman Bros. pointed out that the run-up in fuel is having a greater impact on airline costs than a typical recession.
"With fuel, it's like this is three recessions at once," he said. "And then, we also have a recession."
The union is negotiating new contracts for mechanics and other ground workers at American. The airline is also holding contract talks with pilots and will soon begin negotiating with flight attendants.
All three labor groups have said they want full restoration of 2003 wages and benefits, which were cut significantly to keep American out of bankruptcy.
The American talks are being closely watched throughout the industry.
Chase said that even cutting labor costs won't be enough to offset the spike in fuel prices, nor will fare increases. He argued that only a reduction in airline capacity can bring the industry back to profitability.
"It's not like we have to shut down half the industry," he said. "But capacity is the only way the industry can do it."
TREBOR BANSTETTER, 817-390-7064
[email protected]

 

[TWU informer]

Rolling on the Floor Laughing My Ass Off !

Might be easier to give this appointed minion some credibility if he was elected instead of appointed and the TWU had actually kept us informed of negotiation details to this point.

We still haven't seen the TWU Comprehensive Economic Proposal, nor the comapny response.

My guess is the TWU just got the company response and AA told 'em to pound sand on their proposal.

Maybe Conley should go get James C. Little he is the one that promised a Labor Agreement by April.
Go get Dennis Burchette, he said on the CNBC video that he was going to "reach into that company pocket" and get our money back.

Maybe the TWU should have used the 2006 early opener that was gained without further ratification due to the hidden SEPR debacle, then we wouldn't be negotiating at $100 a barrel oil and in a recession.

This is just great, the TWU sits on the early opener for 2 years, and now blames economic conditions on difficult negotiations. WAY TO GO! Great APPOINTED leaders always take us down the prosperous path.

Now let's all get back to kissing the company ass, managing the company for them, giving our money saving ideas for free, and spool up the media blitz about how we are working together. Stupid is as Stupid Does!

 

[PRINCESS KIDAGAKASH]

The new "CON"tract is a done deal. SIX YEARS long. SIX PERCENT raise, 1.5% raise per year,One week of vacation back, Two holidays restored(Day after Thanksgiving. Memorial Day), Full pay sick days, but only five accrual per year, and of course more contribution to Flex benefits.

 

[SkydrolJunkie]

"I don't know that it bodes well for us being as successful [in negotiating new contracts] as we had once hoped."

We'll get 'em next time !!

 

[eolesen]

Are you denying the fact that fuel prices are killing off any chance of profitability? Are you naive enough to believe that the November elections are going to reverse what's going on with the economy as a whole?...

Perhaps the best thing to hold out for right now is restoration of things like sick and VC, and also for some form of variable comp equal to that offered to mid-level managers (i.e. the Privileged 800), so that when things improve, you're not stuck with another "gun to your head" agreement...

 

[local 12 proud]

Don't care anymore at this point!

They pay me just enough not to quit, and I do just enough not to get fired.

 

[TWU informer]

Why not just give us an early out raise on our retirement so we can leave? No more 2 hours pay per month for funding the liberals and appointed idiots. Gournd some damn airlplanes and reduce to capacity, which should have been done after 9/11. If the smaller cities want air travel then let the customer subsidize that not me and my co-workers.

Fuel isn't the problem, over capacity and lack of ticket prices to make a profit is the problem and has been for a long, long, time now.

Airlines were losing money before oil went to $100 bbl and you know it!

The fact is government bailouts, corporate welfare, and flawed bankruptcy laws have been far more damaging than the price of fuel or oil. Mis-management ranks up there right below these 3 items. Implementation of Socialist Government Policies while Airlines operate in a Capitalist Economic Policy has created this debacle. Over capacity keeps ticket prices below cost and until that is corrected the losses will continue to mount.

 

[FrequentFlierCA]

This is obviously an unpopular view here, but Conley has seen the writing on the wall. Let’s look at it this way:

Option 1: TWU and others achieve the full stated goal of getting the 2003 concessions reversed. Oil stays around $100 through 2008 and AMR has to file Chapter 11. Labor contracts are gutted by the bk process, leaving AMR’s hard working frontline employees somewhere worse off than they are right now.

Option 2: Labor leadership decides to moderate this “reaching into the company pocket†rhetoric (that’s all it is anyway) and reach a settlement with management for something short of the stated goals. IF everything else goes just right – oil prices, economy, etc. – AMR is able to avoid court-supervised restructuring.

I had a front-row seat during an airline Chapter 11 a couple years ago, and saw what happened to the labor groups and their wages and benefits. I genuinely don’t want to see this happen to American’s employees.

 

[Boomer]

Item A:

Are you denying the fact that fuel prices are killing off any chance of profitability? Are you naive enough to believe that the November elections are going to reverse what's going on with the economy as a whole?...

Perhaps the best thing to hold out for right now is restoration of things like sick and VC, and also for some form of variable comp equal to that offered to mid-level managers (i.e. the Privileged 800), so that when things improve, you're not stuck with another "gun to your head" agreement...

______________________________________________________________________
_______________

Item B:

This is obviously an unpopular view here, but Conley has seen the writing on the wall. Let’s look at it this way:

Option 1: TWU and others achieve the full stated goal of getting the 2003 concessions reversed. Oil stays around $100 through 2008 and AMR has to file Chapter 11. Labor contracts are gutted by the bk process, leaving AMR’s hard working frontline employees somewhere worse off than they are right now.

Option 2: Labor leadership decides to moderate this “reaching into the company pocket†rhetoric (that’s all it is anyway) and reach a settlement with management for something short of the stated goals. IF everything else goes just right – oil prices, economy, etc. – AMR is able to avoid court-supervised restructuring.

I had a front-row seat during an airline Chapter 11 a couple years ago, and saw what happened to the labor groups and their wages and benefits. I genuinely don’t want to see this happen to American’s employees.

______________________________________________________________________
_______________

Wow,

Something new from the, "let them eat cake crowd."

In no event will we see:
1) a contract securitized by Sect 1113 language that incorporates the required language to preclude reasonable ramifications of the current trend enviroment;or,
2) Tranche "A" Enhanced Equipment Trust Certificates issued against the 23 Boeing 737-800's coming on board during 2009.

The reason being: we do not have individuals conducting our negotiations with any creditable experience in concluding Labor Agreements in a Hostile Enviroment with an Adversarial Relationship to the opposing party. We just do not get it, or, more correctly: our Union is not capable of delivering anything other than what AA wants them to.

I expect that the APA will secure language in both cases since they were able to gain stock grants in '97 securitized by my assumed agreement with AA for the repurchase of issued versus outstanding stock at the ratio of 1:3, and, they won a language case against the outsourcing of AA flying with respect to TransStates whose judgement numbers closely mirrored what was lost in the earlier AA victory for a supposed illegal job action related to the Reno Air purchase.

The APFA has similarly won cases against AA but not to the extent or degree of the Pilots, so it is not unreasonable to assume that the structure and language of their contract will allow protection to a greater degree than any offered by the TWU.

Oh well, "We'll Get'em Next Time!"

 

[Hopeful]

This is obviously an unpopular view here, but Conley has seen the writing on the wall. Let’s look at it this way:

Option 1: TWU and others achieve the full stated goal of getting the 2003 concessions reversed. Oil stays around $100 through 2008 and AMR has to file Chapter 11. Labor contracts are gutted by the bk process, leaving AMR’s hard working frontline employees somewhere worse off than they are right now.

Option 2: Labor leadership decides to moderate this “reaching into the company pocket†rhetoric (that’s all it is anyway) and reach a settlement with management for something short of the stated goals. IF everything else goes just right – oil prices, economy, etc. – AMR is able to avoid court-supervised restructuring.

I had a front-row seat during an airline Chapter 11 a couple years ago, and saw what happened to the labor groups and their wages and benefits. I genuinely don’t want to see this happen to American’s employees.

You conveniently left out Option3: NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, THE TOP MANAGERS WILL GET THEIRS!
EVEN IN CHAPTER 11, YOU WOULD SEE THE COMPANY ASKING THE BANKRUPTCY JUDGE TO INCREASE THE PAY OF THE EXECUTIVES SO THEY DON'T LOSE THE "KEY" TALENT.

 

[Boomer]

John Conley never met a white flag he didn't enjoy waving. This is pathetic!!!
*********************
Fuel costs could cut union demands on American Airlines
By TREBOR BANSTETTER
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
PHOENIX -- Skyrocketing oil prices may cause a "seismic shift" in the airline industry that could affect ongoing labor talks, a top union official said Thursday.
"Look, we're at $100 crude," said John Conley, air-transport division director at the Transport Workers Union, which represents ground workers at American Airlines as well as some employees at American Eagle, Southwest Airlines and other carriers. "I don't know that it bodes well for us being as successful [in negotiating new contracts] as we had once hoped."
Conley appeared on a panel at the International Aviation Symposium in Phoenix. Several industry insiders said that the price of fuel, which is the No. 1 cost for airlines, could devastate the industry.
"This could very well be a seismic-shift year," Conley said. He said the environment "could be an opportunity to consider not being as intractable as folks have been in the past."
Analyst Gary Chase of Lehman Bros. pointed out that the run-up in fuel is having a greater impact on airline costs than a typical recession.
"With fuel, it's like this is three recessions at once," he said. "And then, we also have a recession."
The union is negotiating new contracts for mechanics and other ground workers at American. The airline is also holding contract talks with pilots and will soon begin negotiating with flight attendants.
All three labor groups have said they want full restoration of 2003 wages and benefits, which were cut significantly to keep American out of bankruptcy.
The American talks are being closely watched throughout the industry.
Chase said that even cutting labor costs won't be enough to offset the spike in fuel prices, nor will fare increases. He argued that only a reduction in airline capacity can bring the industry back to profitability.
"It's not like we have to shut down half the industry," he said. "But capacity is the only way the industry can do it."
TREBOR BANSTETTER, 817-390-7064
[email protected]

All,

There are actually three sides to configure in rationalzing a statement like Conleys' against what we know.

1) Conley is a Ramper, but, has been Appointed ATD Director and has been threatened that M&E Demands for LUV pay, will result in downsizing in the number of stations staffed by Title III.

2) TWU M&E has presented a total economic package to AA the positions a 5 year A&P at the LUV wage of 40$/hour given that it represents less than half of the current booked 3P work.

3) TWU and the TEAMSTERS have been rather chummy of late, given the Teamsters departure from theAFL-CIO, with the TEAMSTERS refusing to raid the TWU and the TWU sending organizers to help the TEAMSTERS at NWA in their raid against AMFA. Given that CO and AMR are oftened mentioned as apair, would it be beyond the bounds of reason to assume that some sort of marriage could occur with a pre-set transfer rate?

 

[TWU informer]

The big question is does Arpey have the balls to run the airline the way it should be managed, or does he let the union idea of save everyone a job, which would fail to reduce capacity continue?

Allowing the implementation of the union agenda to save and create jobs in exchange for concessions does nothing to create an industry with a profit margin and is a nothing short of grotesque mis-management. To save jobs, there must be capacity, to make a profit there must be a reduction in capacity. Thus the union agenda is flawed in business sense and if allowed to continue the company and the industry will continue to fail. The TWU, APA, APFA can no more correctly manage this airline than Carty could.

 

[eolesen]

Good questions... Protecting jobs should be secondary to preserving wages and benefits. Unfortunately, that reduces dues, so it will never work out that way.

 

[DallasConehead]

I inserted the link so all can see the sponsers. I suppose Conley enjoyed the "Stargazing and Dessert" with all the Company pukes.

AGENDA, SPONSORS & SPEAKERS
17th Annual Phoenix International Aviation Symposium
Capitalization, Competition & Consolidation?
Global Views of the Aviation Industry

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26 | THURSDAY, MARCH 27 | FRIDAY, MARCH 28
SPONSORS

AGENDA
WEDNESDAY, 3/26/08


Welcome Reception 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Join us for cocktails and hors d'oeuvres

THURSDAY, 3/27/08


Continental Breakfast 7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.

Foreign Ownership – What’s Different About Airlines?
8:30 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Do the foreign ownership laws need revision? Is the United States falling behind the rest of the world because of foreign ownership laws? Would international consolidation improve industry profitability? Lessons to be learned from other countries and industries.
Point – Counterpoint with Moderator: Richard Schifter, Partner, TPG

Panelists (open debate format):

John Prater, President, Air Line Pilots Association
Barry Humphreys, Director of External Affairs & Route Development, Virgin Atlantic Airways
Julie Oettinger, Managing Director, United Airlines
Marty St. George, Vice President Planning, jetBlue
Coffee Break 10 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Airport Customer Experience 2018 – Evolution or Revolution
10:30 a.m. – noon
How will the customer experience be different? Changes from check-in and security to retail and boarding. Airports as a destination – entertainment, hotels, conventions. Customer behavior and value flow trends – how will airport revenue sources change?
Moderator: Phil LeBeau, Journalist, CNBC

Panelists:

Scott J. Dolan, Senior Vice President, Airport Operations & President, United Cargo
Jim Bennett, Chairman & CEO, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority
Danny Murphy, Aviation Director, City of Phoenix Aviation Department
Mark Mitchell, Managing Director of Customer Experience, American Airlines
Lysa Scully, Assistant Director of Customer, Cargo, Concessions & Airport Services, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Noon-1:30 p.m.
Thursday Seated Lunch – Honeywell Aerospace Hosted
Lunch Speaker – Secretary Mary Peters, Secretary of Transportation, U.S. Department of Transportation

The Next Big Things – The Environment and Airport Access
1:30 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Environmental limits and carbon trading – how will they impact the industry? To what extent will the United States participate? Congestion pricing and other economic methods of limiting airport access. How serious is the problem and are we any closer to a solution for airports that are reaching capacity?
Moderator: Perry Flint, Executive Editor, Air Transport World

Panelists:

Howard Kass, Associate General Counsel, US Airways
Nancy Young, Vice President, Environmental Affairs, ATA
Daniel Elwell, Asst Administrator Aviation Policy, Planning & Environment, FAA
Mark Dunkerley, President & CEO, Hawaiian Airlines
Deborah McElroy, SVP President, Government Affairs, Airports Council Int’l
Coffee Break 3 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Labor and the Global Outlook
3:30 p.m. – 5 p.m.
What is the right mix between in-house work, domestic sourcing, and overseas sourcing? If Dell can do it, why not the airlines? Are service companies different, or is this all about jobs? Best outsourcing practices – it’s not just about price.
Moderator: John Heimlich, Vice President and Chief Economist, ATA

Panelists:

Michael R. Madsen, Vice President - Airlines, Honeywell Aerospace
Capt. Dave Hogg, Chairman, IFALPA Industrial Committee
John Conley, TWU @ AA, Labor representative
Donald W. Maliniak, VP Labor Relations, FedEx
Gary Chase, Senior Airlines Analyst & Vice President, Lehman Brothers
Opening Evening Reception - Sponsored by Airbus
Cocktails 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Dinner starts at 6:30 p.m.

Stargazing and Dessert at 8:30 p.m. – Sponsored by Oliver Wyman

FRIDAY, 3/28/08


Continental Breakfast 7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.

Evolving Airline Networks
8:30 a.m. – 10 a.m.
How are carrier networks evolving domestically and globally? International diversification as a competitive advantage? Global alliances – their current and future importance. New aircraft technology and its impact on network strategy. Will small communities and secondary hubs come back?
Moderator: Scott McCartney, Travel Editor, WSJ

Panelists:

Barry Eccleston, President & CEO, Airbus NA
Harald deProsse, VP Network Strategy, LH
Peter Spencer, Managing Director, bmi
Edmond Rose, General Manager Airline Planning, Virgin Atlantic
Coffee Break 10 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Aeropolitics – The Biggest Challenges
10:30 a.m. – noon
Round two of the US/EU Agreement. The next likely ‘Open Skies’ agreement. What’s left to do that will have real impact? Visas and security – has the United States become a difficult place to visit/transit, and what are we doing about it? Airport slots – should international carriers be treated differently?
Moderator: Will Ris, VP Government Affairs, American Airlines

Panelists:

Ryuhei Maeda, Deputy Director-General, Civil Aviation Bureau
Clive Wright, First Secretary, Transport Policy, Global Issues Group, British Embassy, Washington
John Byerly, DAS for Transportation Affairs, DOS
Ing. Agustín Arellano Rodríguez, Director General, Mexican Airspace Navigation Services
Luncheon noon -1:30 p.m.

Alternative Business Models – What Seems to Be Working and Why?
1:30 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Ultra low-cost domestic service. On-demand VLJs. Low fare transatlantic business class. Low fare ultra long haul service. Low cost-to-low cost connecting models. The evolution of the European charter carrier. How are changes at the ‘full service carriers’ impacting these alternatives? What models are likely to succeed?
Moderator: Benét J. Wilson, Airports/Security Editor, Aviation Daily

Panelists:

Stephan Nagel, SVP Strategy. Air Berlin
Christoph Mueller, Aviation Director, TUI Travel, PLC
Henry C. Joyner, Senior Vice President – Planning, American Airlines
Chris Avery, VP Revenue and Planning, Westjet
Coffee Break 3 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Executive Panel
3:30 p.m. - 5 p.m.
How is the network carrier/low cost carrier equation changing? How much longer can international markets be the only source of growth for network carriers? What will the industry look like five years from now? What is the core business? – Spinning off loyalty programs?
Panel and Moderator: Randy Babbitt, Director, Oliver Wyman

Panelists:

David Cush, President & CEO, Virgin America
Phil Trenary, President & CEO, Pinnacle Airlines
W. Douglas Parker, Chairman & CEO, US Airways
Dermot Mannion, Chairman & CEO, Aer Lingus
Robert Fornaro, President & CEO, AirTran
Dave Barger, President & CEO, jetBlue
Andrew Harrison, CEO, easyJet
Cocktails and heavy hors’ d’oeurves immediately following

SPONSORS

http://phoenix.gov/skyharborairport/about/...nda.html#agenda


*Speakers and panels subject to change. For registration and conference updates, call (602) 273-8863 or visit this Web site frequently.
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[TWU informer]

Once a company union always a company union.