Who's really on top?

[Ken MacTiernan]

I don't understand you guys who think the TWU is cowering to the company. TWU asked the mediators for release to cooling off and strike. How is that cowering?

Let's see... by bringing back ANOTHER concessionary contract that would have divided and conquered our craft and class is a good indication of cowering. Oh, let's not forget the colored flyer inserted in our ballots urging a yes vote. That's a good indication of cowering. And my personal favorite... promoting an undemocratic, unaccountable industrial union ruining our craft and class while from behind an alias. That's PRICELESS cowering! 🙂

 

[FWAAA]

More evidence to substantiate what we all know to be true lies in the recent attendance of a 737 manager and his counterparts to a Boeing sponsored TOPICS (Technical Operations Performance Improvement and Cost Solutions) Conference in Miami. Boeing link here http://www.boeing.com/commercial/aeromagazine/articles/qtr_01_10/2/ . It was noted that Americans 737 maintenance costs were in line with all the other participants in attendance with one exception. American produced their aircraft in less time. Not many people are aware of Americans participation in the TOPICS program and even less will admit that AA runs a very competitive maintenance operation. It would be appropriate for management to congratulate, and reward its employees for a job well done.

With AA's relatively low pay for mechanics, it would not be a surprise that at current wages, AA's maintenance costs were in line with other airlines. The line mechanics are severely underpaid and the overhaul staff make more than they would at a third party MRO. The real question is: "How high the wages could go before AA's maintenance costs are no longer in line with the competition?"

 

[Rogallo]

With AA's relatively low pay for mechanics, it would not be a surprise that at current wages, AA's maintenance costs were in line with other airlines. The line mechanics are severely underpaid and the overhaul staff make more than they would at a third party MRO. The real question is: "How high the wages could go before AA's maintenance costs are no longer in line with the competition?"

So, what percentage of the 600 million bricks in Brundages' backpack is the relatively low paid mechanics portion??