AA and APFA expidite talks

[AirLUVer]

Dallas Morning News

 

[Mrs. McFly]

It will be interesting to see what comes of this. Could prove to be a smart move by the flight attendants.

 

[TIME FOR CHANGE]

It will be interesting to see what comes of this. Could prove to be a smart move by the flight attendants.

A smart move for what
Another two years of nothing
Another two years of share in the pain share in the gain

:blink: :huh:

 

[nbmcg01]

A smart move for what
Another two years of nothing
Another two years of share in the pain share in the gain

:blink: :huh:

Given the fact that Continental's top brass has elected to forego bonuses et al, it might be a way to "call out" the bosses. I think the TWU workers may have been a little hasty (given the current economic climate). There could be furlough protections attached. All recalled before hiring. For the f/as the restoration of furlough pay. This is a good and smart move.

 

[eolesen]

I think the TWU workers may have been a little hasty (given the current economic climate). There could be furlough protections attached. All recalled before hiring. For the f/as the restoration of furlough pay. This is a good and smart move.

Totally agree, Nancy... Furloughs are coming, so if APFA can manage to get better voluntary leave terms, fix the recall issue, or work out a buy-out as part of a mini-deal to extend the current agreement, that's still better than dragging it out. If nothing else, it means that the junior FA's aren't being used as pawns by either side.

Conley figured out "red skies in morning, workers take warning", but the TWU higher ups didn't want to hear that.

There's no doubt that AA's going to have to implement real capacity cuts the way that UAL and CAL have already announced. MD80's being parked on a 1:1 basis with new 737 deliveries doesn't really cut capacity. The A300's being retired is a good start, but even that's going to take three years to be complete since lease return dates go out into 2010 and 2011 (unless, as mentioned earlier in the week, AA manages to find a home with a cargo operator for the brunt of the fleet).

 

[The Goose]

Totally agree, Nancy... Furloughs are coming, so if APFA can manage to get better voluntary leave terms, fix the recall issue, or work out a buy-out as part of a mini-deal to extend the current agreement, that's still better than dragging it out. If nothing else, it means that the junior FA's aren't being used as pawns by either side.

Conley figured out "red skies in morning, workers take warning", but the TWU higher ups didn't want to hear that.

There's no doubt that AA's going to have to implement real capacity cuts the way that UAL and CAL have already announced. MD80's being parked on a 1:1 basis with new 737 deliveries doesn't really cut capacity. The A300's being retired is a good start, but even that's going to take three years to be complete since lease return dates go out into 2010 and 2011 (unless, as mentioned earlier in the week, AA manages to find a home with a cargo operator for the brunt of the fleet).

What's going around lately is running the time out on 80s then parking in the desert. At that point, Goodrich will do the minimal maintenance required for lease return.

The TULE "pulse" line (or should we say "flat line) is doing minimal work now - just airing up tires, polishing, fixing the obvious and sending them back out to run out the time, or so we're told.

 

[Hunter]

There could be furlough protections attached. All recalled before hiring. For the f/as the restoration of furlough pay. This is a good and smart move.

APFA leadership is keenly aware that there are any number of issues/improvements that can be addressed in expiated bargaining. It really just depends on AA's sincerity in entering these talks.

Only time will tell but APFA is ready.

 

[jimntx]

Given the fact that Continental's top brass has elected to forego bonuses et al, it might be a way to "call out" the bosses. I think the TWU workers may have been a little hasty (given the current economic climate). There could be furlough protections attached. All recalled before hiring. For the f/as the restoration of furlough pay. This is a good and smart move.

Nancy, I noticed the posting time on this. Have you started drinking in the morning? We all know that the only information the APFA needs from the company is how many junior f/as need to be thrown under the bus in order to bring back paid medical for people who refuse to fly. The APFA's main interest in these negotiations is restoring senior pay and perks.

 

[Skymess]

Nancy, I noticed the posting time on this. Have you started drinking in the morning? We all know that the only information the APFA needs from the company is how many junior f/as need to be thrown under the bus in order to bring back paid medical for people who refuse to fly. The APFA's main interest in these negotiations is restoring senior pay and perks.

Not so sure I buy that, Jim.

I can't guess at what the union wants. I have to speculate at the convenient timing for their announcement that they want to start negotiating an extension.

How long have these meetings been happening and whose leadership did they start under? Seems awfully frightening to me that the negotiating committee is set to START on June 10th and they are already talking about getting a quick agreement. It is also kind of strange that they set APFA meetings up and proclaim that they will use them as TA road shows if they come to an agreement.

Let's look at the timeline:
"On June 10, we will exchange our opening proposals with management and devote the rest of the month to negotiations. In the first week of July, we will prepare for membership meetings at each base. These Road Shows will begin on July 8 in Los Angeles and will end on July 29 in Miami. The full list of dates is provided at the end of this HotLine. "

June 10 openers.
July 8th first road show and a possible TA?

I also found it kind of annoying that they mentioned 2-3 times the "economic environment" they would be negotiating in so they could set us all up for their new fear campaign. I noticed how frightened those with the most knowledge of our precarious economic environment were when they bonused themselves again in April and made more plans for bonuses in the future.

I guess we'll have to wait and see what is on the table and not make any hasty decisions to knock it down if it does offer some immediate financial relief without giving the rest of our duty rigs/staffing formulas away.

 

[The Goose]

Not so sure I buy that, Jim.

I can't guess at what the union wants. I have to speculate at the convenient timing for their announcement that they want to start negotiating an extension.

How long have these meetings been happening and whose leadership did they start under? Seems awfully frightening to me that the negotiating committee is set to START on June 10th and they are already talking about getting a quick agreement. It is also kind of strange that they set APFA meetings up and proclaim that they will use them as TA road shows if they come to an agreement.

Let's look at the timeline:
"On June 10, we will exchange our opening proposals with management and devote the rest of the month to negotiations. In the first week of July, we will prepare for membership meetings at each base. These Road Shows will begin on July 8 in Los Angeles and will end on July 29 in Miami. The full list of dates is provided at the end of this HotLine. "

June 10 openers.
July 8th first road show and a possible TA?

I also found it kind of annoying that they mentioned 2-3 times the "economic environment" they would be negotiating in so they could set us all up for their new fear campaign. I noticed how frightened those with the most knowledge of our precarious economic environment were when they bonused themselves again in April and made more plans for bonuses in the future.

I guess we'll have to wait and see what is on the table and not make any hasty decisions to knock it down if it does offer some immediate financial relief without giving the rest of our duty rigs/staffing formulas away.

"Throwing the jrs. under the bus", "economic environment", and the rest of the defeatist language made me think for a minute the f/as merged with the TWU.

 

[FA Mikey]

Not so sure I buy that, Jim.

I can't guess at what the union wants. I have to speculate at the convenient timing for their announcement that they want to start negotiating an extension.

How long have these meetings been happening and whose leadership did they start under? Seems awfully frightening to me that the negotiating committee is set to START on June 10th and they are already talking about getting a quick agreement. It is also kind of strange that they set APFA meetings up and proclaim that they will use them as TA road shows if they come to an agreement.

Let's look at the timeline:
"On June 10, we will exchange our opening proposals with management and devote the rest of the month to negotiations. In the first week of July, we will prepare for membership meetings at each base. These Road Shows will begin on July 8 in Los Angeles and will end on July 29 in Miami. The full list of dates is provided at the end of this HotLine. "

June 10 openers.
July 8th first road show and a possible TA?

For an extension agreement, yes it is possible. As they said on the web site. "We have now agreed to meet with the Company. APFA’s purpose is to spend the next three weeks focused exclusively on reaching an agreement that provides immediate relief to the Flight Attendants. While success may be unlikely, if we do not at least make the effort, failure is certain."

I guess we'll have to wait and see what is on the table and not make any hasty decisions to knock it down if it does offer some immediate financial relief without giving the rest of our duty rigs/staffing formulas away.

I dont think we will see that happen. Worst case though, we can stop it with a vote.

 

[jimntx]

Did anyone happen to notice that THB and C. Lukensmeyer both retired as soon as their APFA terms were up? (not)

 

[eolesen]

Did anyone happen to notice that THB and C. Lukensmeyer both retired as soon as their APFA terms were up? (not)

It's one of the most thankless jobs around...

 

[jimntx]

Thankless had nothing to do with it. It was just two more of those confessed to the Blessed Order of the Perpetually Trip-Removed not being able to face having to be flight attendants again.

 

[MCI transplant]

"Throwing the jrs. under the bus", "economic environment", and the rest of the defeatist language made me think for a minute the f/as merged with the TWU.

<_< ------ What's the difference? Ether way they're all still exTWA!!! :down: