American Airline Pilots' Slowdown Wins a Victory, Despite What You Read in the DMN

[BoeingBoy]

I wish I knew which side of the field you are playing on. Do you even work for AA?

The side of impartial outsiders with no emotions at stake. Been through a court TRO that turned into a permanent injunction, 2 bankruptcies and 3 mergers.

I'd be very surprised if AA isn't collecting evidence for a TRO filing. The pilots have handed management a hammer and dared them to use it. US proved it's case with statistics and with headlines about pilots taking their anger out by delaying flights it shouldn't be hard to do. AA pilots publicly saying that they're "winning" just gives management more evidence. If you think "work to book" changes anything, you'll be surprised by what a judge will sign.

Jim

 

[Glenn Quagmire]

They will also go after airline forum postings in litigation if necessary to get what they want.

 

[amt66]

American Airlines Threatens Pilots' Union With Court Action if Slowdown Continues


Posted On: Sep 27, 2012

By Terry Maxon--

We should not be surprised if the negotiations that the Allied Pilots Association agreed to this afternoon turned out to be dead by midnight

We’ve learned that American’s senior vice president of people, Denise Lynn, sent what was called a “very threatening letter” to the three national officer and the board of directors late Wednesday afternoon or early Wednesday evening.

Lynn’s letter told the union leadership to make their members quit disrupting American’s operations or that the airline was prepared to go into court to seek an injunction.

One union guy told us that the letter so angered the union’s leadership that it likely ended any chance for a consensual deal between airline and union for the foreseeable future.

Around 10 p.m. Wednesday, American spokesman Bruce Hicks confirmed that the airline management had sent the letter.

“We do not want to pursue a legal remedy, but we will be left with little alternative if APA does not take action to stop those pilots who are intentionally harming the operation,” Hicks said.

“American’s operations have continued to suffer for more than a week now, and we must take the appropriate steps to ensure our customers and our airline are protected,” he said.

He added: “The recent conduct by some of our pilots is inflicting economic damage on the company, frustrating and alienating our customers, and driving unnecessary work and significant stress for other employees.”

The union official called the arrival of the letter “really unfortunate because the board had agreed to negotiate today, and tomorrow they were poised to issue a notice to the pilots saying, ‘Hey, while we’re negotiating, everybody, let’s calm down.’”

American has headed to the courts in previous labor battles with pilots, in winter 1990-1991 during a slowdown connected to contract talks and in February 1999 when pilots unhappy about a merger with Reno Air Inc. staged a “sickout.” In both cases, as in the current situation, the union denied that there was any concerted effort to disrupt American’s operations or that the union supported any job action.

As we noted in an earlier item, American has had nearly half its flights arrived at least 15 minutes late for days now. In 14 of the last 17 days, American finished 33rd out of 33 North American carriers in on-time arrivals. It finished 32nd once and 31st twice for its only trips off the bottom during that period.

 

[777 / 767 / 757 Love]

American Airlines Threatens Pilots' Union With Court Action if Slowdown Continues


Posted On: Sep 27, 2012

By Terry Maxon--

We should not be surprised if the negotiations that the Allied Pilots Association agreed to this afternoon turned out to be dead by midnight

We've learned that American's senior vice president of people, Denise Lynn, sent what was called a "very threatening letter" to the three national officer and the board of directors late Wednesday afternoon or early Wednesday evening.

Lynn's letter told the union leadership to make their members quit disrupting American's operations or that the airline was prepared to go into court to seek an injunction.

One union guy told us that the letter so angered the union's leadership that it likely ended any chance for a consensual deal between airline and union for the foreseeable future.

Around 10 p.m. Wednesday, American spokesman Bruce Hicks confirmed that the airline management had sent the letter.

"We do not want to pursue a legal remedy, but we will be left with little alternative if APA does not take action to stop those pilots who are intentionally harming the operation," Hicks said.

"American's operations have continued to suffer for more than a week now, and we must take the appropriate steps to ensure our customers and our airline are protected," he said.

He added: "The recent conduct by some of our pilots is inflicting economic damage on the company, frustrating and alienating our customers, and driving unnecessary work and significant stress for other employees."

The union official called the arrival of the letter "really unfortunate because the board had agreed to negotiate today, and tomorrow they were poised to issue a notice to the pilots saying, 'Hey, while we're negotiating, everybody, let's calm down.'"

American has headed to the courts in previous labor battles with pilots, in winter 1990-1991 during a slowdown connected to contract talks and in February 1999 when pilots unhappy about a merger with Reno Air Inc. staged a "sickout." In both cases, as in the current situation, the union denied that there was any concerted effort to disrupt American's operations or that the union supported any job action.

As we noted in an earlier item, American has had nearly half its flights arrived at least 15 minutes late for days now. In 14 of the last 17 days, American finished 33rd out of 33 North American carriers in on-time arrivals. It finished 32nd once and 31st twice for its only trips off the bottom during that period.

There is information that the union heads were angered by this.......BUT WHAT ON EARTH DID THEY EXPECT THE COMPANY TO DO? The management team has responsibilities to creditors, customers and other employees to not allow economic harm to come to the company.

Jesus, for educated and professionally trained employees, sometimes the pilots are not to bright in their planning and expectations.....

Cheers,
777 / 767 / 757

 

[BigMac]

American Airlines Threatens Pilots' Union With Court Action if Slowdown Continues

CBS This Morning interviewed Bruce Hicks today about this. They made him look like a fool. I hope to find this interview to post. It was so bad it was embarrassing and gave everyone a first hand look at what caliber of management is running this sinking ship.

 

[Super FLUF]

There is information that the union heads were angered by this.......BUT WHAT ON EARTH DID THEY EXPECT THE COMPANY TO DO? The management team has responsibilities to creditors, customers and other employees to not allow economic harm to come to the company.

So what you are saying is....

1. The company, knowing it was short staffed last spring, should have resumed recalling furloughed pilots so as to not run into this staffing problem now?

2. The company, knowing it needs to get all of the employees on board, should have offered a reasonable deal to the pilots, rather than a grossly overreaching cram down?

3. The company should have expected a negative operational reaction to 11,000 WARN letters being sent out to employees that will be canned a week before Christmas?

4. The company should have known that the FAA would have labeled AA a "distressed carrier" when it entered bankruptcy, planned for the extra maintenance scrutiny, and staffed accordingly?

5. The company should have considered that, imposing the absolute worst terms of the term sheets on the pilots would cause severe blowback?

WOW! I TOTALLY AGREE!

Too bad they failed their "creditors, customers and other employees" in this basic function of managing the airline.

Jesus, for educated and professionally trained employees, sometimes the pilots are not to bright in their planning and expectations.....

Aw gosh yup us dum pyluts will jst have to live with our dumness. thanx for lookin out fer us.

See ya on the picket line.

 

[BigMac]

CBS This Morning interviewed Bruce Hicks today about this. They made him look like a fool. I hope to find this interview to post. It was so bad it was embarrassing and gave everyone a first hand look at what caliber of management is running this sinking ship.

Found it :
http://download.cbsnews.com/media/2012/09/27/ctm_0927_SKY2_796.m4v?ADPARAMS=BRAND=55%7CSITE=162%7CSP=181%7CPOS=100%7CNCAT=cbsnewswap&track1=CBSNews&track2=MobileWeb

 

[BoeingBoy]

So what you are saying is....

1. The company, knowing it was short staffed last spring, should have resumed recalling furloughed pilots so as to not run into this staffing problem now?

2. The company, knowing it needs to get all of the employees on board, should have offered a reasonable deal to the pilots, rather than a grossly overreaching cram down?

3. The company should have expected a negative operational reaction to 11,000 WARN letters being sent out to employees that will be canned a week before Christmas?

4. The company should have known that the FAA would have labeled AA a "distressed carrier" when it entered bankruptcy, planned for the extra maintenance scrutiny, and staffed accordingly?

5. The company should have considered that, imposing the absolute worst terms of the term sheets on the pilots would cause severe blowback?

Are you sure you don't work for management? You're doing a good job of making their case for them...

Jim

 

[Frank Szabo]

... snip ...

Jesus, for educated and professionally trained employees, sometimes the pilots are not to bright in their planning and expectations.....

Cheers,
777 / 767 / 757

One might say the same re: the individuals in Centrepork.

Numbers on spreadsheets are fine in that they react predictably to manipulation. However, the lowly "bricks in the backpack" are humans - we are, regardless of station, fallible, emotional, and generally don't care to be treated as dirt, simply to further an accountant's desire for a large paycheck.

People, the part of a business that can't be quantified definitively on Horton's copy of Lotus 123, and to deal with them requires a real businessman (or woman). In the latest cluster, the pilots agreed to meet and negotiate with the company after a request to do so - at that point, a threat to buy a judge's ruling re: a restraining order was not necessary. After the company's threat, the pilots acted predictably human - only a fool (or someone who desired the reaction they got) would have thought differently. Right or wrong is immaterial - the pilots' reaction to AMR's games could have been predicted by a freshman psych student. One does not affirm a step in the correct direction with threats unless the desire is to negate the progress made.

A corporation does not need to kiss their employees' posteriors in order to operate their business nor do they need to give in to every pissy demand brought forth by the work groups. The brass does, however, needs to brush up on the computer based training the rabble is required to take - "The Value of Respect" is one of many that comes to mind. Respect is earned - not given away simply due to the fancy nameplate on a door. It is evident Centrepork holds little (no pun intended) respect for those who make the business operate so it's not hard to see why none is returned.

We, from the people that clean the crappers to the chauffeurs in the cockpit of the multi-million dollar aircraft, simply want to be treated commensurate to the lip service we receive - "greatest asset", indeed - that makes "Four Biggest Lies" instead of three.

 

[NewHampshire Black Bears]

Found it :
http://download.cbsn...rack2=MobileWeb

Where the 'F' does AMR find these CLOWNS ??? (That S-HEAD looked like todays version of ...NEWT (x3) Gingrich.

I've followed/watched Nora O'Donnell for years. She wasn't conned for one second with Hick's patronizing 'Corn pone' "YES M'aam" (smile) BULL SHIIT !

Why doesn't Horton go before the camera like (uncle) Bobby CRANDALL would have ?

Stay Tuned !!!!!!!!!!

 

[Frank Szabo]

Where the 'F' does AMR find these CLOWNS ??? (That S-HEAD looked like todays version of ...NEWT (x3) Gingrich.

I've followed/watched Nora O'Donnell for years. She wasn't conned for one second with Hick's patronizing 'Corn pone' "YES M'aam" (smile) BULL SHIIT !

Why doesn't Horton go before the camera like (uncle) Bobby CRANDALL would have ?

Stay Tuned !!!!!!!!!!

I found the short video rather comical - for all Hicks said, he didn't answer one single question put to him, only deflection and redirection, typical of the suits and ties.

Actually, Mr. Bears, Hicks reminded me more of a skinnier Tip O'Neil - red nose and all - probably had tee many martoonies for lunch or first break. Maybe he's the one that's been snarfing the minis I read about.

If Rudolf gets sick, Santa has a stand-in.

 

[Bob Owens]

There is information that the union heads were angered by this.......BUT WHAT ON EARTH DID THEY EXPECT THE COMPANY TO DO? The management team has responsibilities to creditors, customers and other employees to not allow economic harm to come to the company.

MANAGE THE COMPANY!!!!! Thats what management is expected to do.

Bruce Hicks said "the actions of some of our pilots". So in other words its not the APA. The APA hasn't instructed their members to hurt the company, the company even claims that "some, certainly not all" are allegedly trying to hurt the company. Well, they supposedly manage the company, have they approached any of the pilots in question and discussed their performance and what they expect from them with them?? Isnt that part of their job?
Its not the Unions responsibility to manage the workforce.

 

[777 / 767 / 757 Love]

So what you are saying is....

1. The company, knowing it was short staffed last spring, should have resumed recalling furloughed pilots so as to not run into this staffing problem now?

2. The company, knowing it needs to get all of the employees on board, should have offered a reasonable deal to the pilots, rather than a grossly overreaching cram down?

3. The company should have expected a negative operational reaction to 11,000 WARN letters being sent out to employees that will be canned a week before Christmas?

4. The company should have known that the FAA would have labeled AA a "distressed carrier" when it entered bankruptcy, planned for the extra maintenance scrutiny, and staffed accordingly?

5. The company should have considered that, imposing the absolute worst terms of the term sheets on the pilots would cause severe blowback?

WOW! I TOTALLY AGREE!

Too bad they failed their "creditors, customers and other employees" in this basic function of managing the airline.



Aw gosh yup us dum pyluts will jst have to live with our dumness. thanx for lookin out fer us.

See ya on the picket line.

So what do you plan on doing for a living when AA is no longer? If i was this cavalier with my livelihood and the way I make money, my wife would be out the door with the kids.

Cheers,
777 / 767 / 757

 

[777 / 767 / 757 Love]

One might say the same re: the individuals in Centrepork.

Numbers on spreadsheets are fine in that they react predictably to manipulation. However, the lowly "bricks in the backpack" are humans - we are, regardless of station, fallible, emotional, and generally don't care to be treated as dirt, simply to further an accountant's desire for a large paycheck.

People, the part of a business that can't be quantified definitively on Horton's copy of Lotus 123, and to deal with them requires a real businessman (or woman). In the latest cluster, the pilots agreed to meet and negotiate with the company after a request to do so - at that point, a threat to buy a judge's ruling re: a restraining order was not necessary. After the company's threat, the pilots acted predictably human - only a fool (or someone who desired the reaction they got) would have thought differently. Right or wrong is immaterial - the pilots' reaction to AMR's games could have been predicted by a freshman psych student. One does not affirm a step in the correct direction with threats unless the desire is to negate the progress made.

A corporation does not need to kiss their employees' posteriors in order to operate their business nor do they need to give in to every pissy demand brought forth by the work groups. The brass does, however, needs to brush up on the computer based training the rabble is required to take - "The Value of Respect" is one of many that comes to mind. Respect is earned - not given away simply due to the fancy nameplate on a door. It is evident Centrepork holds little (no pun intended) respect for those who make the business operate so it's not hard to see why none is returned.

We, from the people that clean the crappers to the chauffeurs in the cockpit of the multi-million dollar aircraft, simply want to be treated commensurate to the lip service we receive - "greatest asset", indeed - that makes "Four Biggest Lies" instead of three.

Can't argue with anything you said, you hit the nail right on the head, and you ABSOLUTELY deserve more respect than you may have been afforded.

But in life, no problem is one sided. The company never publicly bashes the company, while APFA and APA have publicly bashed management over, and over and over again. So, to the publics eye, its kind of hard to make the respect argument when the unions are the ones slinging mud.

Both sides are guilty of showing little respect for the other.

Cheers,
777 / 767 / 757

 

[777 / 767 / 757 Love]

Where the 'F' does AMR find these CLOWNS ??? (That S-HEAD looked like todays version of ...NEWT (x3) Gingrich.

I've followed/watched Nora O'Donnell for years. She wasn't conned for one second with Hick's patronizing 'Corn pone' "YES M'aam" (smile) BULL SHIIT !

Why doesn't Horton go before the camera like (uncle) Bobby CRANDALL would have ?

Stay Tuned !!!!!!!!!!

GREAT POINT.

Cheers,
777 / 767 / 757