American Airlines and Labor Negotiations

[NYer]

Although we wouldnt go on strike I do think a strike authorization would send a msg but with the stupid court crap by company n union the question is what wld be the point of taking one now

If everyone knows, especially the Company, that a strike wouldn't be allowed, why take a vote? Toothless.

 

[robbedagain]

If everyone knows, especially the Company, that a strike wouldn't be allowed, why take a vote? Toothless.

Send a message enough is enough. In years past it seemed to of helped. But today i think we lost a shot at getting a deal anytime soon. But who knows Ive been wrong n Im sure I am wrong but i feel that we had hell of chance

 

[NYer]

Send a message enough is enough. In years past it seemed to of helped. But today i think we lost a shot at getting a deal anytime soon. But who knows Ive been wrong n Im sure I am wrong but i feel that we had hell of chance

Send a message to who?

The Company knows the NMB won't allow a strike to a major airline.

What it might do is give the Members the false impression a strike is possible, when it isn't.

 

[robbedagain]

Send a message to who?

The Company knows the NMB won't allow a strike to a major airline.

What it might do is give the Members the false impression a strike is possible, when it isn't.

Alright then.

 

[swamt]

If everyone knows, especially the Company, that a strike wouldn't be allowed, why take a vote? Toothless.

Because you guys have a very stupid and unprofessional asso representing you, and they are still way too old school thinking threats of a "bloody battle" and a possible "strike vote" would even "tickle" the co's nego team. NOT going to happen fellas. So sad to sit back and watch, almost even embarrassing for me, pathetic is more like it...

 

[Tim Nelson]

Send a message enough is enough. In years past it seemed to of helped. But today i think we lost a shot at getting a deal anytime soon. But who knows Ive been wrong n Im sure I am wrong but i feel that we had hell of chance

robbed, a strike vote couldnt hurt. It could be used to allow the haters to blow off steam and rally, sorta like the dopey pickets.
Of course you wont see one cuz few support the direction of these bozos.
Even you must admit that samuelsons tantrum was out of line.

 

[NYer]

Because you guys have a very stupid and unprofessional asso representing you, and they are still way too old school thinking threats of a "bloody battle" and a possible "strike vote" would even "tickle" the co's nego team. NOT going to happen fellas. So sad to sit back and watch, almost even embarrassing for me, pathetic is more like it...

Jim Little was said to be too soft with no backbone.

John Samuelson comes as the antithesis of that.

Both groups have difficulties because of the restrictions placed on us due to Railway Labor Act, a fact most want to ignore.

 

[Tim Nelson]

Jim Little was said to be too soft with no backbone.

John Samuelson comes as the antithesis of that.

Both groups have difficulties because of the restrictions placed on us due to Railway Labor Act, a fact most want to ignore.

samuelson may be good in the nyc transit against a city with deep pockets but he comlletely showed his inexperience in this industry.
These airlines been waiting for the moment where they merged so big that it would take away the strike.

There is more on the table that we could get but it will require being professional and not devious like conspiracy theorist boy Peterson.

 

[Tim Nelson]

I’ll give Nyer this respect, when he made comments and claims about the mx issue,when asked he provided links and the actual documents. I respect that, btw Tim you should learn from that when you’re making outlandish claims.
Nyer have you heard anything about retro from last sept when the contract became admenable

i agree. Very refreshing to have nyer back.

 

[robbedagain]

robbed, a strike vote couldnt hurt. It could be used to allow the haters to blow off steam and rally, sorta like the dopey pickets.
Of course you wont see one cuz few support the direction of these bozos.
Even you must admit that samuelsons tantrum was out of line.

I do believe it was overboard.

 

[NYer]

Dallas Morning News

FORT WORTH — A leader of the union representing American Airlines mechanics said a lawsuit accusing its members of slowing down work "came as a shock" during testimony in federal court Monday.

Gary Peterson, a Transport Workers Union vice president based at DFW International Airport, said he and other union leaders tried to disprove accusations that they told members to slow down work and turn down overtime to increase pressure on American as the parties negotiate a new combined contract after four years of talks.

"No one from American Airlines reached out to us before this about a slowdown," he said.

The two sides laid out arguments in U.S. District Court in Fort Worth. Lawyers and witnesses for American contend statistics since February show that a backlog of maintenance work can be pinned on illegal union collusion. They also keyed on signs and internet posts at various locations throughout the country earlier this year that American interpreted as a call to action for maintenance workers.

The world's largest airline estimates as many as 88,000 customers have had flights delayed or canceled because of the alleged slowdowns.

Lawyers for TWU and the International Association of Machinists tried to poke holes in American's statistician expert witness, arguing that an increase in flight delays and maintenance issues predated a breakdown in contract negotiations in February.

It will likely be more than a month before Judge John McBryde decides what to do in the case, based on a timeline he granted after hearing Monday's arguments. McBryde could grant a permanent injunction to the Fort Worth-based carrier and put union leaders under close scrutiny during the entirety of contract negotiations. If that doesn't work, American may have to find another way, such as financial penalties.

American's case leaned heavily on testimony by David Seymour, senior vice president for integrated operations, that the number of planes not available to fly after overnight maintenance work had nearly doubled during the last five months compared to previous years.

American also pointed to the fact that it's had problems filling opportunities for overtime pay, remote work at other locations and letting maintenance workers skip lunch for overtime pay.

"Historically, we've never had a problem filling overtime when we offer it," Seymour said. "We haven't gotten the same productivity we've gotten in the past."

TWU lawyer Mark Richard hammered Seymour on whether the airline had disciplined individual mechanics, to which Seymour answered no.

Instead, American's argument relied on a broad analysis of maintenance delays. It brought in airline operations statistician Darin Lee as an expert witness who testified that data showed workers were almost certainly to blame for slowdowns. He cited data on planes out of service after overnight work and on unfilled overtime. He said large hubs such as Phoenix and Charlotte, N.C., had days when all maintenance workers refused overtime requests.

Union lawyers countered with their own statistician, Christian Tregillis, who said American was overstating backups in the maintenance system. In fact, he said, pilots were putting in a higher number of work orders.

Under a temporary restraining order McBryde issued June 14, union leaders were required to tell members they weren't endorsing a slowdown, discouraging overtime or off-site work assignments or doing anything else to delay or cancel flights.

Peterson said he and other union leaders had gone to great lengths to stop any coordinated work slowdowns. He said any internet posts or signs encouraging members to slow down work were unauthorized and immediately removed.

"We did everything we could to make sure we did what we were required to do by the court," Peterson said.

 

[Buck]

If everyone knows, especially the Company, that a strike wouldn't be allowed, why take a vote? Toothless.

Why vote on anything, we were not allowed to vote on the Association nor the placement of "leadership" at the International.

 

[Tim Nelson]

"Trying to Level the Playing Field: Management's Entitlement to Economic Damages Resulting from Illegal Labor Strikes"

In 1999. It was interesting that the Judge handling this case was also associated and mentioned in the academic research under the title above.

 

[Tim Nelson]

Looks like the union won a bit of wiggle room today. Surprised that the judge put a timetable of about one month. That doesn't suggest slam dunk for the company

 

[conehead777]

Dallas Morning News

FORT WORTH — A leader of the union representing American Airlines mechanics said a lawsuit accusing its members of slowing down work "came as a shock" during testimony in federal court Monday.

Gary Peterson, a Transport Workers Union vice president based at DFW International Airport, said he and other union leaders tried to disprove accusations that they told members to slow down work and turn down overtime to increase pressure on American as the parties negotiate a new combined contract after four years of talks.

"No one from American Airlines reached out to us before this about a slowdown," he said.

The two sides laid out arguments in U.S. District Court in Fort Worth. Lawyers and witnesses for American contend statistics since February show that a backlog of maintenance work can be pinned on illegal union collusion. They also keyed on signs and internet posts at various locations throughout the country earlier this year that American interpreted as a call to action for maintenance workers.

The world's largest airline estimates as many as 88,000 customers have had flights delayed or canceled because of the alleged slowdowns.

Lawyers for TWU and the International Association of Machinists tried to poke holes in American's statistician expert witness, arguing that an increase in flight delays and maintenance issues predated a breakdown in contract negotiations in February.

It will likely be more than a month before Judge John McBryde decides what to do in the case, based on a timeline he granted after hearing Monday's arguments. McBryde could grant a permanent injunction to the Fort Worth-based carrier and put union leaders under close scrutiny during the entirety of contract negotiations. If that doesn't work, American may have to find another way, such as financial penalties.

American's case leaned heavily on testimony by David Seymour, senior vice president for integrated operations, that the number of planes not available to fly after overnight maintenance work had nearly doubled during the last five months compared to previous years.

American also pointed to the fact that it's had problems filling opportunities for overtime pay, remote work at other locations and letting maintenance workers skip lunch for overtime pay.

"Historically, we've never had a problem filling overtime when we offer it," Seymour said. "We haven't gotten the same productivity we've gotten in the past."

TWU lawyer Mark Richard hammered Seymour on whether the airline had disciplined individual mechanics, to which Seymour answered no.

Instead, American's argument relied on a broad analysis of maintenance delays. It brought in airline operations statistician Darin Lee as an expert witness who testified that data showed workers were almost certainly to blame for slowdowns. He cited data on planes out of service after overnight work and on unfilled overtime. He said large hubs such as Phoenix and Charlotte, N.C., had days when all maintenance workers refused overtime requests.

Union lawyers countered with their own statistician, Christian Tregillis, who said American was overstating backups in the maintenance system. In fact, he said, pilots were putting in a higher number of work orders.

Under a temporary restraining order McBryde issued June 14, union leaders were required to tell members they weren't endorsing a slowdown, discouraging overtime or off-site work assignments or doing anything else to delay or cancel flights.

Peterson said he and other union leaders had gone to great lengths to stop any coordinated work slowdowns. He said any internet posts or signs encouraging members to slow down work were unauthorized and immediately removed.

"We did everything we could to make sure we did what we were required to do by the court," Peterson said.

If this dose not get mechanics to sign cards I don’t no what will.twu lawyer Mark Richard is why I have signed in every card drive. Because you see how twu blames us mechanics. Instead of fighting for there members. Hey mark go screw your self I want to see you defend Samuelson bloody remarks. Let’s all sign cards and let’s get AMFA they filed a counter suit and didn’t throw members under a bus. I guess that’s fitting since the twu is a bus driver union.lets get a maintenance union that looks out for us. Peterson you didn’t do **** but throw mechanics under a bus to. So screw you to and all you twu/iam what a joke of a association y’all had a lot of defensive options but choice to blame mechanics shame on you .