American''s crews ''broke'' and ''tired''
Cuts force many to scrimp, work long days to keep families afloat
07/08/2003
By KATIE FAIRBANK / The Dallas Morning News
Tim Schwagart commutes from Dallas to Chicago to hold onto his job. Barbara McGowan-McMurray works 30 percent more hours to keep her paycheck about the same. Laura Lohrman, distraught about losing her job, killed herself.
Workers at American Airlines are finding it difficult to handle the sweeping cuts they accepted to keep the Fort Worth-based carrier afloat.
Morale is very, very low, said Steve Blankenship, head of the national communications committee for the Allied Pilots Association. But we clearly understand the long-term viability of this airline is directly related to the sacrifices we''ve made.
In April, pilots, mechanics and flight attendants agreed to thousands of layoffs and reduced pay and benefits to help keep the airline out of bankruptcy. American''s parent company, AMR Corp., had been losing money steadily for about two years and was on the verge of filing with the courts for protection from creditors. But during desperation bargaining, the airline leadership persuaded employees to accept $1.8 billion a year in cuts.
Workers saw their pay slashed by 16 percent to 23 percent, and those cuts are now showing up on their paychecks.
Furloughs for 1,300 mechanics, 1,200 fleet service clerks and 3,100 flight attendants followed. About 2,200 pilots will see their jobs eliminated in July, according to an airline spokesman, who declined to discuss how employees are faring at the airline.
Mr. Blankenship said percentages don''t tell the whole story.
It''s not just a simple pay cut, he said. I''m a captain on the Super 80, and if things continue to go as forecast, I''ll be moved to first officer. That''s a 50 percent pay cut. It cascades down to 100 percent pay cut for those that are furloughed.
Workers have scrambled to reduce their budgets. They say they''ve canceled vacations and child care and swimming lessons for their children. Some have found they can''t afford their cars or their homes. Nearly all are working longer hours.
Scrimp is a good word to describe the American Airlines flight attendant lifestyle, said Rock Salomon, who''s been a flight attendant for more than 12 years. We''re broke. Not only are we broke; we''re tired to boot. With the new work rules in place, we often work 11-hour days with a 9 ½-hour layover.
''A hard time''
Ms. McGowan-McMurray, a flight attendant and American employee for more than three decades, says the cut to her take-home pay was a lot more than 16 percent. Her take-home pay has decreased by 33 percent because of additional cuts in vacation, overtime and increased medical premiums.
We took a lot bigger cut, she said. The people that are working are having such a hard time. I know pilots and flight attendants that have had to sell their homes. It''s not because they overextended themselves. They believed they had a viable deal.
I''ve also seen a lot of people retire in disgust. They didn''t really want to. All of that is quite a hardship, she said.
To make up the difference, Ms. McGowan-McMurray has canceled her cable and refinanced her truck. And she''s working 30 percent more to try to make up the difference in pay with overtime.
Many people didn''t know how bad it was. I think they were floored when they got their checks at the end of June, she said.
Workers are worn out from the extra effort and extra stress.
Obviously we''re still here working and doing the same job. It''s harder, and it''s taking longer hours, Ms. McGowan-McMurray said.
Most employees would be willing to sacrifice if they thought their pay would eventually return to original levels, she said, but now all we see is a deep, dark hole.
Hole was too deep
For Ms. Lohrman, who had two grown children, the hole was too deep. The 17-year flight attendant flew most of her career with Trans World Airlines, which was purchased by American in 2001. She was furloughed on her 40th birthday in January.
Five months later, she committed suicide.
Ms. Lohrman''s mother, Jackie Mayhew, said that her daughter was devastated because of the layoff and that her life had spiraled out of control.
It just wasn''t a job – it was an identity. She had no other education, and she could only find minimum-wage jobs, Ms. Mayhew said. She just got to the point where she didn''t see any way out.
Ms. Lohrman''s death shocked the close-knit airline community.
Hundreds of co-workers – some estimated as many as a thousand – flew to St. Louis for Ms. Lohrman''s funeral.
It was hard news, said Sharon Shadrach, a flight attendant who took retirement to avoid receiving a furlough notice. Now we''re keeping track of each other. I don''t know how this last group that was furloughed is going to handle it. They''re not getting furlough pay.
Liz Geiss, information representative for the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, said it''s been difficult for many of the workers.
Morale is very low. It''s a very sad time for them. These days, this job is a [lifetime] career. It''s devastating, she said.
Mechanic Tim Schwagart of Arlington is so happy to have a job that he says he feels optimistic about his situation.
To keep his job with American, Mr. Schwagart opted to work out of Chicago, flying home to see his family on his days off. At least we''ve got the paychecks coming in. I''m going to commute for as long as it takes, he said.
Long days
In Chicago, he shares an apartment with three other mechanics and works 10 ½-hour days so he has more days off to spend with his family.
I work on planes, then get on a plane to go home to see my 9-month-old. That''s the hardest part for me, said Mr. Schwagart. I can talk to my wife and 7-year-old.
Mr. Schwagart and his three roommates found a place near public transportation because none of them has a car. They''re looking forward to getting the next guy into the crash pad because he has a truck, and it will reduce the rent even more.
They sleep on air mattresses and use camp chairs to watch their 10-inch television. They pool their money to buy meat to grill – and sometimes it''s the only item on the menu.
We''re getting used to each other. At one time I was a bachelor, but now I''m married and living with guys, Mr. Schwagart said.
It''s different. Sometimes it''s kind of humorous.
And despite the hardship of being separated from his family, Mr. Schwagart says he believes this is the best thing he can do.
9-11 impact
You''ve got to make the best of it. That''s what everybody does, he said. This is what we''ve been dealt since Sept. 11, and the further we get away from that, the better we are. I''m confident that staying with American Airlines is the best thing I can do. It''s the best thing for me.
American hasn''t finalized its restructuring plans, and the airline said last week that it would announce further cost-cutting moves soon. American is still deciding how it assigns its maintenance work, its route structure and its fleet.
But bookings have been strong through the summer and planes are flying more full, giving kernels of hope to stressed and depressed employees.
People are looking for glimmers of hope and glimmers of a turnaround, said Mr. Blankenship. A glimmer is a glimmer. We''re waiting to see.
E-mail [email protected]
Cuts force many to scrimp, work long days to keep families afloat
07/08/2003
By KATIE FAIRBANK / The Dallas Morning News
Tim Schwagart commutes from Dallas to Chicago to hold onto his job. Barbara McGowan-McMurray works 30 percent more hours to keep her paycheck about the same. Laura Lohrman, distraught about losing her job, killed herself.
Workers at American Airlines are finding it difficult to handle the sweeping cuts they accepted to keep the Fort Worth-based carrier afloat.
Morale is very, very low, said Steve Blankenship, head of the national communications committee for the Allied Pilots Association. But we clearly understand the long-term viability of this airline is directly related to the sacrifices we''ve made.
In April, pilots, mechanics and flight attendants agreed to thousands of layoffs and reduced pay and benefits to help keep the airline out of bankruptcy. American''s parent company, AMR Corp., had been losing money steadily for about two years and was on the verge of filing with the courts for protection from creditors. But during desperation bargaining, the airline leadership persuaded employees to accept $1.8 billion a year in cuts.
Workers saw their pay slashed by 16 percent to 23 percent, and those cuts are now showing up on their paychecks.
Furloughs for 1,300 mechanics, 1,200 fleet service clerks and 3,100 flight attendants followed. About 2,200 pilots will see their jobs eliminated in July, according to an airline spokesman, who declined to discuss how employees are faring at the airline.
Mr. Blankenship said percentages don''t tell the whole story.
It''s not just a simple pay cut, he said. I''m a captain on the Super 80, and if things continue to go as forecast, I''ll be moved to first officer. That''s a 50 percent pay cut. It cascades down to 100 percent pay cut for those that are furloughed.
Workers have scrambled to reduce their budgets. They say they''ve canceled vacations and child care and swimming lessons for their children. Some have found they can''t afford their cars or their homes. Nearly all are working longer hours.
Scrimp is a good word to describe the American Airlines flight attendant lifestyle, said Rock Salomon, who''s been a flight attendant for more than 12 years. We''re broke. Not only are we broke; we''re tired to boot. With the new work rules in place, we often work 11-hour days with a 9 ½-hour layover.
''A hard time''
Ms. McGowan-McMurray, a flight attendant and American employee for more than three decades, says the cut to her take-home pay was a lot more than 16 percent. Her take-home pay has decreased by 33 percent because of additional cuts in vacation, overtime and increased medical premiums.
We took a lot bigger cut, she said. The people that are working are having such a hard time. I know pilots and flight attendants that have had to sell their homes. It''s not because they overextended themselves. They believed they had a viable deal.
I''ve also seen a lot of people retire in disgust. They didn''t really want to. All of that is quite a hardship, she said.
To make up the difference, Ms. McGowan-McMurray has canceled her cable and refinanced her truck. And she''s working 30 percent more to try to make up the difference in pay with overtime.
Many people didn''t know how bad it was. I think they were floored when they got their checks at the end of June, she said.
Workers are worn out from the extra effort and extra stress.
Obviously we''re still here working and doing the same job. It''s harder, and it''s taking longer hours, Ms. McGowan-McMurray said.
Most employees would be willing to sacrifice if they thought their pay would eventually return to original levels, she said, but now all we see is a deep, dark hole.
Hole was too deep
For Ms. Lohrman, who had two grown children, the hole was too deep. The 17-year flight attendant flew most of her career with Trans World Airlines, which was purchased by American in 2001. She was furloughed on her 40th birthday in January.
Five months later, she committed suicide.
Ms. Lohrman''s mother, Jackie Mayhew, said that her daughter was devastated because of the layoff and that her life had spiraled out of control.
It just wasn''t a job – it was an identity. She had no other education, and she could only find minimum-wage jobs, Ms. Mayhew said. She just got to the point where she didn''t see any way out.
Ms. Lohrman''s death shocked the close-knit airline community.
Hundreds of co-workers – some estimated as many as a thousand – flew to St. Louis for Ms. Lohrman''s funeral.
It was hard news, said Sharon Shadrach, a flight attendant who took retirement to avoid receiving a furlough notice. Now we''re keeping track of each other. I don''t know how this last group that was furloughed is going to handle it. They''re not getting furlough pay.
Liz Geiss, information representative for the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, said it''s been difficult for many of the workers.
Morale is very low. It''s a very sad time for them. These days, this job is a [lifetime] career. It''s devastating, she said.
Mechanic Tim Schwagart of Arlington is so happy to have a job that he says he feels optimistic about his situation.
To keep his job with American, Mr. Schwagart opted to work out of Chicago, flying home to see his family on his days off. At least we''ve got the paychecks coming in. I''m going to commute for as long as it takes, he said.
Long days
In Chicago, he shares an apartment with three other mechanics and works 10 ½-hour days so he has more days off to spend with his family.
I work on planes, then get on a plane to go home to see my 9-month-old. That''s the hardest part for me, said Mr. Schwagart. I can talk to my wife and 7-year-old.
Mr. Schwagart and his three roommates found a place near public transportation because none of them has a car. They''re looking forward to getting the next guy into the crash pad because he has a truck, and it will reduce the rent even more.
They sleep on air mattresses and use camp chairs to watch their 10-inch television. They pool their money to buy meat to grill – and sometimes it''s the only item on the menu.
We''re getting used to each other. At one time I was a bachelor, but now I''m married and living with guys, Mr. Schwagart said.
It''s different. Sometimes it''s kind of humorous.
And despite the hardship of being separated from his family, Mr. Schwagart says he believes this is the best thing he can do.
9-11 impact
You''ve got to make the best of it. That''s what everybody does, he said. This is what we''ve been dealt since Sept. 11, and the further we get away from that, the better we are. I''m confident that staying with American Airlines is the best thing I can do. It''s the best thing for me.
American hasn''t finalized its restructuring plans, and the airline said last week that it would announce further cost-cutting moves soon. American is still deciding how it assigns its maintenance work, its route structure and its fleet.
But bookings have been strong through the summer and planes are flying more full, giving kernels of hope to stressed and depressed employees.
People are looking for glimmers of hope and glimmers of a turnaround, said Mr. Blankenship. A glimmer is a glimmer. We''re waiting to see.
E-mail [email protected]
