And you guys complain about a raise!

[Veritas]

If your bank is 20 miles, its probably time to find a new bank.

Your reading comprehension is quite challenged. What Jim wrote was that his bank was three miles away and the airport was seventeen miles from his home in the other direction.

Personally, I haven't seen any of the exemplary service that warrants recognition let alone bonuses (and believe me I set my expectations accordingly when I set foot AA aircraft).

Didn't you write that you work in the financial sector? You know, the one where many take home millions, if not billions, in bonuses at the same time that the government TARP program saved their institutions from failure. Just what did all of you do to deserve those fat bonuses that were funded by the taxpayers? I haven' seen any exemplary service rendered by any of my bankers and investment advisors.

I love direct deposit, and haven't stepped foot in a bank lobby or deposited a check at an ATM in two years, but believe it or not, I enjoyed passing out paychecks (and then pay stubs before ePays came out).

My bank has a smart phone app that enables me to make a deposit by simply snapping a picture of the check with my cell phone camera.

 

[Ken MacTiernan]

It's AA's fault that there's taxes? AA is requiring Jim to make a special drive out to the airport and deposit the check all in the same day?...

Let me get this right.... The company gives you a bonus (yes, a bonus, since many of you seem to think anything that isn't part of your base pay is a bonus), and you complain.

If you're so offended, feel free to sign your check over to the charity of your choice, or pick a furloughee at random, and send it to them. I'm sure either one of them will be happy to get the face value of the check...

Or simply don't cash the check. You'll be assessed taxes, and the company will eventually get the money back when the check ages.

Eric,

Of course it is not AA's fault taxes are included. But I think you miss the point about paper checks. Many years ago all employees were forced to go to direct deposit. Since then all checks/payments made to employees were given in this form. Now, spring forward eight years after concessions were taken and management continued to live the lie of "shAAred sAAcrifice" during these eight years and morale has hit bottom.

But yet some rocket scientist in management decides that employees actually want face to face time with management so why not hand out a paper check and shake a hand and say thanks? Bad idea!

It is a bad idea because first I personally feel insulted that management has their collective heads so far up their arse they actually think a hand shake will make me feel better about this company? The checks are handed out by midlevel supervisors. My supervisor here, and when I was in DFW, had nothing to do with the "great lie" of shAAred sAAcrifice. Actually these supervisors I worked for and work for here in SAN are good people. They thank us for a job well done from time to time and that is nice. But handing me a check while I continue to wait for a decent t/a is insulting. Oh, let's not forget that management considers labor "bricks" and they STILL take millions of dollars in bonuses while we continue the buden of "saving" AA from Bankruptcy.

AA continues to blame labor as a problem preventing them from making a profit. But they turn aroud and offer scraps and people are suppose to swallow whole insincere thanks? It's called PRINCIPLES! Something upper management knows nothing about or worse totally ignore. (The joy of cashing a paper check goes against AA's drive to have us go direct deposit in the first place.)

I DO NOT want an AIP check.

I DO NOT want stock.

I DO NOT want lies and empty slogans.

I WANT an industry leading contract.

I WANT respect.

 

[737823]

Your reading comprehension is quite challenged. What Jim wrote was that his bank was three miles away and the airport was seventeen miles from his home in the other direction.


Didn't you write that you work in the financial sector? You know, the one where many take home millions, if not billions, in bonuses at the same time that the government TARP program saved their institutions from failure. Just what did all of you do to deserve those fat bonuses that were funded by the taxpayers? I haven' seen any exemplary service rendered by any of my bankers and investment advisors.

Well, the bank is 20 miles from the airport then, right? Point is it seems the bank Jim is using is inconvenient for him and there are probably better alternatives. In BOS and NYC there is no shortage of B of A and Citibank and it seems I always run into them. Besides, why does he need to make a special trip to pick up his check? Don't flight attendants report to the airport for their shifts? So simply arrive 15 minutes or so earlier, pick up the check and deposit when its convenient.

Much like the RPA doesn't mean AA management shouldn't collect their stock based compensation why should bankers and financial executives not receive their compensation in a binding contract set by a compensation committee? Would union AA employees be okay if management cherry picked and evaded their CBA regarding pay and benefits? It's no different. Look at Goldman and Citigroup as two examples-taxpayers have netted ~25% gains on the two and not to mention the greater implications had either suddenly failed.

Josh

 

[telebender1956]

It's AA's fault that there's taxes? AA is requiring Jim to make a special drive out to the airport and deposit the check all in the same day?...

Let me get this right.... The company gives you a bonus (yes, a bonus, since many of you seem to think anything that isn't part of your base pay is a bonus), and you complain.

If you're so offended, feel free to sign your check over to the charity of your choice, or pick a furloughee at random, and send it to them. I'm sure either one of them will be happy to get the face value of the check...

Or simply don't cash the check. You'll be assessed taxes, and the company will eventually get the money back when the check ages.

How many trees were killed to print up the paper checks?

 

[telebender1956]

Eric,

Of course it is not AA's fault taxes are included. But I think you miss the point about paper checks. Many years ago all employees were forced to go to direct deposit. Since then all checks/payments made to employees were given in this form. Now, spring forward eight years after concessions were taken and management continued to live the lie of "shAAred sAAcrifice" during these eight years and morale has hit bottom.

But yet some rocket scientist in management decides that employees actually want face to face time with management so why not hand out a paper check and shake a hand and say thanks? Bad idea!

It is a bad idea because first I personally feel insulted that management has their collective heads so far up their arse they actually think a hand shake will make me feel better about this company? The checks are handed out by midlevel supervisors. My supervisor here, and when I was in DFW, had nothing to do with the "great lie" of shAAred sAAcrifice. Actually these supervisors I worked for and work for here in SAN are good people. They thank us for a job well done from time to time and that is nice. But handing me a check while I continue to wait for a decent t/a is insulting. Oh, let's not forget that management considers labor "bricks" and they STILL take millions of dollars in bonuses while we continue the buden of "saving" AA from Bankruptcy.

AA continues to blame labor as a problem preventing them from making a profit. But they turn aroud and offer scraps and people are suppose to swallow whole insincere thanks? It's called PRINCIPLES! Something upper management knows nothing about or worse totally ignore. (The joy of cashing a paper check goes against AA's drive to have us go direct deposit in the first place.)

I DO NOT want an AIP check.

I DO NOT want stock.

I DO NOT want lies and empty slogans.

I WANT an industry leading contract.

I WANT respect.

I want back my 17.5% - 5 vacation days- 5 paid holidays- 5 days of full pay sick time-and 2.5% COLA for the last 8 years.

 

[Veritas]

Much like the RPA doesn't mean AA management shouldn't collect their stock based compensation why should bankers and financial executives not receive their compensation in a binding contract set by a compensation committee?

Using one wrong to justify another? That's rich.

Bonus, by definition, is special compensation and should be performance based.

It is arrogant for the bankers to collect billions in bonuses after having their collective derrières and institutions saved by the taxpayers. I don't recall GM and Chrysler executives collecting obscene bonuses after their companies were bailed out.

 

[jimntx]

Well, the bank is 20 miles from the airport then, right? Point is it seems the bank Jim is using is inconvenient for him and there are probably better alternatives.

The bank is 3 miles from my home. How is that inconvenient? No wonder you are in the financial sector. Being able to think and calculate doesn't seem to be a requirement. As far as BofA and Citibank...I've tried both. Both have their heads up their rear ends when it comes to customer service unless you have at least $1 mil on deposit.

BofA took money out of my account in error and it took me 6 months to get the money back. A "customer service" representative with Citibank--my name is Neeti, but you may call me Nadia (said in an Indian accent)--tried to convince me that the late charge I got for failure to pay a ZERO balance was within the terms of my credit card agreement. Her supervisor, allegedly named John, insisted that I needed to pay on time each month. When I asked him how did he propose that I pay a zero balance, he answered, "Sir, how you handle your financial affairs is not our concern."

It took me contacting a friend who is an executive with Citibank to get the bogus late charge taken off my account. (And, I hate imposing on friends for business reasons. Just as I am not thrilled when friends tell me about the problems they had on an AA flight that I was not working. Or, the acquaintances--I won't call them friends--who seem to think that I can get them free, or deeply discounted, tickets on AA.)

 

[TIME FOR CHANGE]

I like the paper check. When management hands it to me i tell them its missing a couple of zeros at the end.
On another positive note its money the wife doesnt know about

 

[737823]

The bank is 3 miles from my home. How is that inconvenient? No wonder you are in the financial sector. Being able to think and calculate doesn't seem to be a requirement. As far as BofA and Citibank...I've tried both. Both have their heads up their rear ends when it comes to customer service unless you have at least $1 mil on deposit.

BofA took money out of my account in error and it took me 6 months to get the money back. A "customer service" representative with Citibank--my name is Neeti, but you may call me Nadia (said in an Indian accent)--tried to convince me that the late charge I got for failure to pay a ZERO balance was within the terms of my credit card agreement. Her supervisor, allegedly named John, insisted that I needed to pay on time each month. When I asked him how did he propose that I pay a zero balance, he answered, "Sir, how you handle your financial affairs is not our concern."

It took me contacting a friend who is an executive with Citibank to get the bogus late charge taken off my account. (And, I hate imposing on friends for business reasons. Just as I am not thrilled when friends tell me about the problems they had on an AA flight that I was not working. Or, the acquaintances--I won't call them friends--who seem to think that I can get them free, or deeply discounted, tickets on AA.)

I'm still waiting for you to explain what is so difficult about showing up 15-20 minutes earlier than usual to big up your check before your shift/trip commences?

I actually agree with a lot of what you posted Jim. Citibank does have abysmal customer service and BofA isn't much better. Much like the airlines, I think the public just doesn't expect customer service from retail banks. I too don't like asking friends to intervene on business matters-it's best for their employment relationship, our friendship, and my customer relationship.


Josh

 

[frontline]

In terms of those who are complaining, I really don't care how big or small this is. The fact is that those getting the bonuses earned that money and deserve it. Of course it "could be" more, but why turn down or complain about money you have worked hard to earn?

 

[Hopeful]

In terms of those who are complaining, I really don't care how big or small this is. The fact is that those getting the bonuses earned that money and deserve it. Of course it "could be" more, but why turn down or complain about money you have worked hard to earn?

Tell me, frontie,
How hard do you think we worked only to have $$$ taken away?
$140,000 to date as far as i'm concerned!

 

[FrequentFlierCA]

Hopeful,

What might your $140,000 in concessions have looked like a bankruptcy court where the judge tore up the contract and imposed deeper concessions? $175,000? $200,000? Or maybe AA would have shrunk so much that you would have lost your job entirely, right along with your pension.

Scary thought, I realize, and I'm glad it didn't go down that way. But looking to restore the 2003 concessions as a base line is only going to lead to disappointment.