July 8, 2006(Revised post)
TWA Picketing at APFA today...
I can't say that I blame the TWA folks for trying to fight for what they believe are rights they are entitled to.
I'm not saying I agree with them or believe that they are entitled to their FORMER seniority however...because I'm not and I don't.
We now have "official" word from AA Company spokesman Tim Smith, that American WILL consider such a change (or trade) when negotiating a new contract in 2008. (In other words they want big bucks in exchange)
This should put EVERY flight attendant on notice. We absolutely MUST MUST MUST get a new Administration and Negotiating Team in place that will protect our nAAtive seniority at all costs.
This news article quotes an AA spokesman directly as evidence which shows every single flight attendant that the Company IS INDEED WILLING to negotiate this item if given something of equal monetary value in exchange. WE SIMPLY CANNOT LET THAT HAPPEN, PERIOD. Our workforce simply cannot "afford" any additional cuts or concessions (pay OR work rule) of any kind.
We must get the "trade unionists" out of office at APFA. They believe that former employees of a defunct airline are entitled to YOUR and MY seniority at THIS company. That is a philosophical difference for which there can be no compromise on.
Remember, just because a Court ruled in our favor regarding the seniority lawsuit...doesn't mean this issue is over and dead. It isn't over until the very last TWA furloughee recall rights expire in July 2008. Only THEN will it be over.
Mike Schewerm, the former 24 year TWA attendant said American doesn't want the TWA workers because by contract they would get top wages, about $ 46/hour, instead of starting pay for new hires of about $ 17/hour.
He is precisely correct, that and the fact that medical insurance premiums for a aged workforce are extremely expensive, something that AMR can ill afford at present. I wish conditions were different and that AMR had trillions of dollars sitting around and that we could employ every single flight attendant that wants the job....but we can't.
This isn't a scare tactic...just stating the facts folks. If you want to protect your seniority...you better stay alert!
JN
IDF
Ah, sh*t, looks like we are going to give back much needed money in exchange for cr*p most of us don't want. It is inevitable. The clowns we work with just keep voting yes to extraneous BS instead of just going for the gusto in the paycheck. I don't really think it matters who is in high office because all of the retreads on the BOD are the ones that count.
I'm all about more money up front instead of hiding it in BS concessionary propaganda.
CG
JFK
OK...... What in the world are our union officials thinking? Stating that they want to give the TWA F/A's more time on the recall rights? I know that the "Fab Four" elected ,were only elected by the TWA folks, but these "Elected Officials" need to be working for the AA F/A's who actually pay dues to fund their paychecks.
We, as AA APFA union members need to send some type of message to the yahoos running our union that we want these types of counter productive assaults on the AA F/A group to stop.
What do you think is the best way to accomplish this? Sending a few thousand letters or perhaps a petition? Weather or not it will make a difference, we need to let Tommie and the rest of our so called Union Leaders know, enough is enough.
Just my thoughts and any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. July 2008 can't come quick enough!
Respectively,
PD
DFW
Ok here is a topic to chew me up about. I started With AA in 1989 as an Agent. In 97 I went to flight service. As an AMERICAN AIRLINES company transfer we had to sign a letter of resignation to passenger service and were told if we didnt pass Flight training we would NOT automatically get our jobs back. TWA F/A s didnt have that threat. As a company transfer we had to pay for our uniforms AGAIN after having already forked out previously, TWA didnt. As company transfers we went to the bottom of the pay scale we accepted that- TWA didnt have to. As company transfers we went to the bottom of the bidding the seniority list for bidding TWA got to keep their vacation bidding. AS A LONG TIME EMPLOYEE OF AMERICAN AIRLINES - IF TWA GETS UNLIMITED EVERYTHING THEN ITS ABOUT FRIGGIN TIME MY UNION START LOOKING OUT FOR US LONG TIME COMPANY EMPLOYEES!!!!! EVEN US JUNIOR COMAPNY TRANSFERS. I have been told "You were just an agent they are flight attendants". Since when are flight attendants from ANOTHER company better than those of us with THIS company.
LG
BOS-D (just an agent, junior puke-so I've been told!)
Thank you, PD!
No...it's too difficult to get the required signatures. How about Picketing APFA like the TWA folks did.... EXCEPT when WE do it...we do it EN MASSE (not just 30 people) we need 200 people to show up to picket outside of APFA with placards that say "Protect our nAAtive Seniority!"
We could also make signs up that say "Impeach President Hutto-Blake!" and on the other side it could read "Traitor to her Membership."
JN
IDF
Well said Ms. LG...
I couldn't agree more with you. You had to start at the bottom in ALL respects. Everyone else who works here at AA from Braniff, Eastern, PanAm, and others also had to start-over at the bottom.
But even though you've worked for AA longer than the TWA people have it doesn't matter because THIS Administration feels that "senior" flight attendants at ANY company are more important than "junior" flight attendants at OUR Company.
It's pathetic...and treason as far as I'm concerned.
Contact your Base Chairs IMMEDIATELY and tell them you won't tolerate this sh*t and that you want a Resolution passed IMMEDIATELY prohibiting THB from extending recall rights for TWA furloughees.
We have to tie her hands and put tape over her mouth.
JN
IDF
