Flight Plan 2020

[Bob Owens]

Just read the Flagship News.

Apparently we the employees are not a wise investment. Under the paragraph "invest Wisely" the only assetts worth investing in are "our airplanes, our facilities, and our technological infastructure".

So what does this mean for us?


It means prepare to see your real wages continue to decline so Arpey can buy new airplanes, build new terminal and invest in more technology that will at best eliminate more jobs. As the companys balance sheet improves they will no doubt be rewarded with bonuses and pay raises while we are told we must continue to sacrifice in order to compete, in order to achieve "success".

Over the last six years we've seen our headcount plummet by 35%, our real wages plummet by 40% and revenues soar by as much as $6 billion dollars. In the meantime management costs went up and millions in bonuses were paid to management.

The sad fact is if they lose we lose but if they win or succeed we lose. I dont care to engage in that sort of competition. Let them play whatever games they like, lets get our money or shut it down.

 

[Maark767]

Wel said and so true !!!! I'm ready to shut it down.... Then see what they do....
It makes me sick...

Also they know that the Obama Administration wont let us strike and take a chance on hurting the economy even more. With that knowledge in their back pocket, they hold all the cards and it shows. Just read between the lines.... It's everywhere... From bonuses to the BS in flagship news.

 

[Hopeful]

Just read the Flagship News.



It means prepare to see your real wages continue to decline so Arpey can buy new airplanes, build new terminal and invest in more technology that will at best eliminate more jobs. As the companys balance sheet improves they will no doubt be rewarded with bonuses and pay raises while we are told we must continue to sacrifice in order to compete, in order to achieve "success".

Good point about technology and jobs. I understand in the coming year or two AA will be makig the move towards electronic logbooks. In a way this is a good thing to elimintae a ton of wasted paper and paperwork. But on the downside, what about those clerks that enter the log sheets and other data?

 

[eolesen]

If anyone can find a black cloud in a silver lining, it's Bob...

The less perpetually cynical read statements like that as saying it would be unwise to invest in another airline.

 

[Bob Owens]

If anyone can find a black cloud in a silver lining, it's Bob...

The less perpetually cynical read statements like that as saying it would be unwise to invest in another airline.

The point is there's no 'silver" in that lining for us.

 

[jimntx]

If anyone can find a black cloud in a silver lining, it's Bob...

The less perpetually cynical read statements like that as saying it would be unwise to invest in another airline.

E, I think Bob has a point here. When was the last time you saw a communique from Southwest about investments and plans that didn't mention employees first? There may have been some, but I certainly don't remember any. And, considering that we have not seen or heard any idea of the company retracting its investment offer in JAL, I think your statement is a little dissembling.

As someone who came to this glamorous career late in life, and who has spent most of my working life in major industry, I am appalled at the obvious contempt in which line employees are held by management at AMR. Even as a union member at AA, I was not one of the "management = evil" people because I used to be a management person. However, two years ago when AMR management accepted multi-million dollar bonusses on the exact same day they were announcing a $324 million quarterly loss, I gave up trying to justify their actions. And, it doesn't matter that under the (IMHO) bogus terms of their compensation plan, they "earned" the bonusses. Accepting the bonusses was just bad taste, and a slap in the face to the employees.

And, I'm not just talking about represented employees. I recently flew into an out station for a layover. We arrived on schedule, but at night. The poor gate agent asked me if I would mind making sure that the jetbridge door was closed when we got off the a/c, because she had to run and meet two other flights that were scheduled in at the same time and she was the only "topside" employee on duty.

 

[eolesen]

Jim, I share your viewpoint, but the statement from FN is still being spun way out of context... While some might stick around enough to actually be depreciated, you know they're talking about capital spending and depreciable assets. Labor in the US hasn't fallen into that category since the 1860's...

The fact JAL isn't mentioned doesn't bother me much. I've suspected all along that TPG is the one putting up the cash; AMR is doing little more than bringing them to the table.

 

[DallasConehead]

The "Flagship News" is nothing more than company propaganda whose intent is to instill fear in ourselves and our families. The seal doesn't get broken on mine, it goes straight into the recycle bin. Once upon a time the paper gave news that was worth reading, do they even mention retirees in there? Now it's full of adverts and crappy articles meant to scare, at least last time I looked it over it was. (A long time ago)

 

[FrequentFlierCA]

If you want "no future" look no further than the "bankruptcy four" (now three with the DL/NW "merger"). Creditor-owned, lower wages, retirements devalued, cut or shipped off to the government, etc.

Just think: if you push hard enough in negotiations, this could be your bright future too!

 

[AANOTOK]

The "Flagship News" is nothing more than company propaganda whose intent is to instill fear in ourselves and our families. The seal doesn't get broken on mine, it goes straight into the recycle bin. Once upon a time the paper gave news that was worth reading, do they even mention retirees in there? Now it's full of adverts and crappy articles meant to scare, at least last time I looked it over it was. (A long time ago)

Conehead. I'm with you. I haven't read mine (straight to the trash) in at least two years.
I would think that every penny saved by discontinuing this "trash" could be more beneficial
than the propaganda they spread.

 

[eolesen]

If they stopped sending Flagship News out, you'd never know who died...

 

[JFK Fleet Service]

If they stopped sending Flagship News out, you'd never know.

Fixed it for you.

 

[Bob Owens]

Conehead. I'm with you. I haven't read mine (straight to the trash) in at least two years.
I would think that every penny saved by discontinuing this "trash" could be more beneficial
than the propaganda they spread.

The fact that you know its propaganda makes it more important that you read it so you can discredit it on the floor to those who believe its "News".