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On 4/6/2003 10:39:23 AM RV4 wrote:
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On 4/6/2003 9:41:05 AM AA80Driver wrote:
Bob,
I agree with most of what you''ve posted and I think we can all come to the same conclusion on the situation. This TA and the situation we''re in sucks. There''s no other way to put it. However, what I''m trying to point out is that the alternative in BK will be worse. Look at what is happening to our bretheren at UAL and U.
I''m reluctantly voting YES and I''m mad as hell about it.
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I must be uninformed.
Tell us exactly what is happening at U and UAL that proves BK would be worse? Or are you repeating a fear campaign?
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I''ll take that one. As an employee of U, let me first say the bks of U and UAL are like night and day. At four months into their bk, UAL has yet to sign any contracts on paper. With the exception of the IAM and CWA, who came on board quickly afterwards, U had their contracts signed as they went into bk. Now some of my bitter nasty coworkers at U will be more than happy to vomit their opinions about the entire U bk, especially the bitter ''burghers, but U started off on the right foot by having those contracts signed early on. People forget , the bk judge is there to appease creditors, not labor. That''s the reality of the situation.
Were there threats of Chapter 7? Oh yeah. Did management come back for more? You better believe it. Was labor happy about the cuts? No. Did labor like the threats and fear factor tactics? Absolutely NOT. But many in labor didn''t seem to understand that the financial shape at U was shattered. They wanted to play the blame game over and over again, when infact labor had ignored the signs of an unsuccessful U for years. How many CEOS and analyst needed to state that we had to change business as usual or risk them circumstances? Nobody was listening, just blaming. And many "leaders" in our union ranks decided they were Norma Rae and were willing to say no and let a judge impose his "impartial" (HAHA) might on the employees. Might I add that management at U WAS INDEED MOST OF THE PROBLEM, but SO WAS LABOR!! My fellow f/a''s from all airlines want to live in the pre-deregulation days when you could have those cushy contracts. And yes, I have enjoyed those cushy contracts. Then, prices were set by the govt and there was money for those sweet contracts, but those days are gone.
Management''s poor decisions isolated the employees and took away all trust. Management blamed the employees. Employees blamed management. This started with all the mergers of the 80''s and didn''t end until last August when reality finally kicked in. This went on for 13 years. We have survived to spite ourselves.
Bk saved this company. We were bleeding for years. All 9/11 did was finally put an end to the road of denial. If that horrible event hadn''t happened, we at U would still be playing the blame game. BUT, bk IS the last resort. We were at the end...no choice...nothing....nada.
AMR employees, you must decide if you feel your company is as bad off as they say. Have the books been openned for labor to see? Are the cuts proposed enough to gain favor with creditors without bk? Remember, if your personal credit is bad, if you have defaulted on payments, or if you have too much debt, no bank would think of giving you credit. Businesses aren''t too different. Has Carty got a promise from banks or creditors that they will get funds if the employees give? Is this a ploy to get the employees to pony up so they can get rid of debt and file bk anyway? And then will they want more?
All of you must think carefully about your decision. Had I voted on U''s contracts based on emotion, I would had voted NO, but, I had to put aside my hate and disstrust for management and think logically about what I was doing. I was not willing to play chicken with a bk judge or with perhaps the threats of Ch.7. I had to stop and take a look at my job and the benefits of it. The cuts hurt like hell, but I do enjoy my job. I enjoy the flexability that I STILL have. I am not stuck in an office and I enjoy multible days off. I work two extra days and now fly international to make up for the cuts. Do I like doing it? No, but times, they are a changing and I''ll be damned if I was going to contribute to the sacrifice of my job and those of 30,000 others to make a point or somehow play the 2003 version of Norma Rae.
It''s up to all of you. Carty will get what he wants, one way or another.
Now is not the time to implode as a company. There is more than enough emotion and blame to throw around. Go someplace quiet and think about your decision and do so putting all the built up emotion aside.
Listen, there are no promises of survival. U isn''t projected to make a profit until 2004, if then...but at least for now we have some breathing room. If this war ends and people start flying and airlines CEOs finally "get it" and change way they do business, the industry might turn around. If not, I might be changing careers, but for now I can say I still have a job and when it ends, my belief in something greater than myself will provide. BUT, I can honestly say my decision was well though out and for now has provided a positive and not a negative. Don''t listen to others. The energy of the naysayer and deeply negative people will only get stronger. Most of them see no logic...just hate and negativity. They wouldn''t be happy if Jesus Christ and the 12 disciples ran the company and could provide all the miracles they wanted. And I''m sure those same people will blast me for saying this.
Good luck to all of you at AMR. Make your decisions wisely.
51 AM WO/drone wrote: 
45 AM RV4 wrote: 
19 AM rampguy wrote:
