Layoffs

[Bob Owens]

With the pull down in service and reduction of aircraft the company announced layoffs across the system.

However those layoffs have been cancelled for the FAs and the pilot group already and no layoffs have occured within the TWU group, in fact the company continues to rehire.

The company offered VBRs but then retracted the offer apparently acrosss the system with the exception of MCI.

In the meantime the company is putting out news releases stating tha AA has the highest labor costs in the industry.

Is the company simply fattening up the ranks of labor in preparation for the slaughter? If you are overstaffed job actions are less effective. If the schedule has been reduced, thus lowering ASMs available but you hire more workers wouldnt that drive your labor costs up?

 

[jimntx]

However those layoffs have been cancelled for the FAs

This is a misstatement of fact. The FA layoffs were not cancelled. The flight attendants stepped up to the plate and took advantage of sufficient furlough mitigation options that no layoffs were necessary for now.

I think the pilot "furlough" was a negotiating ploy. The company cancelled the pilot furloughs due to an "unexpected" number of retirements. Since pilots notify the company months in advance of their expected retirement date, I fail to see how they can be "unexpected. Beside that, there does not seem to be a big desire on the part of pilots to stay until their new mandatory retirement age of 65.

I don't know about other areas of the company, but when a S80 leaves the ground, the FAA says there has to be 2 cockpit crew and 3 f/as on board if it is a scheduled flight regardless of whether or not there are passengers onboard. (I think they can forego the f/as if the cockpit is ferrying the old dear to the desert. )

And, since I don't think AMR management is dumb enough to try the "shrink to profitability" strategy which has never worked for any other airline, there is only so far they can cut the ranks of the pilots and the f/as.

 

[AirLUVer]

I think the pilot "furlough" was a negotiating ploy. The company cancelled the pilot furloughs due to an "unexpected" number of retirements. Since pilots notify the company months in advance of their expected retirement date, I fail to see how they can be "unexpected. Beside that, there does not seem to be a big desire on the part of pilots to stay until their new mandatory retirement age of 65.

Jim the exact numbers of pilots that don't cancel their lock in are unknown until the day before their "retirement" date. Pilots lock in three months in advance, but they can cancel their retirement up until the day before their effective retirement date. It makes it quite difficult to staff and schedule without knowing the exact number at least 5 weeks in advance, the time to train a replacement. Again average numbers for lock in are in the 100's, but actual takers are in the 20's to 30's on a historical basis prior to this year.

 

[MCI transplant]

With the pull down in service and reduction of aircraft the company announced layoffs across the system.

However those layoffs have been cancelled for the FAs and the pilot group already and no layoffs have occured within the TWU group, in fact the company continues to rehire.

The company offered VBRs but then retracted the offer apparently acrosss the system with the exception of MCI.

In the meantime the company is putting out news releases stating tha AA has the highest labor costs in the industry.

Is the company simply fattening up the ranks of labor in preparation for the slaughter? If you are overstaffed job actions are less effective. If the schedule has been reduced, thus lowering ASMs available but you hire more workers wouldnt that drive your labor costs up?

<_< ------- Bob, the VBR's are still on here at MCI, and quit a few are taking advantage of it, but as far as lay-off's, no one has yet been asked to leave!! But most people feel, no matter what the company says, there is a good chance the base will not re-open after the holiday break! So if a contract proposal is brought back to the membership for a vote before then, guess what? We'll be voting on it also!!!

 

[Barfbag]

As far as ground service in the NY Metro it appears that the company wants to chose who goes under the VBR program.

There are no clear rules as to how the process of selection for the VBR works, It appears that they want to rid the payroll of older, hgh O/T+earners, high vacation, accident and sick prone employees.

Again the local leadership of the TWU has failed to inform it's membership about what's going on with regards to the VBR.

The company has increased the P/T slots as they hired more P/T off the street. They've decreased the F/T slots. No requesting P/T received VBR, only a handful of F/T did.

Following this pattern the compnay will keep payroll down.

 

[The Goose]

As far as ground service in the NY Metro it appears that the company wants to chose who goes under the VBR program.

There are no clear rules as to how the process of selection for the VBR works, It appears that they want to rid the payroll of older, hgh O/T+earners, high vacation, accident and sick prone employees.

Again the local leadership of the TWU has failed to inform it's membership about what's going on with regards to the VBR.

The company has increased the P/T slots as they hired more P/T off the street. They've decreased the F/T slots. No requesting P/T received VBR, only a handful of F/T did.

Following this pattern the compnay will keep payroll down.

I could show the company how to save billions (or some other number Carl Sagan would have dreamed up) each year but alas - they're not interested.

 

[LGA Fleet Service]

I could show the company how to save billions (or some other number Carl Sagan would have dreamed up) each year but alas - they're not interested.

They have no use for 'Ideas' that don't come from their highly paid airline consultants or from the puzzle palace on Amon Carter boulevard.

 

[formeraa]

They have no use for 'Ideas' that don't come from their highly paid airline consultants or from the puzzle palace on Amon Carter boulevard.

I have an "ideAA". Fire the freakin' consultants and make management do their jobs. I'm sure their job description includes "managing the company".

 

[The Goose]

I have an "ideAA". Fire the freakin' consultants and make management do their jobs. I'm sure their job description includes "managing the company".

Managing the compaany? Are you out of your friggin' mind? That's the last thing we need those bozos to attempt.

Ah dearie me - if I could only work my will, as it's said ...