PlaneBusiness: Why AA Pilots Need To Vote Yes

[eolesen]

http://www.planebuzz.com/2012/08/why_american_airlines_pilots_n.html

Instead of pasting the whole column, I'll just post the ending...

... voting "no" is not the way to get this management team out of the picture. Nor is it a way to tell the current management team to go F*$% themselves.

In fact, I would argue that a "no" vote makes the situation much more advantageous for the current management team.

I know it sounds contrary. I know it sounds confusing.

But the pilot group will not "win" if the current contract is abrogated.

Finally, if you are foolish enough to think management will come back and "sweeten" the deal if the contract is abrogated-- while creditors are breathing down their neck to get as much money as possible out of the airline's coffers -- think again.

But this time think rationally. Not emotionally.

Go read the column for yourself.

And before you accuse Holly of being a management shill... that couldn't be farther from the truth if you've read any of her writing in the past 24 months.

 

[FWAAA]

She's no management shill, but in this binary world (this forum), where voting yes means you're a "coward" and a "spineless jellyfish" and practically as evil as a scab, many will assert that Holly has been bought by management.

You and I have both posted about the dangers of letting one's emotions make what should be business decisions - nice to see Holly say the same thing.

 

[luvthe9]

VOTE HELL NO AND HELP US STOP THIS MERGE WE WANT AMR TO COME OUT OF BANKRUPTCY ON IT'S OWN.

 

[1AA]

This is becoming a game of Poker. Both sides pushing but someone is going to go bust.
Time is running short for AA. The unions know this. AA seems to sweeten things up a bit every time there is a new Last Best Offer. At some point the Last Best Offer will be the Last.

 

[Captain Reality]

The pilot's are going to vote yes. For us to vote no, would be career ending suicide. We don't have the guts to strike so a yes vote is the only option.

 

[tom barry]

She's no management shill, but in this binary world (this forum), where voting yes means you're a "coward" and a "spineless jellyfish" and practically as evil as a scab, many will assert that Holly has been bought by management.

You and I have both posted about the dangers of letting one's emotions make what should be business decisions - nice to see Holly say the same thing.

I'm curious, whats the annual cost now, to follow her ?
Correcto. She's Not 'bought and paid for' by AMR.
I always liked her/learned many things about the Industry FROM her !

 

[WorldTraveler]

Just remember that history shows that what is said on aviation chat forums is not necessarily reflective of how a vote will turn out.

there is little way of knowing w/ certainty how the votes will turn out.

 

[luvthe9]

The pilot's are going to vote yes. For us to vote no, would be career ending suicide. We don't have the guts to strike so a yes vote is the only option.

You will fit very nicely with all the weakings here at USAir. welcome aboard, get use to living in fear!!!!! I use to have respect for the AMR pilots that always showed unity and were not afraid to stand up, those days are gone.

 

[Mach85ER]

Thx E.

I read it and am still voting NO.

Despite what "CA Reality" posted, the tide has been turning and even he should have by now the number of "NO" voters and the seniority range of them. It's all ranges. Most pilots I have been running across are voting "NO"
. Even more than I few than I remember as "Yes" voters a month ago have turned up as voting "NO".

Holly is somewhat close but "no cigar" as to the real reasons for opposition. Nobody is expecting a DAL/UAL contract out of this, but aren't willing to lock themselves into what amounts to a 10 year sentence.

This failure will be completely Horton's fault. He went for a dramatic overreach. Garbage from the A319 rates of $30,000-$100,000 that are paid elsewhere to the economic death sentence handed out for a pilot disabled with an injuryu on duty to the ridiculous standard of holding the pilots sick use to the same standards as those in Centreport offices. Only fair right?

Horton will have a choice. Kill AA in a useless battle with the pilots or bring them in as a team.

 

[TWU informer]

Fellow APA Pilots,
We have less than a week before the final tabulation results of American Airlines Last Best Final Offer is revealed. I would be terribly remiss if I did NOT disclose to the membership a dialog session which transpired in Marina Del Rey, CA. The locale was the Warehouse, a restaurant, and I was accompanied by 15 fellow pilots of the LAX domicile, ranging from line pilots, check airmen, Flight Department Pilots who all dined with Captain John Hale and Senior VP of Operations, Mr. Jim Ream.

The meeting occurred on the eve of July 26th. Captain Hale was the financial host of the get together which was arranged specifically to give both Captain Hale and Mr. Ream a cross stratification from the most Junior in our base ranks to the most Senior, from managerial types to union advocates, for the sole purpose of edifying where the rank and file actually stand on this LBFO.

Once dinner was concluded, the small talk ceased as we moved to a more private setting in the restaurant where Captain Hale delivered some opening remarks then handed off the dialog to Mr. Ream who gave us a Macro Economic overview of American Airlines and the goals and Objectives he and others are trying to achieve.

After an opening question by one of our former negotiators was posed regarding the culture of distrust and apparent over reach of this TA, I followed on to ask Mr. Ream a multi faceted question relevant to his Macro vision, which is the heart of my post today.

I stated to Mr. Ream, since it is the public posture of APA for regime change with US AIR being the desired player, that the equity ploy (including F/As & mechanics) would still leave organized labor 15% short of a blocking vote. I felt the POR blocking strategy was indeed a long shot and would very possibly still find us working under a very draconian TA for the next 10 years.

I further stated, I feel American would pursue purchasing JetBlue. Therefore, the existing TA as it stands, leaves the American Airline pilot exposed.

In short, I explained that I felt manipulated and used by BOTH sides and he would not achieve labor peace with the pilots when the depth of deception was revealed. He appeared surprised by how much push back he was sensing from the pilots for he had been led to believe that this TA was a good deal for the pilots inside of bankruptcy.

My question was could He alter the TA before the vote was tabulated, if we could propose a viable argument for why such amendment was necessary.

Mr. Ream responded:
(Not exact quotes, but accurate content, vetted by three other pilots present.)

1) It is the desire of AAL to purchase JetBlue. This would be completed through a complex deal including debt, private equity and preferential shares. He explained that we are far along the road to negotiating this deal and the critical part is HAVING Contracts in place with LABOR. He further acknowledged that the same people that would be loaning us the money for Americans desired POR were consolidating Americans debt. By doing this, they are buying debt at a discounted rate, gaining power on the UCC and have little exposure for they know the financing is viable to emerge from BK.

2) IF the TA were to be voted down by a close margin, they would immediately RE-negotiate to gain a speedy solution with labor. Time being the critical factor to American Airlines due to the in place financing. He stated, the labor stress just ADDS to the Cost of Financing.

3) IF the TA passes, they have done their job for the creditors and have achieved the best deal possible for the debtors.

4) He indicated that changing the TA at this late stage was problematic. The money factor being locked and reported to the UCC. However, he wanted to hear what the pilots felt were the problem areas of the TA.

Dinner was concluded and some very valuable information was exchanged between all parties in attendance. The remainder of the eve was spent discussing the TA and how it affects the pilots. Mr. Ream asked those in attendance to send him 5 bullet points they would want to see in TA #2.
Friday / 27 July:

I was informed that a pilot who was present, had written a debrief and forwarded it to Negotiating Chairman Neil Roghair as well as both LAX Base Representatives.
The remainder of my day was spent sending the attendees 5 Bullet points to Captain Hale and Captain Smith.

Saturday / 28 July:

Captain Hale informed me he was going to be addressing MR. Horton, Ms. Denise Lynn (HR) and would be informing them of the pilots view of this TA from our dialog session.
I assured Captain Hale I would not disclose nor campaign the content of the Warehouse Revelations for five days to allow him to possibly get an internal solution to the very defective TA.

In Conclusion,

True to my word, I promised not to disclose nor discuss the events of 26 July 2012 in order to allow Captain Hale to affect an amendment. Nothing has transpired from either Captain Hales focused efforts, nor has the APA in any official capacity commented on these developments.

PLEASE, Understand this.

1) Americans Stand Alone Plan is fictitious JetBlue is their goal.

2) The APA is so myopic on management change that we are continuing a course of action, so shaky and anemic in terms of substantiation to the failed logic of you wont have to fly under it.

3) If you Vote YES / In favor of this LBFO, you will likely suffer under its compromised content for a minimum of six years.

4) If you elect to REJECT this TA, American will renegotiate to gain a labor agreement.

5) Last, but certainly not least, I am staking my own personal reputation behind stating these facts of the evenings dialog. My passionate pursuit of doing what is right has led me to revealing these details to you today.

Ladies and Gentlemen of the APA, look within your soul and please find the strength to vote with your dignity intact and overcome your fear.

 

[LowManOnThePole]

ridiculous standard of holding the pilots sick use to the same standards as those in Centreport offices. Only fair right?

Horton will have a choice. Kill AA in a useless battle with the pilots or bring them in as a team.

Why should pilots get a better "sick time" deal than any other employee? Kind of like the commuting subject that gets thrown around every once in awhile...

 

[Mach85ER]

Why should pilots get a better "sick time" deal than any other employee? Kind of like the commuting subject that gets thrown around every once in awhile...

LMTP,

The issue is probably misunderstood by many non pilots. i don't know if I can explain it properly, but here's my take. The company seems to want a "one size fits all" policy. It doesn't work. You could probably fill a book with medical issues that wouldn't and shouldn't keep a non-pilotat home. I have a hard time thinking of something that wouldn't have kept me out of a desk job or other light duty functions in the last ten years, yet I used a couple hundred hours of sick leave from issues that kept me out of the cockpit legally per the FAA medical rules.

Even the FA's can probably do their jobs and take medications while on duty that the pilots cannot. You'd be amazed at how many prescribed drugs can't be taken by pilots. The FA's of course have the same issues with colds and such and shouldn't be flying with them. I call in sick for what would be described as the sniffles or a mild cold. If I was in a AMR employee group meeting, I wouldn't doubt I'd get "what's your problem?" if I told the group what kept me home. I might even go fishing or spend a day at the beach. Guess what? In days past, I've 'sucked it up' and flown. On descent I suffered a complete and total loss of hearing and massive pain in one ear. Luckily my ear drum didn't burst, but it had to be close. 190 people in back had no clue one pilot was incapicitated and it would have been a problem if a emergency occurred, a depressurization might have knocked me out. These are "what ifs?" of course, but sheet happens. I know of one pilot near my seniority that is done flying from trying to "suck it up" and self medicate a cold. Last I heard he will never fly again since an infection was driven into to his little balance bones or whatver those things in ears are. Kidney stones? A painful joke for everyone, but may disqualify some from flying.

In the end it's not unlike telling a group of 10 people, with 2 in wheelchairs, that their benefits will be partly based on climbing a set of stairs each day. See how long that program lasts.

Hope I explained the issue somewhat.

FYI-I don't think commuters should get special D1/D2 priority. AAer's over Sabre and employees unrelated to the airline yes, AAer's priority over other AAer's, NO F#### WAY.

Hope I'm clear