Sad day in AA history

[eolesen]

I worked 35 years and got nothing.

If you spent 33 of those 35 years working AGAINST AA, then you probably got the severence you deserved. Had TW failed in 2001 like it most likely would have, you wouldn't have received any severence, either.

Don't like the truth? Tough. Take up your beef with Carl Icahn, Gerry Gitner, Jeff Erickson and Bill Compton. They're the ones who led your previous company into failure. AA kept you on life support for another two years.

 

[AC AA LA FA]

Besides, I wasn't a member. I was a dues objector or agency fee member. Just because AA has "always done it " a certain way, doesn't mean that they have to continue...... nbmcg01

...are you saying that you "resigned" the Union while at TWA and now hove the balls to gripe and moan about the deal you were cut?
I will not go any further till I have some clarification on exactly what "agency fee" meant at TWA/IAM. I would only assume that someone who isn't part of the solution, is part of the problem.

 

[nbmcg01]

Besides, I wasn't a member. I was a dues objector or agency fee member. Just because AA has "always done it " a certain way, doesn't mean that they have to continue...... nbmcg01

...are you saying that you "resigned" the Union while at TWA and now hove the balls to gripe and moan about the deal you were cut?
I will not go any further till I have some clarification on exactly what "agency fee" meant at TWA/IAM. I would only assume that someone who isn't part of the solution, is part of the problem.

I resigned over an ethical issue. It had to do with a provision that IFFA (our independent union) had negotiated which was a "me too". Our President had found out about the return of some undervalued concession dollars to the ramp, ground and agent groups. Since we had a "me too", we filed something called the comparability grievance and won. Soon after the IAM was voted in and one of the first things that happened is the filing of a "me too" on our "me too". Double dipping if you will. We lost a tremendous amount of autonomy with the IAM. Grievances were not filed but shelved if our General Chair didn't like the person filing or it wasn't one of her "interests". There were several SCOPE violations re: who could teach what to f/as @ the training center. Worth several million but our Chair said, "I don't give a ---- who teaches. Well you know what happened to our "iron clad" SCOPE, the IAM gave it away. (and NO we were never given a vote or even any venue for discussion on that issue) I remained a member until there was a raid to bring another independent union onto the property. I did not feel it was ethical to belong to the IAM and actively fight to be rid of them. My ethics, not theirs. ( something called duel unionism) Voting with the IAM really didn't make any difference because their Constitution and Bylaws allowed that the Grand POOPaws could override the membership IF they felt it was in the "best interest" of the whole. I have been an active union advocate for my entire career. Even with the APFA, I was an OCR and constantly asked for inclusion of the former TWA f/as into the APFA "workings". I ran for National Office more to educate than thinking I could actually "win". It was a great forum to answer questions and concerns from active AA f/as. I have formed some very good "email friendships" from that election. Other than our "missing" base chair serving on the financial committee, there has not been any attempt at inclusion. When the new admin. was voted in, I, along with several others, offered to volunteer our time to cost out the entire APFA CBA. Not only would this have been beneficial re: the illegal RPA, but would have been a proactive measure for not only the next round of negotiations but any attempts to reopen or ask for more concessions. So much for being proactive. The provisions of the illegal RPA were grossly undervalued because the past President didn't have either the experience or the backbone to challenge the figures the Co. gave as "credit". I can't think of anything more absurd when you're "willing" to GIVE $340,000,000 to HELP the Co.'s financial recovery. ( except for giving up one's SCOPE that is) I absolutely believe in offering solutions with my concerns and or complaints. It just depends on whether the Union is willing to listen and/or act on those suggestions. As of today, the APFA has not been willing to listen or involve any former TWA f/a in strategy planning. Could it be because there isn't any? There are quite s few people with lots of union experience and "time on their hands" that were willing to volunteer but since our offers have been ignored we can only think it is because the APFA never had any intention of either inclusion or fighting to get those furloughed back to work. The illegal RPA lawsuit is alive and well, we'll just have to see what that might "produce".

 

[nbmcg01]

If you spent 33 of those 35 years working AGAINST AA, then you probably got the severence you deserved. Had TW failed in 2001 like it most likely would have, you wouldn't have received any severence, either.

Don't like the truth? Tough. Take up your beef with Carl Icahn, Gerry Gitner, Jeff Erickson and Bill Compton. They're the ones who led your previous company into failure. AA kept you on life support for another two years.

I was speaking of furlough pay, nothing more, nothing less. The only people on the property not receiving furlough pay were the most senior AA f/as furloughed. John Ward GAVE away furlough pay without getting any credit (and it was not an item "requested" by the Co) just to cause hardship to the most senior former TWA f/as. I don't think he thought that some of the nAAtives would also face job loss without any "cushion". It was a contractual provision until he wrapped it in a bow. I have retirement from TWA and 1 years credit from AA. I enjoy my current profession and will continue until I have to go on my own caseload.

If TWA HAD failed then we wouldn't be having these discussions. TWA was not allowed to fail because the employees kept it alive. I think you might have been surprised. The AA-TWA plan was in the works long before it was announced and certain financial decisions were made based on the behind the scene planning. It is just too bad that the employees (or as Carty called us, "TWA's greatest asset", were just a pawn in the scheme of things. You're absolutely correct about our esteemed leadership. There is nothing I would like better than to have a "discussion" with Bill Compton. That will never happen because he is busy enjoying life with his blood red parachute. I often wonder how all of the "players" sleep at night. Probably pretty well on Egyption Cotton sheets paid for with the bonuses they have received of questionable business practices.

 

[laura62]

Today marks a first in AA aviation history. The first f/as fall off the seniority list as a casualty of 9-11.

FALL OFF? They were PUSHED. :down:

 

[nbmcg01]

FALL OFF? They were PUSHED. :down:

Very well said. It will be interesting to see if the APFA finds their union "cajones" and files a grievance on behalf of the former TWA f/as. They were furloughed under the IFFA/IAM CBA which called for a 7 year recall. None of those f/as ever recieved notice from AA that the provisions of their furlough had changed. Nor were they given any of the AA provisions like passes. By not giving notice, AA implied that nothing had changed. This is a very basic grievance that even the most novice rep could win. Why has it not been filed? AA has countered questions about recall extending by saying "5 years is industry standard". After 5 years of having "we're industry leading" shoved down our throats, it is almost funny to see both AA and the APFA falling over each other to be "industry standard". Since the APFA is so willing to be "equal", those of you still flying might want to take serious note of the other airline's contracts. Industry standard seems to be the implied direction.