TWU negotiations.........what?

[Chuck Schalk]

Maybe the airlines should go after their real enemy and stop blaming labor

$10 Billion Streak
The last time Exxon’s quarterly profits exceeded $10 billion for three consecutive periods was 2008, when Brent oil touched an all-time record of $147.50 a barrel and the company reaped $45.22 billion in full-year net income

 

[Bob Owens]

I'm sure we (F/As) are next...... cant wait to see our T/A. Aside from all this, it's apparent the company is only going to give up just so much. They are using the economy and unemployment (10%) to their benefit. Not a good time for contract talk.

10% unemployment but how many of them are airline workers? The company has cut flights due to a labor shortage (pilots), they outsourced some checks due to a labor shortage (mechanics). For those who are looking a reason can always be found to have a defeatist attitude. There are things in our favor as well.

Shortage of workers with the skills needed.
Increased security requirements (background checks, etc)
Increased FAA oversight
Growing public intolerance of Corporate Greed. AA slashed 40,000 jobs, cut the real pay of the workers that remained by around 40% and saw an increase in revenue of around $6 billion by jamming more people into fewer seats, raising ticket prices and charging outrageous fees to mask the real increase in the price of a ticket. What did they do with the extra $6 billion in increased revenues(let alone the savings from shedding 40,000 jobs)? Why they shared it with other greedy corporations (like Exxon) and gave their executives bonuses of course!!!

 

[Bob Owens]

What surprises me really is that TWU got to a TA first. I would have bet you that the company would drag its feet with TWU and APFA until they reached a TA with the pilots. We all would then get the leftovers (assuming there were any leftovers). Or, as someone else suggested, the company would go into a pre-packaged BK with the pilot contract intact by prior arrangement. "They can do that, brother."

Fleet had a TA over a year ago but they never voted on it. If they accept this, well I guess we could say we hope they are satified with the crumbs they got and they left more pie for the rest of us, if they reject it then they can help the rest of us demand that the company make the pie bigger, even if it means a few less refurbished Admirals clubs,aircraft Interiors, terminals and maybe slow down the delivery of new aircraft and smaller bonuses for the executives.

Look around, wake up people, AA has plenty of money for everything, except the employees.

 

[Bob Owens]

And so whats keeps AA from offering an early retirement option after ratification, then the required 1,276 seperate from the company with their prefunding medical, then they can furlough from the outsourced stations?



Seems to me 1276 could easily be obtained with an incentive to retire.

Seems to me the loss of retiree medical may in itself be an incentive to retire. When you lose the prefunding you also lose the Medicare suppliment, the one thats capped at $50,000 and kicks in when you turn 65 and go on Medicare, and would have to either buy your own or pay the company out of your pension for it. Retirees could end up seeing thier pensions shrink over time as rates go up for the coverage. I've read of retirees who lost the retiree medical, were not able to get coverage elsewhere, and had their entire pension checks eaten up by the premiums the company was charging for coverage they promised but then reneged on. Some have to return to the workforce at advanced ages.

Imagine what things would be like if Republicans get their way and get rid of Medicare and Social security!

 

[Goey]

check senoirity list they hired a bunch this year (A&P)

Thanks for the suggestion, I have move up to 637 on the list. As far as the few hundred yes voters they just hired i hope they realize that if they continue to accept inadequate compensation they will be destroying their careers. And to all you sheep who think by giving in to more concessions you are going to save AA you are really lost. The executives are going to do whatever it is they do whether it be BK no BK, merger no merger and any more concessions we give them will be gone at least till the end of my career (I'm 50) and maybe even those new guys careers. It is really sad that alot of the A/P's do not value their own livelihood and think that their tickets have no value and are willing to give up more pay and benefits for themselves and the A/P's that will come after us. So please vote yes on any crumbs the TWU and AA throw at us they will be laughing all the way to the bank with our money and careers.

 

[paul1]

Thanks for the suggestion, I have move up to 637 on the list. As far as the few hundred yes voters they just hired i hope they realize that if they continue to accept inadequate compensation they will be destroying their careers. And to all you sheep who think by giving in to more concessions you are going to save AA you are really lost. The executives are going to do whatever it is they do whether it be BK no BK, merger no merger and any more concessions we give them will be gone at least till the end of my career (I'm 50) and maybe even those new guys careers. It is really sad that alot of the A/P's do not value their own livelihood and think that their tickets have no value and are willing to give up more pay and benefits for themselves and the A/P's that will come after us. So please vote yes on any crumbs the TWU and AA throw at us they will be laughing all the way to the bank with our money and careers.

I'm starting to transfer myself into the vote NO!!! group, if are next t/a loses the retiring medical and the 80/20 medical plan.

Hope they keep the o/t coming!!!

 

[Goey]

I'm starting to transfer myself into the vote NO!!! group, if are next t/a loses the retiring medical and the 80/20 medical plan.

Hope they keep the o/t coming!!!

Welcome to the Darkside, it won't be easy standing up for what's right but that's what men and women did back in the 30's 40's and 50's when they formed our Unions they didn't lay down and beg. This may be the last contract alot of us will see before we retire so thanks for coming to the Darkside.
Goey

 

[Buck]

What will the duties of the Fuelers and Cabin Service employees be? Will they be moved to Utility Workers? Is that a pay raise for them?

 

[eolesen]

Seems to me they'd move to the line or the bagroom...

 

[ULM148]

What will the duties of the Fuelers and Cabin Service employees be? Will they be moved to Utility Workers? Is that a pay raise for them?

Buck, Fueler's are a title 4 work group under fleet service. Under a previous contract they started to accrue duel seniority, title 3, while maintaining their title 4 seniority. The title 3 work group consists mostly of fleet service line, crew chiefs, baggage handlers, bag room, cabin cleaners, cargo, mail, bus drivers, and of course, the grandfathered in fueler's. The fueler's will fall into place under the title 3 group, eliminating the title 4 group completely. They will go to any of the mentioned title 3 jobs that their seniority can hold. This would not be a pay raise for them as they are being paid at the same rate as title 3 fleet service clerks.

Cabin service is made up of title 2 and title 3 fleet service clerks. Title 2 cabin cleaners are at a lower rate of pay than title 3 cabin cleaners. They perform the same function but they are separate title groups. The company would be eliminating title 2 cabin cleaner positions through attrition. Most likely a buyout package, as most title 2 cabin cleaners are near the retirement age. Both group's at some point will be forced to the line to exercise their seniority. Most of these employee's have been in cabin service their entire career's and going to the line is not a viable option. This is where the company feel's they will get the highest attrition numbers from.

 

[ULM148]

Fleet had a TA over a year ago but they never voted on it. If they accept this, well I guess we could say we hope they are satified with the crumbs they got and they left more pie for the rest of us, if they reject it then they can help the rest of us demand that the company make the pie bigger, even if it means a few less refurbished Admirals clubs,aircraft Interiors, terminals and maybe slow down the delivery of new aircraft and smaller bonuses for the executives.

Look around, wake up people, AA has plenty of money for everything, except the employees.

Bob, A year ago the president's voted to bring back a TA. It was set to go back to the membership for a vote. It was President Jim Little of the International TWU, that intervened, pulling the contract off the table. It is my understanding that the international has never "pulled" a contract before. This was at no fault to the negotiating committee. It was the president of the TWU that changed this course for it's membership. I would assume that when the international president stepped in, they became an involved entity of the negotiations and it's ultimate outcome. This action in my opinion imply's ownership, involvement, and ultimate responsibility from the International.

Because of the internationals action, the members were not given the opportunity to vote on the first TA. On this recent round of negotiations, the president's, although split, brought back a TA to vote on. They were told this was the companies last and final offer. If the membership was obstructed by the internationals actions than how could they be put into a position of last and final offer? Again, it was at no fault of the negotiating committee. Seems to me fleet is being bullied by a stacked deck. The rules of what comes next for this work group should be questioned at the very least. Suppose they bring back a "no" vote. Fleet membership was subjected to obstructed involvement, and normal procedures as with aircraft maintenance, pilots, flight attendants seem not to apply. No other work group had their International step in and pull their TA. The result, fleet is now being intimidated with "our last and final offer" by the company. Thus their current TA.

Seems to me like things have gone sideways and the membership is left to sink or swim on their own.

 

[JFK Fleet Service]

If I recall correctly the presidents brought back a TA they themselves couldn't recommend to the membership.Chicken Little stepped in to make a show of indignation and "Suspended" the TA.Apparently he couldn't wrap his head around the negotiators coming back with a TA they could not recommend.

The International is above all else concerned with the revenue membership dues provide.They make nice speeches, print snazzy t-shirts and come up with catchy slogans but at the end of the day, they are interested in maintaining their revenue stream.They'll sacrifice 1500 to keep dues from the other 9500 coming in.Hey why not, they aren't hourly anymore,doesn't have a material impact on them either way.

 

[Hopeful]

If I recall correctly the presidents brought back a TA they themselves couldn't recommend to the membership.Chicken Little stepped in to make a show of indignation and "Suspended" the TA.Apparently he couldn't wrap his head around the negotiators coming back with a TA they could not recommend.

The International is above all else concerned with the revenue membership dues provide.They make nice speeches, print snazzy t-shirts and come up with catchy slogans but at the end of the day, they are interested in maintaining their revenue stream.They'll sacrifice 1500 to keep dues from the other 9500 coming in.Hey why not, they aren't hourly anymore,doesn't have a material impact on them either way.

True..What everyone needs to remember is the International OWNS the contract....People need to familiarize themselves with the TWU constitution and the ATD directors authority and power to sign off on an even rejected TA.
If anyone thinks the International is going to risk a slew of union dues loss, they are dreaming!

 

[TIME FOR CHANGE]

True..What everyone needs to remember is the International OWNS the contract....People need to familiarize themselves with the TWU constitution and the ATD directors authority and power to sign off on an even rejected TA.
If anyone thinks the International is going to risk a slew of union dues loss, they are dreaming!

If they were to sign off on a rejected T/A then a job action would result in the courts bankrupting the union with fines. Sounds like sweet justice.

 

[737823]

True..What everyone needs to remember is the International OWNS the contract....People need to familiarize themselves with the TWU constitution and the ATD directors authority and power to sign off on an even rejected TA.
If anyone thinks the International is going to risk a slew of union dues loss, they are dreaming!

Not according to Bob's YouTube video from last summer he said Jim Little needs an emergency or compelling reason to sign the rejected TA.

Josh