TWU plans demonstrations to coincide with Super Bowl weekend

[737823]

I may be wrong, but aren't the typical Superbowl attendees more representative of the privileged class than the working class? Yes, working stiffs like me watch NFL games on TV, but I'm not a high-roller spending thousands of dollars to fly to DFW to attend the Superbowl. Will the demonstration on Monday morning reach the intended audience or will the executives and business owners (the typical big-spender at the Superbowl) ignore the workers? I just don't think the crowd at DFW on Monday morning is gonna be all that sympathetic to the cause. Might as well picket outside the big country clubs - probably reach the same audience.

So true, but I think organizing pickets such as this provide the union leadership a means to engage the membership more than anything else. Pickets are for the workers-NOT for the customers.

TWU could follow the lead of UFCW: http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-september-20-2010/working-stiffed

They may or may not be sympathetic, but those who can travel to such an event may have company's or jobs that do depend on AA. For example, an executive Plat or Key member may worry that his big meeting in Mexico City may be in jeperdy and may have several clients flying in from NRT,LHR,JFK,DUX and he will book else where. Exutive Plat, and key's members will call Arpey and ask him what's going on and tell him they will book else where, as soon as booking go down from the ones who count....

Some may book elsewhere and that is certainly their prerogative. I remember Willie Walsh saying that BA was prepared to take the lost revenue and costs of its contingency plan in the short run if they can keep labor costs in line. So far management has been successful and used tactics such as suspending pass travel privileges to prevent workers from striking. It is my hope AA takes a similar approach to APA/APFA/TWU.

Another consideration is that AA's most lucrative routes will still operate with trained management replacements, FAs who cross the picket line (undoubtably some will), and TWA FAs who may be called into work and cross. AA can staff its aircraft to the bare minimums-send 777/763 out with 5 FAs in order to keep their most lucrative routes operating.

What you don't understand is that premium customers-Executive Platinum and Concierge Key will be the very first to be protected on the limited flights that may operate or on other carriers. All of the agents at the EXP desk are supervisors and are empowered to protect customers on other AA flights or other carriers in the event of IRROPs. While not standard protocol, I've had the EXP desk accommodate me on DL after a WX situation when I needed to get to JFK so agents are empowered to use their discretion and accommodate AA's most valuable passengers. Fortunately for me, the only marketplace the AA has monopoly on from BOS is DFW and I rarely travel to/from/via DFW, so in the event of a strike I have ample coverage on other carriers available.

Josh

 

[strikeforce]

Dissagree,I think that the flying public needs to be made aware that we are working at reduced pay,
and havent had a raise in 8 years! while management recieves bonuses every year.
Also let them know Mr. Staubach is on AMRs BOD

I disagree....the only effective tactic to get AA moving is working by the book, and doing your job by the PROCEDURES!The TWU does a poor job communicating this to the flying public. The flying public is sympathetic to boarding safe airplanes. They don't give a rat's ass about informational picketing because it's not disrupting their plans. Doing your job will. At that point it doesn't matter if your exe plat. or leisure pax., or Roger Staubach, they will find alternatives to AA. I gaurantee AA will react to that manuever.

 

[eolesen]

They may or may not be sympathetic, but those who can travel to such an event may have company's or jobs that do depend on AA. For example, an executive Plat or Key member may worry that his big meeting in Mexico City may be in jeperdy and may have several clients flying in from NRT,LHR,JFK,DUX and he will book else where. Exutive Plat, and key's members will call Arpey and ask him what's going on and tell him they will book else where, as soon as booking go down from the ones who count....

Those Exutive Plat who think their meeting to DUX is in jeperdy are also smart enough (and probably better spellers) to know that there's no point in worrying about it until there's a 30 day cooling off period.

It's pretty rare for me to book 21 days in advance on a business trip. My norm is closer to 15 days on international and 8 days domestic. And most business travelers seem to follow a similar booking curve, since most fares are tiered at 14, 7 and 3 days advance.

Informational picketing is a wasted effort in my opinion. It may whip up a few of the union faithful, but I don't think the general public really cares too much.

I've been to two informational picketing demonstrations held outside of United's headquarters while board meetings were underway. At the last one, about 60, half of them being pilots in uniform, and the rest were dressed in street clothes. They could have been hired as day workers for all I could tell.... They put on a good show for the 60 seconds that the local TV stations were picking up some stock footage, but were pretty sedate the rest of the time.

And the funny part was that the picketers were at the public entrance to the building on Upper Wacker. The board apparently came & left by limo from the Lower Wacker entrance...

Is the union paying for at-terminal parking? Sounds like an expensive day out but otherwise a total wasted effort.

You'd probably be better off paying the cover charge and first round of drinks at Rick's. A lot warmer, too.

 

[Frank Szabo]

I'm afraid I don't see the sense in telling (informational picketing) what amounts to our enemies (the richer and shameless) that we're not making as much as we did. Those are the people who would love nothing better than to initiate a two-class society - the peons and the elite. Granted, it will eventually bite them in the ass but that kind of person isn't exactly known for long term decisions.

They are the ones who moved their companies offshore in order to make more money and get larger bonuses for themselves, all the while stepping on their domestic workers in order to do so.

The trouble is, who is going to buy their crap once they've "got the middle class where they want them."

 

[lineguy43]

I disagree....the only effective tactic to get AA moving is working by the book, and doing your job by the PROCEDURES!The TWU does a poor job communicating this to the flying public. The flying public is sympathetic to boarding safe airplanes. They don't give a rat's ass about informational picketing because it's not disrupting their plans. Doing your job will. At that point it doesn't matter if your exe plat. or leisure pax., or Roger Staubach, they will find alternatives to AA. I gaurantee AA will react to that manuever.

Take it from someone who has walked a REAL picket line the traveling public does not give a rats ass is right. I actually had a woman get in my face saying I should be down helping the victims of Hurrican Katrina instead of walking a picket line. She did not realize that I was fighting for my job and not an exorbitant raise as most of the public equates picket lines with. I agree with strike a work safe and OT refusal I have seen work in the past. Informational picketing has got to be the biggest waste of time and energy I can think of.

 

[FWAAA]

For about $3 million, the TWU could have bought a 30 second spot during the game. Hire some scantily-clad women to tell the world of the evil at AA and you've reached tens of millions of people.

 

[fltguymk]

For Josh:

Do not pretend to know what are FA min FAA staffing levels are. You have no idea. For the record, it's 8 for a 777. Yes, operate those lucrative routes. With no feed what so ever from non-hubs, good luck making $$ on it. You can't run an airline with roughly 16,000 Fa's with 3000 SCABS! Go away please!

 

[TWU informer]

For about $3 million, the TWU could have bought a 30 second spot during the game. Hire some scantily-clad women to tell the world of the evil at AA and you've reached tens of millions of people.

The more I think about this the more I believe that this is an excercise to allow those that need to vent frustrations to do so.
Maybe the next T/A is imminent and this gives those that need a chance to feel they fought and acted so the next vote might be more to satisfactory to the company and the company union.

They need to save that $3 million for a Democract Politician so they will get a "favorable" NMB mediator (pffttt, remember that claim after Obama was elected?),or the next Drunk Fest they call the Constitutional Convention.

 

[boston]

Those Exutive Plat who think their meeting to DUX is in jeperdy are also smart enough (and probably better spellers) to know that there's no point in worrying about it until there's a 30 day cooling off period.

It's pretty rare for me to book 21 days in advance on a business trip. My norm is closer to 15 days on international and 8 days domestic. And most business travelers seem to follow a similar booking curve, since most fares are tiered at 14, 7 and 3 days advance.

Informational picketing is a wasted effort in my opinion. It may whip up a few of the union faithful, but I don't think the general public really cares too much.

I've been to two informational picketing demonstrations held outside of United's headquarters while board meetings were underway. At the last one, about 60, half of them being pilots in uniform, and the rest were dressed in street clothes. They could have been hired as day workers for all I could tell.... They put on a good show for the 60 seconds that the local TV stations were picking up some stock footage, but were pretty sedate the rest of the time.

And the funny part was that the picketers were at the public entrance to the building on Upper Wacker. The board apparently came & left by limo from the Lower Wacker entrance...

Is the union paying for at-terminal parking? Sounds like an expensive day out but otherwise a total wasted effort.

You'd probably be better off paying the cover charge and first round of drinks at Rick's. A lot warmer, too.

I guess nothing can be taken for granted on a forum or topic. I didn't think it was so needed to say 30 day cooling off since it's a given. And we all know these pax fly at the last minute...a givien.

Attack the opinion not the person. Thank You

 

[eolesen]

I guess nothing can be taken for granted on a forum or topic. I didn't think it was so needed to say 30 day cooling off since it's a given. And we all know these pax fly at the last minute...a givien.

Attack the opinion not the person. Thank You

I'd be happy to attack the opinion -- it's just not really clear where you're even inferring your comments assume a 30 day cooling off period was in effect...

Or did I miss something, and NMB declared an impasse?

 

[odie01]

I disagree....the only effective tactic to get AA moving is working by the book, and doing your job by the PROCEDURES!The TWU does a poor job communicating this to the flying public. The flying public is sympathetic to boarding safe airplanes. They don't give a rat's ass about informational picketing because it's not disrupting their plans. Doing your job will. At that point it doesn't matter if your exe plat. or leisure pax., or Roger Staubach, they will find alternatives to AA. I gaurantee AA will react to that manuever.

I also disagree, but since I am local I will show up Monday. I don't think the passengers are going to care about a piece of paper, all they're concered with is, " IS MY FLIGHT ON TIME?"

 

[Tex-Mech]

I also disagree, but since I am local I will show up Monday. I don't think the passengers are going to care about a piece of paper, all they're concered with is, " IS MY FLIGHT ON TIME?"

I agree Odie, but I look at this as an opportunity to see how many AMT's really give a cr@p about their contract. An impressive showing will renew my faith that these guys are more concerned about something other than their deals. Besides it always a good time walking with some old friends at DFW.

 

[odie01]

I agree Odie, but I look at this as an opportunity to see how many AMT's really give a cr@p about their contract. An impressive showing will renew my faith that these guys are more concerned about something other than their deals. Besides it always a good time walking with some old friends at DFW.

From what I understand its really changed from when I left in 97". The deals are flyin,' and the mechanics are not as tight as they used to be. ME, ME, ME, we have become institutionalized by the company and the twu. Sad

 

[JAFA]

For Josh:

Do not pretend to know what are FA min FAA staffing levels are. You have no idea. For the record, it's 8 for a 777. Yes, operate those lucrative routes. With no feed what so ever from non-hubs, good luck making $$ on it. You can't run an airline with roughly 16,000 Fa's with 3000 SCABS! Go away please!

And before you belittle someone else learn what YOU are talking about. Josh is right a 777 can legally be flown with an FAA minimum crew of 5 fa's. 1 fa for every 50 seats ring a bell? How many seats are on our 777's? DERP!!!!!

 

[FWAAA]

And before you belittle someone else learn what YOU are talking about. Josh is right a 777 can legally be flown with an FAA minimum crew of 5 fa's. 1 fa for every 50 seats ring a bell? How many seats are on our 777's? DERP!!!!!

I've seen claims that the minimum also depends on the number of full-size doors and the staffing used in the certification tests. Having eight full-size doors, and having conducted the evacution certification tests with eight FAs, I've seen claims that the min is indeed eight for AA's 777.