TWU to Open Talks for New Contract With AA

[Bill]

No one debates me?? Because you can't Bill, you don't have stones to even try Billy. Your led around by your twu nose ring, and I'm sure your "partner" takes over after your duty serving the man is done for the day.

It's over before it even starts.

There's a big difference between can't and won't Hackman. I can go out to a playground and get your type of debate/converstation. Thanks but no thanks!

 

[Hackman]

There's a big difference between can't and won't Hackman. I can go out to a playground and get your type of debate/converstation. Thanks but no thanks!

Well if you call what you've posted today to Bob Owens a "debate", I sure as hell hope your not at a negotiating table. You'll get pummeled, twu company man. :blink:

I thought this was intresting, especially how the twu started off the concessions back in the day. We can expect more of the same.

http://www.amfa9.org/waypoints/news/detail2.asp?id=359

"The IAM was our union at the time and the single biggest issue that caused the strike was our determination to stop the spreading of the “B-scale” pay progression initiated at American Airlines. The 1984 IAM contract at United Airlines also adopted a B-scale. The American and United B-scales were simply extended pay progressions and did merge with “A-scale” wages."

 

[Bob Owens]

The union representing more than 27,000 ground workers at American Airlines said Monday it will open negotiations for a new contract with the nation's largest airline.

Hey I thought it was "more than 35000 ground workers"!!

You mean in addition to the over 30% reduction in compensation we lost 23% of the workforce?!!!!

And the TWU is telling us to work harder?!!!!

Gary Yingst, the director of TWU’s Air Transport Division, will be the union’s lead negotiator.

WE are doomed! By the way I never got a ballot to have Yingst be the lead negotiator.

 

[Bob Owens]

Face it, the TWU is taking a stand and you can't stand it!

Taking a stand? How is stating the obvious taking a stand?

And when the TWU comes back with a good contract you will AGAIN credit someone else.

I credit the TWU with the 2003 contract, and the 1995, and the 1992, and the 1989 and the 1985. The only one they dont deserve credit for is the only one that was out of "TWU" form, the one in 2001.

Look at the graph of mechanics pay vs CPI and you can see the obvious difference.
The giant blip up, but by 2003 the TWU had us right back on track.

The IAM was our union at the time and the single biggest issue that caused the strike was our determination to stop the spreading of the “B-scaleâ€￾ pay progression initiated at American Airlines. The 1984 IAM contract at United Airlines also adopted a B-scale. The American and United B-scales were simply extended pay progressions and did merge with “A-scaleâ€￾ wages.

What this article fails to mention is that even though both had B-scales UALs B-scale which came after AA-TWU B-scale was not as bad. UAL had a 20% higher starting rate, company paid medical, more vacation(AA/TWI had no medical coverage for the first year)and a much shorter progression. As originally written and adopted A and B scales never fully merged. B scalers would max out at 4 weeks vacation vs the A scale 6 week max. The AA/TWU deal was an industry leader in concessions, a trend the TWU has continued to this day. In 2003 after UAL and USAIR went BK they were able to extract 14% paycuts, not to be outdone the TWU rushed through the biggest concessionary package in history, Cutting pay by 17.5% and radically slashing benifits and workrules for an additional 7%.

 

[High Speed Steel]

It is funny that when some positive news comes to rise, that the "nay sayers" all pile into the litter-box and see who can crap on it first.

Then it is a big contest to see who can cover it up the fastest....."Brilliant" :blink:

 

[Bob Owens]

It is funny that when some positive news comes to rise, that the "nay sayers" all pile into the litter-box and see who can crap on it first.

Then it is a big contest to see who can cover it up the fastest....."Brilliant" :blink:

What's the positive news? Little simply announced that negotiations will start as per the contract.

 

[TWU informer]

It is funny that when some positive news comes to rise, that the "nay sayers" all pile into the litter-box and see who can crap on it first.

Then it is a big contest to see who can cover it up the fastest....."Brilliant" :blink:

Maybe you have an answer HSS.

Why announce in January, that the TWU wants to open the contract and begin negotiations in 11 MONTHS - November?

There has to be some positive and valid reason for such a Press Release.

And you are surely the guy that knows?

My bet still lies, that the TWU and Jim Little is scared the members are going to or already have began to break ranks from the docile leaders and raise hell about the Massive Million Dollar Stock Option Bonuses. And this is nothing more than an attempt to bribe the members to stay in line. It is clear that the members have been communicating directly with management, and this obviously makes Jim "without further ratification" Little very nervous.

 

[Bob Owens]

My bet still lies, that the TWU and Jim Little is scared the members are going to or already have began to break ranks from the docile leaders and raise hell about the Massive Million Dollar Stock Option Bonuses. And this is nothing more than an attempt to bribe the members to stay in line. It is clear that the members have been communicating directly with management, and this obviously makes Jim "without further ratification" Little very nervous.

Yes I've heard the same thing, something to the effect of :When the bonuses go out the planes dont.

Whether it comes to pass or not is another story.

I guess we can expect Bill to come out again and say "It aint a bonus" its just an extra few hundred million or so in addition to their regular salary. It wasnt enough that we had to give up long standing benifits such as Holiday pay, vacation, sick time etc in addition to our paycut, and its unreasonable for us to expect the execs (like our International) to give up anything.

 

[TWU informer]

IT AINT A BONUS?

Each manager is assigned in advance a "target bonus", which is a baseline number of shares. AMR's ranking determines what percentage of that baseline is paid out. Since only 4 of the comparators traded on a major stock exchange for the entire period, management was guaranteed at least a 75% payout even if they finished last. By finishing first they will get 175% of their target bonuses, to be paid April 18, 2007.

AMR is only required to list the targets for the named executives in the proxy statement. All others are a very closely guarded secret. The awards for these officers are:

Executive----Target--------- 175% ----------Award Value
Gerard Arpey 135,000 shares 236,250 shares $7.142 million

Dan Garton 69,000 shares 120,750 shares $3.650 million

Gary Kennedy 51,000 shares 89,250 shares $2.698 million

Bob Reding 51,000 shares 89,250 shares $2.698 million

Now quit your bitching and get busy doing more for less!

 

[eolesen]

Gee, guys, why don't you just whip 'em out, slap 'em down on the breakroom table, and get out the tape measure already?....

Sheesh....

 

[TWU informer]

Gee, guys, why don't you just whip 'em out, slap 'em down on the breakroom table, and get out the tape measure already?....

Sheesh....

Because someone would claim to be offended and the Rule 32 enforcer will be come down on us like full thrust from an RB-211.

 

[Hackman]

It is funny that when some positive news comes to rise, that the "nay sayers" all pile into the litter-box and see who can crap on it first.

Then it is a big contest to see who can cover it up the fastest....."Brilliant" :blink:

Positive news??? Must be that twu "Position Of Strength" again. <_<

Using your type of anology, I submit that the twu in negotiations is more like the stench from being down wind from a large pig farm.

Can't cover up that foul smell, know matter how much perfume is sprayed. Especially when the twu International swine are wallowing in the company slop, phewwweee.... :unsure:

 

[Bill]

Hey, I'm not the oe with the conspiracy theories!! Under the RLA we are required to open negotiations by April 1, 2008 (thirty days notice), openers are typically filed sixty days in advance of the amendable date and many contracts allow for openers to be filed six months before the amendable date. Our openers will now be filed five months before we had to and four months before normal. Big deal. In fact, in the 2000-2001 negotiations we opened four or five months before the amendable date.

You don't have to be a conspiracy theorist to know why the announcement was made. Preparations and research will begin and as the work proceeds, if there were no announcement there would be all sorts of dark rumors of secret deals. All you have to do is read this board to realize that the TWU will be criticized for whatever it does. If they open early its a great conspiracy to fool the membership. If they don't open early then they would be wasting time and afraid to take on the Company. All the TWU has actually done is schedule their opener slightly in advance of what is typical in the industry and given the membership nine months notice of its plan, something that would come out anyway as local officers are called into Dallas to prepare, provide feedback, and form bargaining committees.

 

[TWU informer]

Good Grief! Did someone pull that ring in your nose to come out with that? How does one calculate 9 months to be from January to November?

Whatever :unsure:

Big Deal is right!

 

[mjk]

Announcing something in January that isn't going to happen until November does tend to make one wonder.