TWU informer
Veteran
- Nov 4, 2003
- 7,550
- 3,731
Subject: From a pilot
Dear Captain Hale,
I read your August 3rd hotline with great interest, and I want to thank you for bringing clarity to an otherwise difficult decision.
Like virtually every American Airlines pilot, I have been struggling with the choice before us regarding the recently negotiated Tentative Agreement. I have tried to sincerely listen to all the different viewpoints regarding our options to move this airline forward. While not every pilot will share this view, I will freely concede that changes to our labor agreement are necessary in order for American Airlines to successfully restructure as a financially healthy organization. Thus, from a strictly rational and pragmatic view, the choice to ratify the current Tentative Agreement and move forward with the restructuring process is compelling.
That being said, as I review the many changes included in the Tentative Agreement, the breadth and depth of the concessions are troubling. In almost every major area pay, Scope, duration, work rules, benefits I see the manifestation of management demands which go far beyond what is necessary for a successful reorganization. Furthermore, despite having a Tentative Agreement in place, our negotiators report that management representatives are still attempting to insert even more concessions into the contract language. When asked why management continues to overreach seemingly without compunction, we are told basically, "Because they can."
Even as our union leadership promotes the TAs ratification, they do not argue that this agreement is fair or even necessary. Rather, they say that we must ratify because the alternative is worse. They tell us that we have a gun to our collective heads. They say that if we do not consensually give what is currently asked, the company will simply take more by force of judicial writ.
In your hotline, you have said substantially the same thing:
"So there is no confusion, if the contract is abrogated, the company will immediately begin implementation of the April Term Sheet."
"A no vote can lead to only one thing uncertainty and more pain."
For whatever reason, these assertions finally brought all the competing issues into clear focus.
At this point, a useful rhetorical question would be: If the tentative agreement truly represents terms that senior management openly acknowledges as sufficient to successfully restructure American Airlines, why in the world would they implement something substantially worse? When given the power to impose whatever terms they deem necessary and proper, why would they intentionally inflict more uncertainty and pain upon the very frontline employees who make this operation run every day?
I think we all know the answer: "Because they can."
In both word and deed, the senior management of American Airlines has clearly demonstrated that they are not interested in taking only what they need to reorganize. Rather, they are attempting to take whatever they can, however they can, without regard to the horrific impact that their actions will have AAs employees or the operation of this airline.
Sadly, our world is filled with authority figures and despotic regimes that routinely misuse the power granted to them. They create pain and uncertainty not because it is necessary, but rather to satisfy their personal need for power, wealth, or validation.
We have words for these kinds of people: Bullies. Abusers. Tyrants.
Oddly, these oppressors also share an almost pathological need to have their victims acknowledge in some way that this mistreatment is actual necessary or even deserved. Youve seen their stories in the news: the rape victim in Pakistan who is jailed on charges of adultery; the political dissident in China imprisoned for "anti-social" behavior; the U.S. citizen incarcerated in Thailand for making online comments deemed insulting to the King. As these individuals reside in their own personal hells, they are plied and cajoled with offers of less harsh treatment and even parole if only they confess their sins and legitimize their "punishment."
We have words for this kind of behavior: Immoral. Repugnant. Evil.
On one important point, we are in full agreement. If the Tentative Agreement is rejected, the pilots will be punished. In fact, I fully expect that management will not be content to merely implement the April term sheet. I predict that, in the absence of any contractual restraint, we will witness one of the largest "land grabs" in airline labor history. And just why will management do this?
Because they can.
In the ensuing charged atmosphere, individuals are going to overreact, hostages will be taken, and lives will be ruined. It is not even inconceivable that American will become the next Eastern, and a once great airline will be sacrificed on the altar of management greed and arrogance.
If these tragic events come to pass, it will NOT be because it was necessary; it will NOT be because the pilots chose this outcome; it will NOT be because the employees somehow deserved this treatment. It will comes to pass because, when given the choice between 1) doing what was best for the company and its employees, or 2) what doing would bring them more power and wealth, senior management chose the latter. If this is the path that management chooses, then they are not deserving of the loyalty, respect or best efforts of the employees of American Airlines.
I will not support the Tentative Agreement in its current form. I will not grant legitimacy to what is little more than legalized extortion and theft. I will not ratify behavior that is as repugnant as it is unnecessary. I have made my choice, and I will sleep the better for it. If management chooses to compound evil with more evil, then that is THEIR choice, not ours.
Respectfully,
Captain Andy Sizemore, S-80 ORD Former member APA Negotiating, Scope, TASC, and Communications Committees
Dear Captain Hale,
I read your August 3rd hotline with great interest, and I want to thank you for bringing clarity to an otherwise difficult decision.
Like virtually every American Airlines pilot, I have been struggling with the choice before us regarding the recently negotiated Tentative Agreement. I have tried to sincerely listen to all the different viewpoints regarding our options to move this airline forward. While not every pilot will share this view, I will freely concede that changes to our labor agreement are necessary in order for American Airlines to successfully restructure as a financially healthy organization. Thus, from a strictly rational and pragmatic view, the choice to ratify the current Tentative Agreement and move forward with the restructuring process is compelling.
That being said, as I review the many changes included in the Tentative Agreement, the breadth and depth of the concessions are troubling. In almost every major area pay, Scope, duration, work rules, benefits I see the manifestation of management demands which go far beyond what is necessary for a successful reorganization. Furthermore, despite having a Tentative Agreement in place, our negotiators report that management representatives are still attempting to insert even more concessions into the contract language. When asked why management continues to overreach seemingly without compunction, we are told basically, "Because they can."
Even as our union leadership promotes the TAs ratification, they do not argue that this agreement is fair or even necessary. Rather, they say that we must ratify because the alternative is worse. They tell us that we have a gun to our collective heads. They say that if we do not consensually give what is currently asked, the company will simply take more by force of judicial writ.
In your hotline, you have said substantially the same thing:
"So there is no confusion, if the contract is abrogated, the company will immediately begin implementation of the April Term Sheet."
"A no vote can lead to only one thing uncertainty and more pain."
For whatever reason, these assertions finally brought all the competing issues into clear focus.
At this point, a useful rhetorical question would be: If the tentative agreement truly represents terms that senior management openly acknowledges as sufficient to successfully restructure American Airlines, why in the world would they implement something substantially worse? When given the power to impose whatever terms they deem necessary and proper, why would they intentionally inflict more uncertainty and pain upon the very frontline employees who make this operation run every day?
I think we all know the answer: "Because they can."
In both word and deed, the senior management of American Airlines has clearly demonstrated that they are not interested in taking only what they need to reorganize. Rather, they are attempting to take whatever they can, however they can, without regard to the horrific impact that their actions will have AAs employees or the operation of this airline.
Sadly, our world is filled with authority figures and despotic regimes that routinely misuse the power granted to them. They create pain and uncertainty not because it is necessary, but rather to satisfy their personal need for power, wealth, or validation.
We have words for these kinds of people: Bullies. Abusers. Tyrants.
Oddly, these oppressors also share an almost pathological need to have their victims acknowledge in some way that this mistreatment is actual necessary or even deserved. Youve seen their stories in the news: the rape victim in Pakistan who is jailed on charges of adultery; the political dissident in China imprisoned for "anti-social" behavior; the U.S. citizen incarcerated in Thailand for making online comments deemed insulting to the King. As these individuals reside in their own personal hells, they are plied and cajoled with offers of less harsh treatment and even parole if only they confess their sins and legitimize their "punishment."
We have words for this kind of behavior: Immoral. Repugnant. Evil.
On one important point, we are in full agreement. If the Tentative Agreement is rejected, the pilots will be punished. In fact, I fully expect that management will not be content to merely implement the April term sheet. I predict that, in the absence of any contractual restraint, we will witness one of the largest "land grabs" in airline labor history. And just why will management do this?
Because they can.
In the ensuing charged atmosphere, individuals are going to overreact, hostages will be taken, and lives will be ruined. It is not even inconceivable that American will become the next Eastern, and a once great airline will be sacrificed on the altar of management greed and arrogance.
If these tragic events come to pass, it will NOT be because it was necessary; it will NOT be because the pilots chose this outcome; it will NOT be because the employees somehow deserved this treatment. It will comes to pass because, when given the choice between 1) doing what was best for the company and its employees, or 2) what doing would bring them more power and wealth, senior management chose the latter. If this is the path that management chooses, then they are not deserving of the loyalty, respect or best efforts of the employees of American Airlines.
I will not support the Tentative Agreement in its current form. I will not grant legitimacy to what is little more than legalized extortion and theft. I will not ratify behavior that is as repugnant as it is unnecessary. I have made my choice, and I will sleep the better for it. If management chooses to compound evil with more evil, then that is THEIR choice, not ours.
Respectfully,
Captain Andy Sizemore, S-80 ORD Former member APA Negotiating, Scope, TASC, and Communications Committees
