Originally Posted by
eaglefly
The APA could have seen that even as recent as 5-7 years ago and wrapped their arms around the Eagle pilots not for the Eagle pilots, but ultimately FOR THEM. Mutual allies with common interests would have had a much better chance of shaping AMR and AA for a different and more beneficial future for all, instead of the hopeless and permamant division that now will likley result is one entity watching the other entity engage a final battle that will produce some decent results for half and ultimately sacrifice the rest.
It's not just the pilots involved with this. You're talking about all employee groups at AMR. The price demanded by AMR for combining the companies would have been HUGE and paid by mainline ONLY in the form of dumbing down compensation and benefits. In short, the idea of folding in AE into AA WAS and IS simply a cheap pipedream that ain't gonna happen. AE ALPA has ZERO leverage in the deal with their current long term labor contract and would be the only one to benefit. Even with a combined company the threat of pilots willing to work on the cheap wouldn't go away. You need to remember what company you're dealing with here. With AMR any concession will NEVER be enough until you can get below Great Lakes and Mesa in employee costs.
If AA wants a bankruptcy contract, at least from the APA, they're going to have to take it to bankrupcy and management may have to forgo their rich bonuses for a year or so. The pilots at least are fed-up with business as usual at AMR. I've got no problem with a bankruptcy. Bring it on. When the senior pilots smell a BK you'll see probably 1500 senior captains immediately retire. AA management says they need to retain their "top talent" with these fabulous bonuses. A good bankruptcy might clean out a lot of dead wood and dead thinking at Centerport. Who knows, they might even get a couple of real leaders up there.