AMR Corp., the parent company of American Airlines Inc., has called the placement of two billboards by the Allied Pilots Association near Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport ‘the latest in a series of desperate attacks to put pressure on the company so it will give into the APA’s outrageous contract demands.”
The billboards, located on the south side of State Highway 183 in Euless and the east side of State Highway 360 in Arlington, point out that executive bonuses at the airline since 2006 have totaled $296.5 million. One version states that 27,000 jobs have been lost at the airline in recent years.
In response, American spokeswoman Missy Latham said: “It’s important to note that our management compensation is market-based, similar to that of many U.S. businesses including airlines. It is the same structure that has been in place for more than 10 years and is designed to align the long-term interests of shareholders and management.
The value to individuals is completely at-risk and based on strict performance criteria.”
The airline also said the APA signs do not include statistics that compare American salaries to the market average.
“We’ve been very clear with the current APA leadership team that signing a deal that puts our pilot costs 275 percent above the industry average is not an option,” the airline said. “While we continue to look for ways to find workable, realistic and positive changes to our pilot contract, misguided attacks like this are disappointing and detrimental to the negotiations process.”
According to a statement put out by the APA, senior executives at American are due to receive bonuses again next month. "By contrast, the pilots have given up billions in compensation since 2003. During the same period, thousands of pilots lost their jobs through furloughs, while many of those remaining had their pay cut in half."
APA's statement said the group objects to the "extremely disparate rate of financial recovery between senior executives and front-line employees, and believes that shared sacrifice should result in shared reward."
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AMR responds to pilot union?s billboards: bizjournals.com Business News - MSN Money
Is losing millions per quarter part of the "strict performance criteria?"
275% above the industry average?? How can these quoted personnel keep a straight face while saying these things?? They need to go to Hollywood where they can make more money as actors/actresses.