block30

Keep those memes coming. Any chance you take requests? Maybe one with Michael Bolton, Roger Cohen, or a waterskiing squirrel?

johnso29

What was imposed WRT scope? I know domestic codeshare was cracked wide open, but what about RJs? I heard AMR pushed it to only 79 seats, as opposed to the 88 in their initial term sheet.

RiddleEagle18

Has there been any discussion of using an NFL style tactic. De certify the Union and walk off the job.

Check Essential

2nd Circuit Court of Appeals:

This dispute between the Association of Flight Attendants (“AFA”) and Northwest Airlines (“Northwest”) is situated in a peculiar corner of our law more evocative of an Eero Saarinen interior of creative angularity than the classical constructions of Cardozo and Holmes.   Northwest, under the protection of Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code and with the bankruptcy court's imprimatur, has rejected the collective-bargaining agreement that until recently governed its relationship with the AFA and imposed new terms and conditions of employment upon its flight attendants.   The AFA does not wish to accede to these terms and conditions of employment and threatens a work stoppage unless Northwest agrees to terms and conditions that are more favorable to the flight attendants.
The District Court for the Southern District of New York (Victor Marrero, Judge ) issued a preliminary injunction precluding the AFA and its members from engaging in any form of work stoppage.   It held that any such work stoppage would cause irreparable harm and, at this juncture, violate the Railway Labor Act. On this basis, the district court concluded that the Norris-LaGuardia Act did not deprive it of jurisdiction to issue the injunction.
We agree, but for substantially different reasons than those advanced by the district court.   We hold that Section 2 (First) of the Railway Labor Act forbids an immediate strike when a bankruptcy court approves a debtor-carrier's rejection of a collective-bargaining agreement that is subject to the Railway Labor Act and permits it to impose new terms, and the propriety of that approval is not on appeal.

Full case:

IN RE: NORTHWEST AIRLINES CORPORATION, Docket Nos.

galaxy flyer

Actually, the "NFL" tactic could work, if the pilots were willing to resign. How could the courts hold the APA responsible for that action, if decertified? Admittedly, a new union drive would have to held after BK.

GF

Sniper

AA has roughly 8,400 active pilots. $370M/8.4K = $44K in givebacks per pilot.

MIT's labor data shows, in 2011 AA spent $58.5K/pilot in pensions and benefits. Of that $58.5K, roughly $15.4K is from the B plan (mean AA pilot salary is $140K, B plan is 11%).

While the math to value the A plan is beyond my math skills, I'd imagine the A plan savings would be pretty substantial, given the implied costs of an A plan. For simplicities sake, let's very conservatively value the frozen A plan @ another $15.4K/pilot (same value as the B plan).

The international override averages $5/hr per pilot, or about 3% of the hourly rate ($5/777CA @ $205/hr + MD-80 FO @ $110/hr). So, there's another $2K/pilot in savings when the override goes away, since only 1/2 the pilots get the override.

So, just by freezing the A plan, eliminating the B plan, and eliminating the international override, AA saves around $33K/pilot, or 75% of the savings needed to get to the $44K/pilot needed.

AA pilots, just by losing those 3 items, are, using EXTREMELY conservative #'s, getting $27.7K in benefits per pilot, and only need to give back an additional $9K/pilot.

The sum of ALL rest of the cuts so far announced (including HUGE scope losses) are only going to yield $9K in savings per pilot, only 25% of the cost savings needed "to survive"? Call me a skeptic.

El Gwopo

What happens if AA pilots simply don't show up for work for say...a week? What happens then? Jail?

LittleBoyBlew

Most likely a temp court injunction against the APA and every individual AA pilot.. However, any disruption would most likely spook the UCC, and subsequently result in TH being put out to pasture..

Aspilot

I would hope that all airline pilots regardless of union affiliation would take a day off with the AA pilots. Their fight is our fight.

unitedflyier

Calling for work action could be illegal and cost the union millions. It got several pilots at other airlines into big trouble.

When I returned to United after my first furlough Glenn Tilton said if you don't like it quit. But has was laughing, because he knew he would win as no one would.

He was absolutely right. You may not be allowed to get others to call in sick, and you may not be allowed to strike. But there is nothing to stop pilots en-mass in quitting. Yes it would take enormous courage, and a leap of faith.

But if a significant number did at AMR or many other airlines. The government would stand up and take notice. Only then will they start to address the real problems. They cannot simply find that number of pilots to replace you all in a year.

20,000+ quitting on the same day would be awesome. I know it will never happen.