American Airline Pilots protest Low Wages
 

American Airlines' unions time protests to management bonuses
07:31 PM CDT on Wednesday, April 18, 2007

By DAVID KOENIG
The Associated Press

DALLAS -- Leaning on crutches, Kelli Hughes, a Boeing 737 captain for American Airlines, said she was so angry over bonuses for company executives that a broken heel wasn't going to stop her from marching in a union protest.

"They said this was going to be 'shared sacrifice, shared gain,' but it's not happening," Hughes said. "We're the only company that's not giving back to the employees."

Hughes and several hundred other American employees protested Wednesday against the company's payment of stock to nearly 900 managers. The unions estimate the payments, based on Wednesday's closing price of shares in parent AMR Corp., were worth $170 million.

Wednesday's rally outside AMR headquarters was the latest in a series of events organized by unions to pressure the company for better pay — contract negotiations with pilots started recently, and talks with ground workers and flight attendants are expected to begin by early next year.

On Tuesday, flight attendants carried picket signs at airports around the country — the union says 4,000 workers took part. And the Transport Workers Union, which represents mechanics and baggage handlers, is making AMR the rationale for Congress to pass legislation letting shareholders vote on executive compensation.

The bonuses are a reward for the 133 percent increase in AMR's stock price from 2004 through 2006. Chairman and Chief Executive Gerard Arpey will get about $7.5 million, according to union calculations. The company declined to provide figures, saying it would disclose details in a regulatory filing this week.

Arpey defended the payments, saying managers had received less compensation in years when AMR's stock did poorly.

Arpey said a rising stock price helps all employees by making it possible for the company to contribute to its pension plans, provide retiree health benefits and avoid layoffs.

For the first time in years, AMR is setting aside money for profit sharing — the company pays out 15 percent of American's pretax profit above $500 million. But employees point out that Continental Airlines Inc. paid employees $111 million in profit sharing in February.

Arpey also said that American's union workers are sharing in AMR's gains because they got 38 million stock options in 2003.

Those stock options — designed to help soften the blow of pay cuts ranging from 15 percent to 23 percent — are now worth $1 billion, if employees didn't sell them too soon, company officials say.

Ralph Hunter, president of the pilots' union, said many of his members had to sell their stock to meet living expenses. Management's bonus program, based on revolving three-year cycles, "is the gift that keeps on giving," he said.

American's three unions are gearing up for negotiations on new contracts to replace the concessionary deals signed in 2003, and they hope to parlay anger over management bonuses into a better deal for their members.

James C. Little, international president of the Transport Workers Union and before that a longtime TWU leader at American, said Arpey "probably earns every penny he gets. A lot of CEOs make more money than he does."

But Little said managers shouldn't get bonuses before rank-and-file workers do.

"I see this as an issue beyond American Airlines alone," he said. "It goes to executive compensation in general. The gap (between executives and workers) is getting wider and wider."

Some workers use stronger terms to describe their anger at management over the bonuses, which caused a ruckus last year but involve much bigger payouts this year.

"I can't believe how arrogant they are about this," said Dallas-based pilot Rusty Brown. "They think it's going to blow over, but it's not."

Interesting Follow-up by Transport Workers Union
 

TWU seems to be doing something (ALPA haven't heard anything)


http://www.pegasusnews.com/news/2007...ne-picket-lin/

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takea...ltl=1176961966

Way to go SWA FA's
 

SWA Flight attendants join in the protest . .

http://www.pegasusnews.com/news/2007...joining-ameri/

It's, SIT DOWN and SHUT-UP PATERNALISTIC BEHAVIOR
 

Thursday, April 12, 2007

American Airlines executives send warning letters to employees

By Pegasus News wire

Email Print Tell us your story Comment (1)

Photo not provided by American Airlines

The employees of AA sacrificed nearly $4.6 billion in wages so that the company could stay afloat. Meanwhile, handcarved ivory back-scratchers (pictured above) are all the rage with AA executives.
FORT WORTH — According to this story in the Dallas Business Journal, it appears that the American Airlines executives are not going to take the pilots' and flight attendants' protests sitting down. The company has sent letters to each of the workers' unions reminding them of their legal obligations in light of recent protests over executive bonuses.

The controversial bonuses have led to both the flight attendants and the pilots expressing anger and frustration with the company's seemingly unfair practices.

Posted by Todd M.



THIS IS WHY YOU DON'T WANT TO WORK FOR AMERICAN EAGLE EITHER.
Word must have goten out, when they had to lower their minimums.

did you notice AA pilots stopped wearing their hats as a silent protest as well

Well if you saw the huge AD in the USA TODAY a couple of days ago, they are doing that, because of their employees sacrifices, its a "Hats off to our employees".............pretty awesome if you ask me, looks like the pilots of these legacies are tired of taking the brunt of managements **** poor job, meanwhile the incompetent CEO's reward themselves with huge bonuses

I wonder if this is going to be a chain reaction across the industry? Could things change sooner than we think? God, I hope so. My dad wants to retire 8 years early because he is sick and tired of the B.S.; management getting bonuses while employees are on food stamps!

Good to see the AA backbone putting their foot down! Not wearing the hats is a nice idea. Personally, I think the hats should go away permamently. Don't you guys get tired of carrying those things around? :D

I DID SEE THAT! AMAZING!

Airline management across the country SHOULD BE VERY CONCERNED! There is a MAJOR, SILENT rebellion brewing. One that could cripple the industry from a few days, to weeks, months and even years. At this point Congress will have to step in. The Congress solution will be REGULATION. It might happen again . . . If it did, I wouldn't be surprised.

Ellen, your words give me great hope. Look at what happened after deregulation! If the solution is regulation, maybe the good ole days could come back after all. Then we can skip across the terminal to our planes like Rockettes, flight bag in one hand our paycheck in the other, singing a happy song. :D >singing< "Always look on the briiiiiight siiiide of life!" >whistle whistle whistle<

View The Ad!!!
 

VIEW THE AD!

Here is the link.
http://www.alliedpilots.org/images/H...USATodayAd.pdf

Here is the link to the Press Release.


http://www.alliedpilots.org/Public/p...20070416-1.pdf

I encourage everyone to leave a message for Denny Breslin on his V.M. at (817) 302-2350. Let him know that you saw the advertisement and commend him for taking a stand against Airline Management. (Only if you believe that what he is doing is appropriate). I DID!

The management received a 700 percent increase in compensation!?!??!?!?!? WTF!! I believe the gov't should rethink it's sanction on cruel and unusual punishments. I applaud the employees for taking a stand and getting the word out. Regulation needs to come back in full swing. Too much corruption in the industry. The management has proven that they cannot behave....Time to put them back in the playpen. I'm definitely going to leave a message on his voice mail.


edit: Left a voice message. Gave him my support and praise.

The Time Has Come
 

I really hope you do. And I hope many more of you do too. Letting those in-the-thick of our industry, know that they are doing a good job will encourage them to continue until "The Tipping Point" is reached.

I am actually thinking about putting together a (Printable) form letter / packet of information that can be mailed to your Congress person. You would just fill in the blanks with your specific Congress person's name and drop it in the mail, or send it via e-mail. (Mail is better because it sits on their desk)

I welcome any suggestions.

I'm all about it, Ellen!! I think that's a great idea. Would it be a printable pdf file or something? I'll send one to all my buddies in aviation, including grandpa and dad. You've got my thumbs up for it! :D

WHAT Letter Might Encompass!
 

It'll probably be a .pdf. I'm just getting a feel for what people want. Also looking for ideas! I'm sure it will encompass a wide variety of topics, along with a few pages of facts and figures. (Sources included)

-Executive wages at Management (incl. Options)
-Short staffing (pilots, rampers, CSA, etc)
-Low minimums
-Low pay
-Training Quality
-Safety issues (Recent accidents)
-Regulation
-GA proposed fees and effects
-Hiring going overseas
-Tax credits airlines receive
-Airline Pension bailouts by the US Govt.
-Where future pilots will come from
-Pax Bill of Rights
-Others

Good stuff! I'm sure you'll think of something long before I can come up with it. Looks like you covered most of the bases with that list of great ideas. We should get these out to the congress man, pronto! If I can help in anyway, please let me know!

I applaud the pilots of the APA/American Airlines for taking a stand against the arrogance and greed displayed by AMR's management. Injustice in this industry has gone on way too long.

I'm glad to hear the F/As at American will be protesting next week to extend the recall rights of all of their furloughed F/As.

Finally, in a show of true solidarity, the APA and all of its members will be setting up informational picketing in ORD/DFW/LGA/MIA and LAX to protest the seniority integration of the TWA pilots. The APA is pushing to re-integrate the seniority list using date-of-hire as is the case in most mergers.

The APA is a shining beacon to all, boldly picketing arrogance and injustice in the airline industry.

Yeah right. The only "shining beacon" you will see from the APA is the blue flame emanating from the anal region when lighting a fart.

...............Classy

I think what the APA is doing is rather heroic and very necessary. I feel that their actions will rub off and many will follow similar actions.

However, your sentence had me rolling with laughter. A "blue flame" emitting from ones' buttcheeks would suggest intense heat, similar to that of a butane torch. That's some fart!! :D

A couple of my other pilot friends called Denny Breslin of American Airlines(APA)on his V.M. at (817) 302-2350. and left a message telling him "Hats Off" for taking some action. Keep up the good work.

And for those of you "NEWBIES" take note and feel free to call. He is paving the way for you.

FliFast,
That is one of the funniest posts I've seen here in a while, especially that last line!! Did you come up with that or did someone else put you up to it?

Ltd,

;) :D

FF

Great Idea,
We could include suggestions of what can be done to remedy the situation. I believe that if all 121 carriers were required to hire with atp mins this would be a great start. Also regulation on flight schools and misleading advertisements.

Fli,
I also should have added for those who don't have access that the APA leadership has repeatedly and firmly advised NO REVISITING Supp CC, or the merger section of the CBA.

:rolleyes:

A big congrats to the American Airlines pilots and the APA!

Just wish alpa would do something like that instead of giving speeches infront of each other, telling themselves what they want to hear, and what a great job they are going to do! :mad:

shining beacon! their membership continues to pick up OT with all those pilots on the street. shining beacon!

I saw the ad in USA Today last week and later that afternoon saw the protest at the STL airport. I wish the best for the pilots of all the big airlines, b/c what happens now with them will affect many of us in the regionals when we look to move on.

a lot of people are badmouthing alpa right now. but 5 years from now when every alpa carrier gets most of what was taken from them back, everyone will once again jump on the bandwagon and be an alpa supporter. there are too many pilots that only stand with alpa when everything is just fine. when the ish hits the fan, everyone scatters and blames alpa. thats just sad.

How many times have you taken ALPA National up on the open invitiation to Picket......with FedEx, With Polar, With Comiar, With Airways?

How much do you give to the ALPA PAC?

Will I see you in your Pilot Uniform in Washington DC on the 17th?

What have you done for ALPA lately?

All that is great. Go picket, Give Money, Protest until you can't talk, et el. Then hold them accountable for getting things done.

Quite frankly, there is a lot of talk coming from ALPA. If you ask to see a

• SPECIFIC PLAN on what they are doing,
• who they are contacting,
• what message they are delivering,
• what their budget is for EACH specific item they are EXECUTING to spur industry change and
• how they'll measure its success,

you'll get a dead pan stare with a wiggled in phrase of "Time To Take It Back"

Which to me, is a very self-centered, greedy and hostile slogan anyway. But if it moves pilots into action then so be it. To me it wouldn't. I would rather attend an event entitled "Pilots Promoting Industry Change for the Safety of Our Passengers" (I bet this would get airtime on national news!)

And by all means, if anyone has the list of SPECIFIC ACTIONS that ALPA is planning to implement, please post them. I would love to see them as many others would too.

Given them roughly $25,000 in dues! What has that $25,000 gotten me?

1) 40% cut in Pay!
2) Another 15% cut in benefits!
3) Frozen pension that was promised!

I'm not sure if this link has been posted but check it out. You might need a vomit bag after you read the letter written by Mark Burdett. Blargh!

http://www.apapdp.org/cms/index.php?...=730&Itemid=61

I forgot about his site. I love it!

AMR MANAGEMENT IS GETTING SCARED!

There would be no need to write a letter like this unless AMR was caught with their pants down. I have seen this tactic many of times. Scare those who have uncovered your secrets. (Just ask Karl Rove) Threaten to take them down, fine them, or put them in jail. Might spook some.

Last I saw, we can choose to work when and where we want. Also, I do believe that an airline pilot should be in good health. Physically and Psychologically to perform his/her duties. Flu has been going around hasn't it.

Yeah, it's a good site! I'm going to browse it some more tomorrow. That letter made me sick. I cannot believe that some of this crap is legal. Guess that's capitalism at it's best. yuck!

Now it seems that they (AMR Management) is fighting for:

• Their bonuses
• Their pensions and 401K's
• Stock holders and Wall Street investment
• Revenue generating passengers
• High paying jobs, because if the company folds they lose their jobs too
• or maybe Washington DC, who secretly tells AMR to avoid a transportation strike at all cost because it will cripple the economy and any Republican's chance of securing a Presidential election in the coming years. (Hmmmm)

Look I know that many have taken huge cuts.

Did ALPA propose these cuts?
Did ALPA delcare Bankruptcy?
DID ALPA appoint the Judges that basically gave MGT carte Blanche to rape the contracts?

Correct me if I am wrong. You guys got to vote on your concessionary TA.
Sounds like you voted NO and that is fine.........but apparently the MaJority voted to accept them.

You are angry and I don't blame you, but you anger is vented at the wrong outfit. What do you think you would have or would have gotten if ALPA had not been there?

Look to your MGT, Look to the Current Administration, they are the ones you should be mad at. I didn't hear you complain with about contract pre 911

well said. im really surprised about the number of people who are against alpa. just because labor has been completely screwed over in the past few years doesnt mean we should be destroying ourselves. These non-union attitudes means pilots are doing management's job for them by weakening solidarity. im looking forward to seeing ellen's reaction when the pendelum swings the other way.

I am willing to react differently and change my mind, BUT until it is proven to me that the pendelum CAN swing the other way I will banter both sides of the fence.