Gesture? I've never seen the value in self flagellation. He could have donated that money to a good cause for the needy. Instead he left it in the company treasury where it can be used for what, increase our already bloated managment?

Good egg? Sure. So was Mr. Rogers, but not someone I would choose to lead an airline to profitability.

Lead by example? Just remember that in a few months when our financial performance becomes part of the narrative in contract negotiations.

No one is attacking Oscar's charachter. Remember, he's been on the board since 2005- overseeing the merger and being senior management.

Let's see what AA reports this week, but it's looking like we're going from first (country's largest airline 2012), to worst in size and financially (among our peers).
It's Results, not symbolism that pays the bills.

 

Jeeeez ... Glad I haven't brought up Wolf and how I think he did a lot of great things for UAL.

 

"Shared sacrifice" was just a little bankruptcy lube before the bonuses and buyouts started rolling in.

 

I didn't know Wolfe was at CAL in the early 80's prior to Lorenzo. The guy certainly got around.

 

Don't they all? Revolving door of golden parachutes.

 

Yes "shared sacrifice" ... They shared wealth among themselves and we sacrificed.

 

9 mil? If that’s right that’s a good amount. It’s not just a gesture. A drop in the big bucket but hat money can buy the company a lot of things that would help us be more profitable. It would pay 150 man-years of salary at $60 grand. It could help feed into the budget for reconfiguring aircraft, MX costs, office construction, new printers (retire the dot matrix fleet!, they’ve gotta die sometime), terminal improvement,etc. or it can help speed up existing projects. Even if none of that happens then it’s $9m more towards profits that we share. I doubt that it will just turn into increased management bonuses, especially with this gesture from the top guy who is still around and can see where he money goes.

I’m usually cynical, but whether it was the board or him, I appreciate the message. Have you ever wondered about a management decision or have seen what you thought were poor choices by staff/management who appeared to not worry or care about being accountable? How does a CEO help improve this culture and steer the big ship? This was one way to help, leading by example.

Few other CEOs these days think and act this way. FWIW I would be a little ****ed if he took the money and gave into to some charity rather than decline it and send it back to help make our jobs more secure.

 

Glad you brought this up...

DAL is 4x more profitable while paying their pilot group substantially more money, to include PS check sizes that’s we’ve never come close to (which are pensionable to boot). All while revenues between the two of us have been pretty close to dead even.

It’s not a revenue/labor cost problem... it’s a mgmt problem. FUPM.

 

They always get their money back. Generosity is public while avarice is buried in the 10-K. Speaking of generosity, I'm still waiting for the $2.15+ million I donated to the well being of the company

 

This ^^^

Pilots have little if any control over the corporate financial performance. Granted there is limited ability for pilots to impact some of the production expenses (always for the better of course). But, labor has zero ability to affect debt load, corporate interest rates, marketing decisions, or even labor costs of other employee groups.

Working for an enlightened boss/company is certainly better than not. But pilots are still labor and will always be treated as such. Variable income in our CBA was included because of negotiations, not altruism.

Kirby’s proposed changes to performance bonuses caused a minor revolt, however, it’s naieve to think that idea is dead with the management ranks.