American Airlines Pilots Plan CHAOS If Mediation Fails
Feb 24, 2009, 11:43 pm
#1
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American Airlines Pilots Plan CHAOS If Mediation Fails
The union that represents American Airlines pilots says it's conducting drills, preparing to disrupt the airline's flight schedule if federal mediation fails to bring a new contract agreement with management.
Union President Lloyd Hill said his group has decided against an all-out strike that would shut down the airline completely. Instead, the union is instead looking at a strategy to create random disruption and chaos at the nation's second largest airline, he said.
"If I were the company, I wouldn't be underestimating what's going on," he said.
Union President Lloyd Hill said his group has decided against an all-out strike that would shut down the airline completely. Instead, the union is instead looking at a strategy to create random disruption and chaos at the nation's second largest airline, he said.
"If I were the company, I wouldn't be underestimating what's going on," he said.
Feb 25, 2009, 12:35 am
#2
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Wow. Nice timing.
And unless AA is lying or misrepresenting the data, they're the highest paid in the US (or least productive) of all us airlines, bar none, by a large margin: http://www.aanegotiations.com/pilotblock.asp
And unless AA is lying or misrepresenting the data, they're the highest paid in the US (or least productive) of all us airlines, bar none, by a large margin: http://www.aanegotiations.com/pilotblock.asp
Feb 25, 2009, 12:53 am
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Wow. Nice timing.
And unless AA is lying or misrepresenting the data, they're the highest paid in the US (or least productive) of all us airlines, bar none, by a large margin: http://www.aanegotiations.com/pilotblock.asp
And unless AA is lying or misrepresenting the data, they're the highest paid in the US (or least productive) of all us airlines, bar none, by a large margin: http://www.aanegotiations.com/pilotblock.asp
Feb 25, 2009, 1:38 am
#4
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Feb 25, 2009, 2:56 am
#5
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on the thread title.....how does one organise chaos? 
Dave
Dave
Feb 25, 2009, 4:22 am
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You have got to be kidding me!
500,000 jobs were vaporized 2 weeks ago. The unemployment rate is RISING!
The country is in a recession where recovery may not START until early 2010 (That's a year from now Captain Hill).
The world is in a recession where recovery may not start until late 2010/early2011.
Get a grip! Read a paper! Reality is not a concept!
My guess is that these guys are not going to get a lot of sympathy if there is any kind of job action. Or perhaps union leadership is so smart, they are trying to replicate the success that the UAW has brought to the U. S. auto industry.
The country is in a recession where recovery may not START until early 2010 (That's a year from now Captain Hill).
The world is in a recession where recovery may not start until late 2010/early2011.
Get a grip! Read a paper! Reality is not a concept!
My guess is that these guys are not going to get a lot of sympathy if there is any kind of job action. Or perhaps union leadership is so smart, they are trying to replicate the success that the UAW has brought to the U. S. auto industry.
Feb 25, 2009, 5:52 am
#7
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All the pilots want is a contract. Now what can be agreed upon is another story. I find it amazing that everyone on FT wants to blame the pilots all the time. AMR corporation is just as responsible for dragging out these negotiations. For some reason AMR loves to flight with it's union employee's.
This is going way back to the Bob Crandall days. The truth is leadership starts at the top and right now CEO Gerald Arpey has refused several invites to sit down with APA.
Now I am not saying times are not bad. Yes I read the paper, watch CNBC, Mad money and everything else. However if AMR wanted to get a deal done, any deal, they would be sitting in a room non-stop getting it "done" Truth is that is not happening. I am a EXP AA loving die hard like the rest of us but come on get a deal done. Get out of Dallas and go to some off site meeting place. Lock both sides in a room and nobody comes out until a deal is worked out.
**Off topic a little**
I had the pleasure of sitting next to Herb Kelleher at a local bar one night a few years ago here in Dallas. Herb was having his normal wild turkey whiskey and the conversation was everything about the airline industry. One thing I remember him saying is he ALWAYS sat down with the pilots early to hammer out a deal. He understood the concept of happy employees take care of the customer which in turn takes care of the company. The unions at SWA and Herb had mutual respect. Maybe someday someone at APA and AMR will read the book "NUTS"
This is going way back to the Bob Crandall days. The truth is leadership starts at the top and right now CEO Gerald Arpey has refused several invites to sit down with APA.
Now I am not saying times are not bad. Yes I read the paper, watch CNBC, Mad money and everything else. However if AMR wanted to get a deal done, any deal, they would be sitting in a room non-stop getting it "done" Truth is that is not happening. I am a EXP AA loving die hard like the rest of us but come on get a deal done. Get out of Dallas and go to some off site meeting place. Lock both sides in a room and nobody comes out until a deal is worked out.
**Off topic a little**
I had the pleasure of sitting next to Herb Kelleher at a local bar one night a few years ago here in Dallas. Herb was having his normal wild turkey whiskey and the conversation was everything about the airline industry. One thing I remember him saying is he ALWAYS sat down with the pilots early to hammer out a deal. He understood the concept of happy employees take care of the customer which in turn takes care of the company. The unions at SWA and Herb had mutual respect. Maybe someday someone at APA and AMR will read the book "NUTS"
Last edited by mach92; Feb 25, 2009 at 5:59 am
Feb 25, 2009, 6:10 am
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I'll fly some other airlines for the moment.
Feb 25, 2009, 6:52 am
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One thing I remember him saying is he ALWAYS sat down with the pilots early to hammer out a deal. He understood the concept of happy employees take care of the customer which in turn takes care of the company.
Feb 25, 2009, 7:32 am
#10
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Work-to-rule stoppage is easy enough to accomplish. And how well did UA SFH or NW CHAOS work... in the long run?
Feb 25, 2009, 8:05 am
#11
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Any type of chaos or job action will simply end up shooting themselves in the foot. The economy is such that any reason to cancel a trip will be taken, people who have to travel will not book on AA, and more jobs will be lost. We've seen how well such actions and belligerence on part of the unions has worked in the past or in industries like auto. Most US-based professionals I know don't have contracts, it is employment at will. Get over it and get to work
Feb 25, 2009, 8:10 am
#12
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In the end, can't AA just claim mechanical malfunction on the aircraft where chaos has been "organized". It just seems that whatever havoc they could cause would be minimal.
Feb 25, 2009, 8:57 am
#14
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All the pilots want is a contract. Now what can be agreed upon is another story. I find it amazing that everyone on FT wants to blame the pilots all the time. AMR corporation is just as responsible for dragging out these negotiations. For some reason AMR loves to flight with it's union employee's.
This is going way back to the Bob Crandall days. The truth is leadership starts at the top and right now CEO Gerald Arpey has refused several invites to sit down with APA.
Now I am not saying times are not bad. Yes I read the paper, watch CNBC, Mad money and everything else. However if AMR wanted to get a deal done, any deal, they would be sitting in a room non-stop getting it "done" Truth is that is not happening. I am a EXP AA loving die hard like the rest of us but come on get a deal done. Get out of Dallas and go to some off site meeting place. Lock both sides in a room and nobody comes out until a deal is worked out.
**Off topic a little**
I had the pleasure of sitting next to Herb Kelleher at a local bar one night a few years ago here in Dallas. Herb was having his normal wild turkey whiskey and the conversation was everything about the airline industry. One thing I remember him saying is he ALWAYS sat down with the pilots early to hammer out a deal. He understood the concept of happy employees take care of the customer which in turn takes care of the company. The unions at SWA and Herb had mutual respect. Maybe someday someone at APA and AMR will read the book "NUTS"
This is going way back to the Bob Crandall days. The truth is leadership starts at the top and right now CEO Gerald Arpey has refused several invites to sit down with APA.
Now I am not saying times are not bad. Yes I read the paper, watch CNBC, Mad money and everything else. However if AMR wanted to get a deal done, any deal, they would be sitting in a room non-stop getting it "done" Truth is that is not happening. I am a EXP AA loving die hard like the rest of us but come on get a deal done. Get out of Dallas and go to some off site meeting place. Lock both sides in a room and nobody comes out until a deal is worked out.
**Off topic a little**
I had the pleasure of sitting next to Herb Kelleher at a local bar one night a few years ago here in Dallas. Herb was having his normal wild turkey whiskey and the conversation was everything about the airline industry. One thing I remember him saying is he ALWAYS sat down with the pilots early to hammer out a deal. He understood the concept of happy employees take care of the customer which in turn takes care of the company. The unions at SWA and Herb had mutual respect. Maybe someday someone at APA and AMR will read the book "NUTS"
Not that I am supporting either one, as I certainly don't have all the details to make a judgment. But I do doubt that everyone else (who is making such strong claims) does either.
Feb 25, 2009, 9:37 am
#15
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If there is an organized "chaos" for the AA system...
it will directly involve the federal government more than it already has (isn't that what everybody nowadays, anyway???). With all commercial flights on an IFR flight plan, it could possibly throw an already taxed, undermanned and underautomated flight following system into chaos, leading to other possible delays with other aircraft also in the flight system, spiralling downward (until the electrical grid goes offline, cats live with dogs, global cooling starts again - just kidding about that part!). If there is an organized plan that will start affecting others in the flight system, the government will probably act in the safety of the flying public.
Swimmin' M
Swimmin' M