Flight attendants scrap deal with American

CNN ^ | 041903 | AP

[Archangelsk]

FORT WORTH, Texas (CNN) -- Outraged by news that troubled American Airlines had planned to give its executives bonuses, flight attendants rescinded their approval of wage cuts and plan to vote again, a union official said late Friday.

No date for the new vote was set. Wednesday, the flight attendants agreed to more than $10 billion in wage concessions over six years. The airline had said it would file for bankruptcy protection if the union did not approve the cuts.

[Archangelsk]

What does that seat? I've never seen one.

[El Gato]

Some people here would have you believe that unions are the evil of the world and that management and or money are the pious moralists of the world

A pox on both their houses! At least in many cases, the union "leaders" are no better than the managers. Quite litteraly in that they no longer "do" they just "manage" and take as much for themselves as they can. Not true in all cases, either union or management, but in way too many of them.

[John123]

Actually, no. SouthWest is unionized. Quite unionized. But because there is no "us versus them" attitude, and because the SouthWest executive team is not composed of self-enriching, lying, looters the unions are quite reasonable.

I always thought SW was non-union. It seems you are familiar with the airline industry and unions in particular and your comment is interesting. I am surprised to hear about the amiable relationship between unions and executives at SW because historically this relationship is an adversarial one.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Despite our differences, I enjoy reading your sharp replies.

[cynicom]

El...For sure...

Unions were formed to protect labor from the robber barons. Now the unions are being robbed by their own management. If one speaks of unions as a totality, many have no use for them and rightly so, however to disparage all the members is equally unjust.

[Tribune7]

I mean, if they left now, where would American be able to find better people

Exactly right. Finding executives with the talent to lead a company to bankruptcy is not an easy thing.

[Archangelsk]

That's because SW hires for attitude not skills.

[Tribune7]

The senior execucraps at AA should be removed immediately, stripped of any golden parachutes they may have, and forced to actually work for a living.

Ditto that.

[Tribune7]

So that even more stews end up on the street? That's smart. Get pissed off and shoot yourself in the foot!

If you're not willing to walk away from the table you'll never win. Go stewardesses.

[sinkspur]

If you're not willing to walk away from the table you'll never win. Go stewardesses.

How is being out of work a "win"?

[smalltown]

"Some people here would have you believe that unions are the evil of the world and that management and or money are the pious moralists of the world."

And you're probably not going to change any minds. In traditional conservative thought, unions equate to Teamster thugs and Communism and management to the good guys with the suits and nice haircuts. A long time ago I felt the same way.

Twenty-five years of seeing unions and management from both sides have shown me that there is good and bad in each group, but one thing holds true: the best politicians - not the best people - tend to rise to the top in large companies and large unions.

And just like the politicians who run our cities, states and country, they tend to be less honorable than the people they represent. In other words, there are more Clintons than there are Reagans in both Union leadership and Executive boardrooms. The leaders at AA seem to have a big streak of Slick Willie running through their self-serving souls.

[AAABEST]

Your team playing softball again?

[Tribune7]

It's the risk you take to get the win. If you're not willing to quit you'll never be appreciated. You won't get raises and you'll be asked to do more and more without hope of any benefit from the extra labor.

It could very will be the stewardesses would suffer less if swallow their anger, but I respect them for not doing so and I think I would do the same in their circumstances.

[gcruse]

I hate unions for the corrupt socialism they are, but the practice of executives getting raises and bonuses while they corporations are losing money has to stop. This is a good place to make a stand. Bankrupt 'em, Danno.

[cynicom]

Man after my own heart...

Cream rises to the top, Reagan. On swill, scum rises to the top, Clinton.

[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

What else can you share about the employee car perk? I'd heard something about this, as well as, some employee parking thing for all the powerful at DFW that adds up to a significant amount. And I mean...their offices aren't at the airport.

In times of hardship, the leadership must cut all the niceties before the necessary...ie, jobs.

[airborne]

Yes. Plus Im competing in Archery. 36 arrows at 30 meters and 36 at 50 meters. I won gold the last 2 years.

[nanny]

Any merit to the argument that says the bonuses (and the pensions funded) were needed in order retain the execs? I mean, if they left now, where would American be able to find better people who know anything about the airline business outside the company?

I agree there were unforeseen things that added to this problem - but you do realize these guys that need 'retaining' are the ones who guided this company into bankruptcy, don't you? And if these guys know so much about the airline business, maybe someone who doesn't know all about it could do a better job.

And yes, believe me there is always someone who can replace you or me at any job. No one is indispensable.

I have absolutely no interest in this other than observation - but I have always wondered why a company that went bankrupt needs to retain the people at the helm when it did? It would seem to my simple mind, the people in charge - making the decisions should be held accountable.

Not intended to be nasty - just my observation.

[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

****"How is being out of work a 'win'?"****

Standing on principle. I have so much respect for the AA captains who voted, "no." They could have selfishly voted "yes" to try and salvage some sort of pig-pension, but a "yes" vote would have screwed a lot of the junior guys.

My husband might lose a whole lot, including this job & maybe even career, but that's much better than losing his self-respect and integrity.

[El Gato]

don't blame the airlines for airport security, put the blame on the pinheads in DC who decided to federalize the whole system

I wasn't blaming them for that aspect, but merely stating that fear of flying is not the only or even the main reason flying is down. The biggest reason is the economy, followed by the factors already mentioned. Those weigh differently on different length flights, although I'm not sure how the various factors weigh in. I've only flown twice in the last year, once on Southwest, once on American (and Am. Eagle). Neither was on a weekend, and it seemed that most of the people were business travelers, even on the short San Antonio to DFW or to Dallas Love segment.