AA had created an interesting problem here, once again they have been too clever by half...
Something that AA has loved to insert into all the contracts is something called a "Me TOO" clause. That means that other employee groups get the same raise automatically if you get one. They have historically used this to artificially restrain pilot compensation at AA ("we would love to pay you this and we think you are worth it, but then we would have to give it to X, Y and Z as well"). However, as part of the bankruptcy they extended it to all the work groups, including non unionized (IE ticket agents). Infact, they arlready had to go back and sweaten some of the earlier deals that were ratified as later agreements were reached.
So here is the the kicker right now. All the contracts that AA thought were wrapped up, signed sealed delivered and implemented are not really closed at all! If the pilots get more, then so do the mechanics and the flight attendants and the gate agents! Therefore, everyone in the airline is motivated right now to make sure that the operation is a total train wreck, and guess what, IT SHOWS!
This demonstrates AA management strategic thinking at its finest. Now they keep beating the drum about how evil the pilots are, but there are a lot of moving parts that make an airline, and all of them stand to profit if the pilots do. Even those with buyers remorse about their consentual deals... So it many not be the pilots, but that's who managements usually chooses to bully, and old habits die hard.
Simply put the management of AA couldn't organize a pissup in a brewery...
Last edited by Wino; 27th Sep 2012 at 17:58.