American cuts back schedule in face of more sick pilots and Mx write-ups
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American cuts back schedule in face of more sick pilots and Mx write-ups
American Airlines' Canceled Flights Surge
American will cut its schedule for the rest of September and October by 1 to 2 percent due to "a number of factors" including an increase in pilots calling in sick and maintenance reports filed by flight crews, said airline spokesman Bruce Hicks.
American will cut its schedule for the rest of September and October by 1 to 2 percent due to "a number of factors" including an increase in pilots calling in sick and maintenance reports filed by flight crews, said airline spokesman Bruce Hicks.
American canceled more flights on Sunday and Monday than any other airline, according to flight-tracking services.
Hicks said the company was "constantly evaluating our schedule based on operational and staffing resources" and seasonal patterns. He said the AMR Corp.-owned airline was making changes to ensure reliable service for passengers.
The cancelations come a few days after American imposed new cost-cutting terms on its pilots, including outsourcing more flying jobs to other airlines and terminating one of the pilots' retirement programs in November. Pilots rejected more-generous terms in the last contract offer from American, which has been under bankruptcy protection since November.
Hicks said the company was "constantly evaluating our schedule based on operational and staffing resources" and seasonal patterns. He said the AMR Corp.-owned airline was making changes to ensure reliable service for passengers.
The cancelations come a few days after American imposed new cost-cutting terms on its pilots, including outsourcing more flying jobs to other airlines and terminating one of the pilots' retirement programs in November. Pilots rejected more-generous terms in the last contract offer from American, which has been under bankruptcy protection since November.
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Due to the airline being unable to rely on pilots goodwill more like. 
Laughable!
Pilots rejected more-generous terms in the last contract offer from American
Last edited by Mercenary Pilot; 20th Sep 2012 at 13:02.
Trash du Blanc
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Pilots rejected more-generous terms in the last contract offer from American, which has been under bankruptcy protection since November.
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Seems like a pilot sick-out at AA has been tried before, maybe APA figures they have nothing left to lose this time.
What next, faxing in resignations en masse?
"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." - George Santayana, Reason in Common Sense (1905)
What next, faxing in resignations en masse?
"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." - George Santayana, Reason in Common Sense (1905)
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I am not sure how this will all turn out. But this is one of the best lines about pilots/management I have ever read. This is from a Forbes.com online article:
Best of luck to the AA guys and gals. Hang in there and don't let the bastards get you down.
It’s not clear whether a new tentative contract agreement would lead to any substantial change in the tentative agreement. An American pilot said the current slowdown is likely to result in a better deal. He said American had needed to be reminded of the importance of its pilots. After all, he said, “If the pilots don’t show up, it’s called a shutdown. If the managers don’t show up, it’s called the weekend.”
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To date APA have demonstrated courage, determination, and refused to roll over on their members, nor membership. Can any of the other unions, members, or memberships make that claim?
Thumbs up APA! Good luck!
Thumbs up APA! Good luck!
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I've seen the practice of calling scheduling and lying about having a tummy ache called many things but that's the first time I've seen it called "demonstrating courage".
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They're not calling in sick. That would be actionable in court.
They've just quit acting like the grownups on the ramp. They do their jobs, not everyone else's.
Captains set the pace of an airline. And most of that pace-setting is generated (or not) by the mutual respect and goodwill between them and their employer.
This is not a walmart checkout line we're talking about. You need the help of flight crews to manage an airline. American is Exhibit "A" right now.
They've just quit acting like the grownups on the ramp. They do their jobs, not everyone else's.
Captains set the pace of an airline. And most of that pace-setting is generated (or not) by the mutual respect and goodwill between them and their employer.
This is not a walmart checkout line we're talking about. You need the help of flight crews to manage an airline. American is Exhibit "A" right now.
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Sick from flying...?
USAPA Aerotoxic Newsletter Articles
Any connection or don't real pilots get sick from repeated exposures of toxic cabin air.
Any connection or don't real pilots get sick from repeated exposures of toxic cabin air.
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Am I mis-reading this, or is Denise Lynn stating that for pilots to call in sick is unlawful?
As ATC I would not show up for work if I were unwell, and would not be happy about being told I had to come in. I would imagine the same for pilots, after all, it is a case of influencing and compromising safety if the person is not fit for duty.
I cannot see a case in court being able to prove that a pilot was fit for duty when they have phoned in sick.
As ATC I would not show up for work if I were unwell, and would not be happy about being told I had to come in. I would imagine the same for pilots, after all, it is a case of influencing and compromising safety if the person is not fit for duty.
I cannot see a case in court being able to prove that a pilot was fit for duty when they have phoned in sick.
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AMR management are clear:
"We think you're doing this and doing it on purpose...":
Quote:
This unlawful conduct is taking the form of discretionary pilot actions including such things as delaying departures for unnecessary checks, increased and late-filed maintenance write-ups, increased block times due to slow taxiing, and circuitous routings. This behavior has been accompanied by statements from pilots indicating that the activity is intended to “send a message” to the Company to express displeasure with AMR management, the Court’s Section 1113 decision and the absence of a new consensual agreement with the Company.
"We think you're doing this and doing it on purpose...":
Quote:
This unlawful conduct is taking the form of discretionary pilot actions including such things as delaying departures for unnecessary checks, increased and late-filed maintenance write-ups, increased block times due to slow taxiing, and circuitous routings. This behavior has been accompanied by statements from pilots indicating that the activity is intended to “send a message” to the Company to express displeasure with AMR management, the Court’s Section 1113 decision and the absence of a new consensual agreement with the Company.
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American Airlines threatens pilots’ union with court action if slowdown continues
Remember the march to victory of the last great APA sickout and slowdown years ago? The union published the usual admonitions against doing anything illegal while winking at the 'self help'. Seems like AA later forgave most of the fine in exchange for further concessions.
Friday, April 16, 1999
Pilots Union Fined $45 Million For Sickout -- American Airlines Says It Lost $50 Million From 10-Day Protest In Feb.
By Katie Fairbank
AP
DALLAS - American Airlines' pilots union will appeal a $45.5 million fine it received for not halting an illegal sickout that led to cancellation of more than 6,700 flights earlier this year.
A federal judge yesterday fined the Allied Pilots Association (APA) - which has assets of $38 million - for ignoring his order to tell pilots to return to their cockpits during a February job action. The money will go to the air carrier.
American said it lost $50 million in revenue during the 10-day sickout that stranded hundreds of thousands of travelers.
"We strongly disagree with the court's decision to transfer any of APA's funds to management, much less the huge fine announced today," union President Rich LaVoy said yesterday. "As for our immediate next steps, APA will pursue all of its legal options to protect the union and its memberships."
U.S. District Judge Joe Kendall previously had held the union and its top two officials - LaVoy and union Vice President Brian Mayhew - in contempt.
LaVoy and Mayhew had placed $15,000 with the court as damages were assessed, along with the union's $10 million bond.
Kendall scheduled a hearing for Monday to determine how the fine will be divided among the three parties. He also ordered the union to place a second $10 million with the court.
American Airlines said it took no "particular pleasure" in the verdict. "They're victims of this as are we," said airline spokeswoman Andrea Rader. "We went to court to get the sickout to stop. We want to close this chapter and get on with labor peace."
Pilots Union Fined $45 Million For Sickout -- American Airlines Says It Lost $50 Million From 10-Day Protest In Feb.
By Katie Fairbank
AP
DALLAS - American Airlines' pilots union will appeal a $45.5 million fine it received for not halting an illegal sickout that led to cancellation of more than 6,700 flights earlier this year.
A federal judge yesterday fined the Allied Pilots Association (APA) - which has assets of $38 million - for ignoring his order to tell pilots to return to their cockpits during a February job action. The money will go to the air carrier.
American said it lost $50 million in revenue during the 10-day sickout that stranded hundreds of thousands of travelers.
"We strongly disagree with the court's decision to transfer any of APA's funds to management, much less the huge fine announced today," union President Rich LaVoy said yesterday. "As for our immediate next steps, APA will pursue all of its legal options to protect the union and its memberships."
U.S. District Judge Joe Kendall previously had held the union and its top two officials - LaVoy and union Vice President Brian Mayhew - in contempt.
LaVoy and Mayhew had placed $15,000 with the court as damages were assessed, along with the union's $10 million bond.
Kendall scheduled a hearing for Monday to determine how the fine will be divided among the three parties. He also ordered the union to place a second $10 million with the court.
American Airlines said it took no "particular pleasure" in the verdict. "They're victims of this as are we," said airline spokeswoman Andrea Rader. "We went to court to get the sickout to stop. We want to close this chapter and get on with labor peace."
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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...
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.
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Airbubba,
APA paid over 23 million in one lump sum as the first installment of the fine. Carty forgave the second installment since the APA "caved" so nicely on the 2003 contract....
APA paid over 23 million in one lump sum as the first installment of the fine. Carty forgave the second installment since the APA "caved" so nicely on the 2003 contract....
Union Goon
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Yep, anything that happens now if can be very profitable to those that already signed a deal. Remember the company already had to go back and rework the 2 TWU contracts that were signed early in the bankruptcy and give them back 3 percent of what they had taken. They did the same thing the gate agents.
So if the wheels stay off the train till they pony up more money for pilots. Everyone wins. That word seams to be getting out there.
So if the wheels stay off the train till they pony up more money for pilots. Everyone wins. That word seams to be getting out there.
"Me Too" clauses expire six months after the exiting bankruptcy. We'll see how the cards are played.....
Read them again. They also expire once equal concessions are negotiated and agreed to or when implemented by other employee groups.
They pretty much got all their savings with the 12 Sep implemented items. If that didn't add up equal to the 17% "gave" by other groups, then the rest shoved down our throats on 10 Oct surely blow by the 17% needed for the "Me Too" to "Drop Dead".
Ring, Ring, The Clause is Dead.
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APA paid over 23 million in one lump sum as the first installment of the fine. Carty forgave the second installment since the APA "caved" so nicely on the 2003 contract....
To be clear, APA has not authorized any concerted job action and APA disapproves of any such illegal activity. If, as Ms. Lynn alleges, pilots are using their professional discretion to delay departures through unnecessary checks, frivolous maintenance write-ups (and late filing), slow taxiing to increase block times, and taking circuitous routings, that activity must cease immediately.
So if the wheels stay off the train till they pony up more money for pilots. Everyone wins. That word seams to be getting out there.