Transport Workers Union to American Airlines: 'Stop corporate greed'

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/04/15/2118728/transport-workers-union-to-american.html

Transport Workers Union to American Airlines: 'Stop corporate greed'
Posted Thursday, Apr. 15, 2010

By ANDREA AHLES

[e-mail]

Hundreds of American Airlines' union workers chanted "Stop corporate greed!" and "Share the pain!" during informational picketing Thursday at Dallas/Fort Worth Airport.

Members of Transport Workers Union Local 513, marching outside Terminal D, said it makes no sense that American can award multimillion-dollar bonuses to executives while the company loses money and trims its operations.

"We're completely fed up with corporate greed," said Darrin Pierce, president of Local 513, which represents about 4,000 fleet-service workers and mechanics at D/FW. "We want American Airlines to do the right thing. If the airline is fragile and we can't do anything but buckle our belts tighter, then they have to do it also. But if they're exercising bonuses? It sounds like double talk to me."

AMR Corp., parent company of American Airlines, has not yet released the proxy statement that will detail executive compensation for 2009. Traditionally, the company has issued its proxy after its first-quarter earnings announcement, which is scheduled for Wednesday. In 2008, American's top five executives received $13.4 million in compensation, and about 1,000 top executives and managers were awarded $6.5 million in stock bonuses.

AMR spokeswoman Missy Latham said the company's approach to compensation is "straightforward" and rewards all employees, including management, at market rates.

Read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/04/15/2118728/transport-workers-union-to-american.html#ixzz0lOrXbM1n

FULL story at link.

[spartan61]

1. This statement is Bull$hit!!

"AMR spokeswoman Missy Latham said the company's approach to compensation is "straightforward" and rewards all employees, including management, at market rates."

The only ones being rewarded are top management. In 2003 the APFA, TWU, and Pilots Union all had to take huge concessions in salary, vacation, and work rules. To date there have been no new contracts settled even though the three unions are now in negotiations with AMR. Of course, in each of the years following 2003 give backs, management has been giving themselves nice bonuses. Their motto is "Pull Together, Win Together." Guess who the only ones winning are??? It's certainly not the worker bees.

[Omaha Steve]

2. I just posted another AA story

See what you think. This forum works better when those involved comment. I have a friend that pilots for AA in Chicago BTW.

OS

[spartan61]

3. I read your post on another thread.

I'm glad the TWU has begun their informational picketing. The pilots union is unhappy and the FAs will be taking a strike vote. My daughter is a FA for AA so I'm very interested in what the unions are doing. The FAs had finally negotiated a great contract but it was taken away in 2003 to "save AA from bankruptcy." It was during this concession period that it was found out that then President Don Carty and other top managers had a secret golden parachute that would not be affected by bankruptcy. This led to Carty's resignation. The workers' concessions were unbelievable but the "talent" was paid big bucks so they wouldn't leave. I guess if you can run an airline or any other business in the ground, you will be well compensated. There has never been good blood between management and labor at AA and it continues to get worse. Arpy has never done anything to help matters. He is as bad as Carty. Crandall wasn't all that well liked, but at least he was smart and did good things for the airline.