- Rense.com received the following exclusive information
from an inside source at American Airlines. The reasons behind the
recent spate of flight cancellations over 'maintenance' issues appears
to resulted from a number of interesting circumstances. Here is what
we are told...
-
- Begin Insider Statement --
-
- The FAA has installed new people in its Inspection Department.
The new people didn't like the "relationship" that the present
Inspector had with SouthWest Airlines, so SouthWest and the FAA
go into a big fight.
-
- Now, the new FAA buttwipe inspector who doesn't know
a cresent wrench from a pencil are RE-inspectioning and RE-auditing ALL
airline maintinence.
-
- In unpressureized areas, we have to use tie-lancing instead
of the try-wraps (plastic cable tie) on an electrical lead to the hydraulic
pump. The cable has to be wrapped and tied with ties at 1-inch spacing.
Not 1.25 1 and 1.125 or .85 inches.
-
- "1(one) F*CKING INCH - YOU GOT THAT ASSHOLE??"
- FAA Inspector talking to AA)
-
- It has been well known here that if it's an AD that the
mechanic has no latituide to deviate from the paperwork. But as an
Inspector are you going to measure 150 ties on a cable 5 feet long, in
area not assessable that is dirty as hell?? Hell, NO! You walk
over there, look at it, if it looks close...good fucking enough! After
you have seen 3 of them, you can see 1 inch versus 1.25 inches.
-
- So now AA is talking labor contracts. The contacts with
the the Pilots and Flight Attendents and Mechanics ALL expire on May 1.
-
- How convienent to have this big brouhaha just before
contracts expire and going into a recession as well. Now, rememeber
these 3 labor groups gave up $1.6 BILLION in 2003!
-
- While the CEO and BOARD members gave themselves $210
million in BONUSES in 2007 - which equalls the profit of 2007 and the ONLY
profit since the 3 labor groups gave up $1.6 BILLION to keep AA out of
bankruptcy. The CEO and BOARD members are about to - on May 1 - give
themselve another $110 MILLION in BONUSES. All the while telling
us there isn't any money.
-
- Note - the last Board member bonuses occurred when AA
stock was $41 a share. It is now $8 a share and they still think
they deserve a bonus.
-
- WELL, FUCK YOU, TOO! say the 3 laybor groups to AA.
-
- So, AA management is using this to cancel over 50% of
all the flights for 2 days to show a huge loss (a record for a 2nd quarter)
and they will then try to get MORE $$$ concessions from the Pilots,
Flight Attendants and Mechanics groups.
-
- Would the management REALLY go to this depth of bad customer
relations to fuck over the 3 labor groups?? You bet...in about 1
secound!!
-
- Before this happened, the rumor going around was the
3 labor groups were going to get everything back they had given up in 2003
and more. Then after ratification and signing, AA would go into bankruptcy
the day after and get a judge to abrogate the whole thing. Then not
only would we lose any increases as the judge can tell the labor goups
to take concessiions with impunity from Congress, the Labor Relations board
and the Railway Act that the 3 labor groups are BOUND BY LAW TO ABIDE BY!
-
- Either way, its a win-win for management and a lose-lose
for the 3 labor groups.
-
- The first way, the labor groups appear to have pushed
AA into bankruptcy.
-
- The second way, bad workmanship from one group will look
like it did the same.
-
- And the AA Board Members will cry all the way to the
bank.
-
- --End Insider Statement
-
-
- More Union Rants About AA Board Members
-
- John Carlisle TWU Local 514 Publications Committee Co-Chair
918-289-9622
-
- From: John Carlisle JCarlisle@twu514.org
-
- To: News List Member news@twu51
- Subject: [news] APFA President Ms. Glading's hotline
message to her members, plus a press release
-
-
- In a campaign begun two weeks ago, we demanded that the
top five executives of American Airlines refuse their annual bonuses until
our Flight Attendants had a ratified Contract. You have shown your support
and unity by sporting tags imprinted with the word, DECLINE on one side
and RESIGN on the other side.
-
- Today, we have learned that these five corporate officers
- Gerard Arpey, Tom Horton, Dan Garton, Robert Reding and Gary Kennedy
- will not decline their bonuses. By taking these bonuses they have broken
their promise, destroyed their credibility and lost their ability to effectively
lead this airline. So today, I ask all our 19,000 Flight Attendants to
turn their tags over to the side that says RESIGN.
-
- Our customers are without pillows or food, a dependable
flight schedule, and on-time departures. AMR shareholders have lost 75%
of their stock value in just one year. And we continue struggling to make
ends meet after sacrificing 33% in wages and benefits.
-
- Even assuming these officers were willing to turn their
back on their commitment to American's employees, customers and shareholders,
the debacle of 3600 flight cancellations in a single week, and today's
reported $328 million quarterly loss, should have compelled Mr. Arpey and
company to refuse their bonuses. Unfortunately, neither integrity nor shame
could convince them to make the right choice.
-
- If the five officers do not tender their resignations
we plan to expand our campaign to AMR's Board of Directors to demonstrate
to the Board that these executives simply lack the kind of judgment required
of corporate leaders.
-
- The press release:
-
- Flight Attendant Union President Calls for Membership
Action Calls for Senior Executives to resign for failure to decline bonuses
-
-
- (EULESS, TX) -- In a campaign begun two weeks ago APFA,
the Union representing 19,000 American Airlines Flight Attendants, demanded
that the top five executives of American Airlines refuse their annual bonuses
until the Flight Attendants had a ratified Contract. Members have been
sporting tags imprinted with the word, DECLINE on one side and RESIGN on
the other side.
-
- Today, APFA learned that these five corporate officers
- Gerard Arpey, Tom Horton, Dan Garton, Robert Reding and Gary Kennedy
- will not decline their bonuses. "By taking these bonuses they have
broken their promise, destroyed their credibility and lost their ability
to effectively lead this airline. So today, the 19,000 Flight Attendants
represented by APFA will turn their tags over to the side that says RESIGN,"
Glading said.
-
- "Our customers are without pillows or food, a dependable
flight schedule, and on-time departures. Shareholders have lost 75% of
their stock value in just one year. And workers are struggling to make
ends meet after sacrificing 33% in wages and benefits."
-
- "Even assuming these officers were willing to turn
their back on their commitment to American's employees, customers and shareholders,
the debacle of 3600 flight cancellations in a single week, and today's
reported $328 million quarterly loss, should have compelled Mr. Arpey and
company to refuse their bonuses. Unfortunately, neither integrity nor shame
could convince them to make the right choice."
-
- Glading closed by adding, "if the five officers
do not tender their resignations APFA plans to expand its campaign to AMR's
Board of Directors to demonstrate to the Board that these executives simply
lack the kind of judgment required of corporate leaders."
-
- Source:
-
- http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2008/04/american-
airlines-flight-atten-3.html
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