APA's contract opener

[TheGuat]

http://www.apapdp.org/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=622&Itemid=61

 

[pianoman]

Looks pretty great. Good luck AA folks.

 

[mosdef]

Does PDP have any influence with APA or AA?

 

[labbats]

It's PDP's dream list. Saying it's the APA opener is misleading. With that said, I hope they get what they ask for.

 

[BoilerUP]

Looks great! Unfortunately, I don't think PDP is directly tied with the APA, and that opener is definately shooting for the moon. According to PDP, a 12 year 777 CA would get an $87/hr raise based upon their opener.

One thing that did catch my eye: New "Scope" language: ALL flying performed by or on behalf of the Company [AMR] or an Affiliate shall be performed by pilots on the American Airlines Seniority List in accordance with the terms and conditions of this agreement

Staple job for Eagle?

 

[labbats]

Hopefully a staple for Eagle and a boot for Trans States and Chautauqua.

 

[Cardinal]

Now that's a working agreement a guy could get excited about. Alas, I fear the APA will be swimming upstream simply to get anything on the table that isn't concessionary.

 

[ils2minimums]

Now that's a working agreement a guy could get excited about. Alas, I fear the APA will be swimming upstream simply to get anything on the table that isn't concessionary.

Unfortunately, AAPA's openers are general in scope and purposefully vague. The guys running the union are looking down the road to their own cushy jobs with AMR... We are being sold out, again.

 

[Doug Parker]

.


Looks like a good start to me..................

.

 

[TWA Dude]

Don't be deceived; the "PDP" is a just group of virulent anti-APA pilots who believe war with AMR at any cost is the way to go. (Every airline has these types, they're just better organized at AA. They also happen to wish the worst for the ex-TWA pilots.) They are a minority on the APA BOD. That being said, it's a great contract talks opener. Just don't fall in love with it.

 

[ilinipilot]

Hey guys PDP is not affiliated in any way with AA's Allied Pilots. Its a group formed that hates and does not trust anything APA does. They basically are positioning themselves as a counter-balance to the APA union. I do not work for AA but I have been reading their newsletter for the last 2 years. I do not know what reall AA pilots think of PDP, or if its just a bunch of mad people. But that is what PDP is.

D

 

[TWA Dude]

I do not know what reall AA pilots think of PDP...

The rank and file at AA are the same as anywhere else: mostly apathetic.

 

[Frank Lorenzo]

Unfortunately, AAPA's openers are general in scope and purposefully vague. The guys running the union are looking down the road to their own cushy jobs with AMR... We are being sold out, again.

Another thread filled with good news!

I'm happy to see that we don't even need to buy off union's leaders any more. Pilots seem to be getting so desperate now, even the possibility of a management job and their sell their brothers up the river.

Sweet!

Yes it's true I was a bitter rival with AA at one point. I have to tell you though, the way AA is treating their employees, I'm warming up to them fast! AA management must have attended one of my "employee appreciation" seminars.

The new level of "cooperation" from the employees gives me goosebumps!

Woooohoooooo!

 

[AA717driver]

Apparently, the PDP'ers have been in total isolation since 2000. Could someone bring them up to date and let them know they aren't immune to being 1113'd ? Thanks.TC

 

[K-Mart]

Yeah, those payrates are pretty funny. Good luck though at leasr some one is trying and has some balls!

 

[mach none]

What were the openers?

 

[aa73]

What were the openers?

We don't know yet... all the company and union have posted are the general "we are striving for...." letters without any specifics. Needless to say, the Co is looking for major productivity increases while the union is looking for major pay raises.

The PDP does NOT speak for the APA, they're just a branch of militant guys who tend to disagree with everything the APA and AA do.

 

[mach none]

could you please post the opener when it is available?

 

[ils2minimums]

could you please post the opener when it is available?

AMR'S OPENER:

AMERICAN AIRLINES
SECTION 6 OPENING PROPOSALS
September 20, 2006​

This document outlines our proposals for revisions to the Agreement between APA and American Airlines. These proposals have been developed with the objective of achieving a mutually beneficial agreement that is responsive to the needs of our pilots, shareholders and other constituents. It is our hope that the parties will engage in constructive discussions resulting in an agreement that will secure the long-term future of American Airlines and its pilots by finding new ways to improve productivity and efficiency, making American Airlines more competitive in this challenging environment. To achieve these goals, we propose to utilize the collective bargaining process to:

• Create a negotiating protocol agreement outlining a collaborative problem solving approach to address our mutual interests.
• Explore ways to achieve a competitive unit cost per block hour that promotes sustainable growth for our Company and employment security for our pilots via increased productivity and effective cost controls.
• Explore scheduling flexibility that recognizes our pilots’ need for work-life balance and stability while allowing us to efficiently and predictably utilize American’s workforce.
• Address increasing health & welfare and retirement benefit costs by exploring market-based benefit plan designs.
• Examine ways to reduce the cost of contract administration and dispute resolution by simplifying processes and contractual language.
• Establish a result- and metric-based compensation system that provides financial rewards consistent with the performance of our pilots and the company.
• Discuss options to enhance our global network.

The Company reserves the right to propose further additions, deletions and/or modifications at any time prior to the parties’ execution of a collective bargaining agreement succeeding the current agreement.

APA'S OPENER:


September 20, 2006
Mr. Gerard Arpey
Chairman and CEO
American Airlines, Inc.
P.O. Box 619616 MD 5624
DFW Airport, TX 75261-9616

Dear Mr. Arpey:

On behalf of the pilots of American Airlines and in accordance with “Section 6” of the
Railway Labor Act, we present to you our opening proposal in the negotiations for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

American Airlines has successfully navigated from the brink of bankruptcy to profitability thanks in large part to the sacrifices made by AA pilots and other line employees. As we open negotiations, the time has come to provide AA pilots with a return on their investment in our airline.

Our openers - and the specific proposals which will follow - will address both our needs and American Airlines’ legitimate concerns. Our proposals are carefully designed to fix shortcomings in the current CBA and to improve features that work for both the pilots and American Airlines. For example, we propose improvements to scheduling rules that create advantages for both the pilot and the company.

You have stated many times that employees are essential business partners in this airline, and we uphold that obligation through our skill, loyalty and commitment to American’s success. “Section 6” is the perfect time to follow through on that sentiment by negotiating improvements to our pay, benefits and scheduling rules.

While the following pages detail many areas of the CBA we propose to change, our goals can best be grouped into six categories:

• Improved Compensation – APA’s proposals for increases to both our pay rates and other forms of compensation reflect the pilots’ great commitment to the long-term viability of the company. Our pay proposals will allow American Airlines to prosper and grow while providing appropriate and justifiable increases.
• Job Security – American Airlines pilots have a strong interest in a flying career secure from outsourcing and other external threats. APA’s proposals to eliminate the occurrence of pilot furloughs and/or displacements can be accomplished while meeting the legitimate needs of the company.
• Retirement Security – Our pilots made many tough choices in 2003 to preserve the basic structure and health of our retirement program. It is in all stakeholders’ interests for the corporation to keep promises it has already made by ensuring the security of our pilots’ retirement.
• Gain-sharing – APA views gain-sharing programs currently in place as inadequate, ineffective and potentially destructive to an already fragile relationship. Gain-sharing programs that closely align management and pilot interests provide the greatest opportunity for long-term achievement of corporate goals and objectives.
• Investment protection – Our pilots want improved safeguards for the heavy investment we made in 2003. We will be proposing several new concepts to protect the AA pilot force in the event another financial crisis occurs at American Airlines.
• Quality of Life – American Airlines is the largest airline in the United States, yet we lag the industry in many quality of work life issues. Allowing our pilots the opportunity to better tailor their lives around their work creates an atmosphere where the pilots’ energies can best be utilized for the long-term success of American Airlines.

We look forward to working with the company negotiating team on our next CBA. The pilots of American Airlines want a contract founded on fairness; therefore, all our proposals will be based on this concept. Together, we can build a secure and prosperous future for American Airlines and all of its employees.

Sincerely,

/signed/

Captain Ralph J. Hunter
President

RJH/mz

----The opener was intentionally vague and violated the APA's bylaws. The bylaws stated that the openers MUST state specific goals for the negotiations (ex. We want a 47% increase in hourly compensation). The bylaws were changed in the opening minutes of the current BOD meeting, and the amendment is retroactive to include THIS opener. According to the APA BOD, not setting forth specific goals gives the negotiating committee "increased flexibility"...----

Vague as they may be, these ARE the openers.

The PDP does NOT speak for the APA, they're just a branch of militant guys who tend to disagree with everything the APA and AA do.

Respectfully, you need to educate yourself.

 

[Big Slick]

It's good to see 1/4 of the AA pilots represented in the PDP Special Update: Contract Openers -

Length of Service for furloughees


I feel special.

 

[aa73]

Respectfully, you need to educate yourself.

care to elaborate?? or are you the head of the PDP?

 

[Green]

I don't see why the PDP proposal was so unreasonable. Those are normal payrates by histroic standards. The industry is well into its recovery. Executive compensation is higher than it has ever been. At AAA we just had our highest profit( $300million+) EVER. Yet most pilots tend to think we don't deserve to share in the spoils. That is pathetic.

 

[ils2minimums]

care to elaborate?? or are you the head of the PDP?

I will not debate a fellow AA pilot on a public message board about in-house messiness. That is why I said "respectfully". I do not contribute financially to PDP but I do read everything they send to me. I began to believe more of their material after I educated myself on it, and after becoming completely disenchanted with APA.

I will gladly respond to you via PM if you'd like.

 

[aa73]

Fair enough, ILS, thanks for being professional about it. look for a PM in the next couple of days from me, I'd like to know what you think.

cheers,
73

 

[CHIEEEEFS]

If at all possible could you copy me on the PMs? I would like a second opinion on the PDP.

 

[AA717driver]

The conundrum is: Yes, the PDP payscale should be what we're paid. No pay increase other than COL adjustments over 30 years and the rates seem outrageous. Pilots are woefully underpaid.

Executive compensation has increased to over 400 times the average employee pay (compared to the rest of the world where execs are generally paid just over 10 times average employee pay) in the same period of time.

Since all the other legacies have failed to take a stand, do the pilots of AA want to be the first group to go to war over executive compensation? Are you willing to risk your career to try to drag the compensation of yours and the other carriers' pilots up?

Sure, I'd love to work under the PDP's contract. What do you have to do to get it? TC

 

[Green]

Since all the other legacies have failed to take a stand, do the pilots of AA want to be the first group to go to war over executive compensation? Are you willing to risk your career to try to drag the compensation of yours and the other carriers' pilots up?
TC

I'm sure that UAL pilots could have said the same thing about you guys back in 2000.