APA's contract opener?

[magrs]

What percentage raise is the APA seeking for the AMR Pilot's?

I got the jist of the QOL issues, but wondered if there is a cold-hard number for hourly pay?

i.e. What is the projected pay increase for a 12 year MD-80 F/O?


Thanks

 

[aa73]

Nothing yet.... I thnk they are still hashing it out.

The biggest thing for us junior folk - more than pay raises - will be the productivity thing/work rules. Right now, we still have pretty decent work rules. If we agree to lines built up to 85hrs with ability to pick up to FARs, can you say STAGNATION? I don't think it would result in more furloughs, but it's gonna slow down the seniority list like you wouldn't believe.

Stay tuned...

73

 

[magrs]

Thanks,

I have heard it was pre-911 $$$ plus 1-3%, but haven't seen that in writing.

 

[aa73]

That's at least what I'm expecting!

 

[80drvr]

Nothing yet.... I thnk they are still hashing it out.

The biggest thing for us junior folk - more than pay raises - will be the productivity thing/work rules. Right now, we still have pretty decent work rules. If we agree to lines built up to 85hrs with ability to pick up to FARs, can you say STAGNATION? I don't think it would result in more furloughs, but it's gonna slow down the seniority list like you wouldn't believe.

Stay tuned...

73

Pretty good work rules, except for the 30% of the pilots on reserve.

 

[aa73]

Pretty good work rules, except for the 30% of the pilots on reserve.

That would change if productivity goes up.. but then we would lose the work rules! Can you say "catch 22".

73

 

[80drvr]

That would change if productivity goes up.. but then we would lose the work rules! Can you say "catch 22".

73

AA's reserve system is just bad, regardless of work rules for lineholders.

 

[AA717driver]

magrs--You are pretty close. TC

 

[magrs]

Tim,

Any cold-hard numbers?

I'd LOVE to see pre-911 numbers at this point!

How about longevity pay for those of us sitting on the sidelines?

 

[ils2minimums]

Tim,

Any cold-hard numbers?

I'd LOVE to see pre-911 numbers at this point!

How about longevity pay for those of us sitting on the sidelines?

Magrs,

Here is the long and short of it. Nobody but the TWA-stacked negotiating committee knows what the APA is looking for as far as salary numbers are concerned. The APA BOD simply haven't stated what their objective is in any meaningful terms. They directly violated the C&B by not putting forth specific numbers in their opener, then they changed the C&B after the fact to match what they'd done at the negotiating table. When all is said and done, Ralph Hunter will have a job at AMR that is equivolent to that of Jeff Brundage. We are about to get screwed again... If you have any doubt about it, go look at the major leverage they just gave away as a side LOA on the China flying...

Here are the openers from APA.

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
_________________________________________________________________

Again, 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 (Yes, it's STILL going on...), 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.