As indicated in our earlier blast email, the Eagle MEC has recently learned that American Eagle management is planning to transfer existing American Eagle flying from our MIA hub to American Connection. Despite the fact that management tells us our flying will actually grow, this move is extremely serious.
In July, 2002, American Eagle management advised ALPA that it intended to sell 14 Embraer 145 aircraft to Trans States Airlines. ALPA grieved this action on the basis that it constituted a transfer of operation as defined by our collective bargaining agreement. The arbitration board denied ALPA’s claim that this action constituted a transfer of operations. That decision indicates that a transfer of “operations” would require more than a transfer of aircraft. Obviously, an example of something more than just aircraft would be a transfer of aircraft plus routes to another carrier. Now, six years later, our management tells us that they will transfer our routes as well.
ALPA’s legal staff will be looking closely at all of the facts related to this transaction and will submit a report to the Eagle MEC at their next meeting (April 30th – May 2nd). There, we will discuss all options for protecting our jobs.
It is important to remember that this is entirely a problem of management’s creation. After having transferred our aircraft to Trans States they have failed to provide proper staffing at Eagle. The Eagle MEC has made numerous recommendations concerning improving pilot staffing, advancing career expectations, growth and successful pilot recruitment. However, management has sadly lacked the vision to grow our airline and position it for a successful future. As a result, Eagle management has missed the opportunity to perform the “additional” Chicago and Dallas flying as well as our current operations in Miami.
The company’s announcement could not come at a more critical point when AMR is studying a divestiture of American Eagle which in and of itself creates a quagmire of scope issues. This diversion of American Eagle flying to American Connection will most certainly impact our current amendment round negotiations. Please take the time to let your chief pilots know how this shift impacts you and how you feel about the continuing loss of Eagle flying to competitor airlines.
