If You’re An AA Observer, Getcha Popcorn Ready
In March, American Airlines will, for the first time in its 80-year history, be holding three simultaneous labor negotiations: with pilots, flight attendants, and ground workers. According to this Q&A in the Star-Telegram, they will probably all be contentious. And all three have one big issue sticking in their collective craw:
Q: All three unions have repeatedly listed executive bonuses as a major point of contention for employees. Does that issue cast a big shadow at the negotiating table?
A: Brundage:Look, it all goes back to being competitive. We need to be competitive for every employee, executive and manager in the company. What the facts show is that as long as you look over any reasonable period in time, you’ll find we’ve compensated executives and managers at or below the midpoint of the industry. I don’t know what else to say other than we need to be competitive in every respect.
3 Comments to “If You’re An AA Observer, Getcha Popcorn Ready”
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A quick reminder that American Airlines pilots are the least productive yet best paid in the industry — by any measure.
Will managers always make more than the rank and file at any company? Yes. Will the rank and file always find a reason to complain about management? Yes.
Will the jerks in the front office of whatever business you’re in always make sure they have their golden parachutes strapped on tightly whether or not the rest of the company can safely stay in the air? YES.
I’m still kicking myself for not buying AA stock when it was $1.50…because our financial “advisor” didn’t think it was a good investment when they were teetering on the edge of bankruptcy. Clearly we need a new advisor.
Watch out if you have to fly AA in March…I have always found the attitude of flight attendants directly related to the climate of labor-management relations. When things are good, they are cheerful and helpful. When things have been bad, they can be rather sullen and perfunctory. I do not blame them for being upset and always support them over management, but they need to mind how pleasant they are being towards customers even when things at the home office are not good.