Tulsa World: AA flight attendants plan 'mock strike' Wednesday

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AA flight attendants plan 'mock strike' Wednesday
Picketing and leaflet campaigns are not expected in Tulsa, union spokeswomen say.

By D.R. STEWART World Staff Writer
Published: 11/18/2009 2:22 AM
Last Modified: 11/18/2009 9:42 AM

American Airlines' unionized flight attendants are mounting mock strike demonstrations at 13 U.S. airports Wednesday to show their dissatisfaction with 18 months of contract negotiations without agreements on wages or benefits.

Representatives of the 18,000-member Association of Professional Flight Attendants will be handing out leaflets to passengers and picketing at airports from San Diego to Boston, New York and Miami, but they will not disrupt passengers or flight operations, officials said.

The demonstrations are occurring on the 16th anniversary of the union's last strike against American, APFA representatives said.

Picketing and leaflet campaigns are not expected at Tulsa International Airport, union spokeswomen said.

"This is only a symbolic demonstration to show management that flight attendants are willing and able to do whatever is necessary to get a fair contract," said APFA President Laura Glading. "We pledge that we will not disrupt service for our passengers during the upcoming holiday season. After January, it remains to be seen."

American spokeswoman Missy Latham said the company does not expect any customer impact or operational disruptions during the APFA demonstrations.

"American respects the right of APFA to conduct public demonstrations and distribute information to customers," she said.

American and APFA began negotiations on a new contract in June 2008. After nearly 100 bargaining sessions, the two sides have reached tentative agreements on 28 contract items.

Outstanding contract articles — many of which the company has refused to negotiate, union officials say — include compensation, expenses, vacations, hours of service, scheduling, sick leave and group life and health benefits.

Latham said the two sides have made steady progress, reaching tentative agreements on 72 percent of contract items.

"Our flight attendants already receive near industry-leading pay and benefits, and we are committed to continue working with APFA to reach a new contract that recognizes flight attendants' service and dedication while positioning our company for long-term success by improving productivity," Latham said.

In the contract American flight attendants have been working under since 2003, APFA members are earning salary and benefits of $78.10 per hour, which is tops in the industry, the company said.

APFA representatives say the comparison is not sound since nearly every other airline competitor has filed for bankruptcy in recent years. In bankruptcy courts, rival airlines voided union contracts, eliminated pensions and slashed benefits, APFA officials said.

In 2003, APFA and American's pilots and mechanics unions agreed to $1.8 billion a year in wage and benefit concessions to help American avert a bankruptcy filing.

Since 2001, AMR Corp., American's parent, has lost $8.1 billion, including $1.1 billion in 2009's first three quarters.

APFA in 2003 agreed to 33 percent cuts in wages and benefits, including a 15.9 percent reduction in hourly wages, said union negotiator Diana Dunn.

In each of the five years since 2003, APFA members received 1.5 percent wage increases, Dunn said.

"We would like to restore and more," Dunn said of the union's stance on wages and benefits. "We have watched our executives take their bonuses and payouts every spring. And we have watched other executives at other companies give up their bonuses for their employees."

Latham said the company can't talk about wage and benefit increases without union agreement on productivity increases.

American's flight attendants are limited by their contract to a maximum flight schedule of 77 hours a month for domestic flights and 82 hours for international flights — the fewest maximum hours in the industry, Latham said.

"We have proposed raising the schedule seven hours on domestic maximums, to 84 hours a month, and four hours on international flights, to 86 hours," she said. "We're open to paying flight attendants more, but we need to see productivity improvements that would make our flight attendants competitive."

APFA's Dunn said the union would like to see both productivity and compensation proposals on the table.

"We're all in this together," Dunn said. "We want our company to survive, but you can only be beaten down so long.

"The flight attendants come to work every day, do their job. We're the face of American Airlines."

D.R. Stewart 581-8451
don.stewart@tulsaworld.com By D.R. STEWART World Staff Writer

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Some reader comments for this story were copied from "AA flight attendants plan `mock strike' on Wednesday," which was published on 11/17/2009.

	Report Comment TK1, (11/17/2009 7:34:57 PM) The last flight I was on I had "Mock Baggage Service" with my bag arriving later that evening.
	Report Comment eglkeeper, Hooterville (11/17/2009 7:44:32 PM) They only work a maximum of 77 hours a month and they're still that crabby and hateful? Good gosh; I hope they fire your backsides and replace you with grateful waitresses from the truck stop...and amen on the more productive statement Missy Latham- you rock...
	Report Comment Four Sixteen Rigby, Tulsa (11/17/2009 7:54:44 PM) I think they should protest by working in the nude. Yeah, I know some of the women attendants aren't so hot these days, and some of them are guys, but it would still make the flights more interesting than they are now.
	Report Comment wisernow, spring (11/17/2009 9:16:43 PM) ok..dont these people know that the purpose of their job is to assist and serve the travelling public (of which there are fewer and fewer these days)?? the airlines are charging an extra 25-30 dollars this year for holiday flights, as well as the extra baggage fees and also for food..the list goes on and on..if they think passengers who may or may not have a job will be sympathetic, they are nuts! i am a retired airline person and i can tell you the f/a group has cried for years over how mistreated and overworked they are..it is still the best part time job with good benefits you can get..a "mock strike" will only anger the public and not get the attention of management..
	Report Comment Pelosi / Wallace, Separated at Birth? (11/17/2009 9:25:34 PM) I had a mock meal on my last flight.
	Report Comment Brian1225, (11/17/2009 10:00:29 PM) Unions suck. If I told my boss I was going to demand these same things I would be talking to a deaf ear in the unemployment line. These people should be thankful they have a job and their employer is still paying them after losing $8 Billion over the last several years. I guess they could be flipping burgers...
	Report Comment Carlos, Tulsa (11/17/2009 11:58:03 PM) Why don't they just "mock work"?
	Report Comment Hooter, (11/18/2009 5:23:12 AM) Have had mock service for years.
	Report Comment G19er, (11/18/2009 12:23:13 PM) This is childish behavior on the part of the APFA. I mean, what is the bloody point? Is it to show that they all know how to walk a picket line? Laura Glading should have her head examined.
	Report Comment iflyfast, At an airport somewhere in the Tulsa area (11/18/2009 3:04:01 PM) Guess the flight attendants listen to Pat Riley....practice, practice, practice.
	Report Comment BackInThe918, (11/18/2009 5:13:50 PM) Wow. These men and women gave back a good chunk of their pay and benefits to keep AA in business and they have watched their execs take home big multi million dollar bonus checks every year, I'd be on strike, too! Good for them for pledging to not disrupt holiday services, but I couldn't blame them if they did. My mother is a flight attendant for American who LOVES her job, it is NOT a part time job. She is gone from home a minimum of 48 hours a week, it might not be an 8-5 Mon-Fri job, but it's also not like working at a gift shop a couple of afternoons a week and playing home room mommy the other days. They attend several intense training sessions to make sure you are as safe as you can possibly when you're in their care. They aren't up there soley to pass out pretzels and Coke. I'd be grumpy, too considering the way passengers behave these days. I'm not sure if you are aware, but working with the general public isn't all that glamorous, and quite frankly the job today is a lot different than the one many signed on for when they first began.
	Report Comment planespotter, (11/18/2009 5:18:57 PM) Totally stupid and unprofessional. Maybe AA should offer them mock pay for the day. All this will succeed in doing is scaring away customers.
	Report Comment Lucky Ed, Tulsa (11/18/2009 10:36:55 PM) Good grief! If these airline jobs are as crappy, as difficult and low paying as these alleged employees complain, then they are a bunch of dummies for staying! Change jobs for crying out loud! Oh you are crying out loud...constantly!

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