American Airlines status

[Conan71]

I've never looked.  Is AMR mostly AA or is there more to it?

I think it's primarily AA.

[Townsend]

http://www.ktul.com/story/16650097/report-american-cutting-24-thousand-jobs?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Tulsa - AMR, the parent of American Airlines, is expected to release its plans to reorganize under Chapter 11 bankruptcy and a reporter out of Dallas says it's expected to include cutting 24-thousand of its employees.

Shelly Slater, a reporter for WFAA-TV, the ABC affiliate in Dallas, posted the news on her Twitter feed: @wfaashelly "24k American Airlines employees are being let go."

Slater says a news conference is expected later today.

The Transport Workers Union Local 514 in Tulsa posted on its website that it expects the Alliance maintenance base in Fort Worth to close and to "significantly reduce" other maintenance personnel and ground workers, as pilots and flight attendants to work more hours and to outsource a lot of maintenance and ground work.

The company filed for bankruptcy in late November and Chairman and CEO Gerard Arpey resigned. He was replaced by Thomas Horton, who warned there would likely be jobs lost. AMR reports it lost 904-million dollars in December, more than was lost during the first three quarters of 2011 combined.

Since 2001, the company has lost 11-billion dollars.

The cuts being reported would reflect about 10-20 percent of the airline's worldwide employees. KXAS-TV in Dallas reports that its sources say one-thousand job cuts will come at the company's Fort Worth maintenance base.

While AMR is set to release its plan, it will not be final until it negotiates with the unions involved, KXAS reports. It's unknown how long that process could take.

American has more than six thousand employees in Tulsa, most of them at its maintenance base. Earlier this week, the Transport Workers Union Local 514 announced a website, www.isupportamericanjobs.com, a place where people can pledge their support for Tulsa's jobs.

While it's unclear where the layoffs would be, a large layoff of employees here in Tulsa would be a huge blow to Tulsa's economy.

[swake]

I think it's primarily AA.

And American Eagle, or did they sell that?

[Conan71]

And American Eagle, or did they sell that?

I've never been able to figure out the ownership of AE.  When I've flown an Eagle flight it's been "American Eagle operated by Simmons Airways" or some such thing.

Okay, according to this, AMR is parent to AA and AE:

http://www.aa.com/i18n/amrcorp/corporateInformation/facts/structure.jsp

[swake]

And American Eagle, or did they sell that?

This is either horrible news in that AMR is going to outsource all maintenance and close or sell the Tulsa base, or the work that was done in Ft Worth is coming here.


I know a number of people that work for American in Tulsa and Ft Worth. I hope they are all ok.

[Conan71]

This is either horrible news in that AMR is going to outsource all maintenance and close or sell the Tulsa base, or the work that was done in Ft Worth is coming here.


I know a number of people that work for American in Tulsa and Ft Worth. I hope they are all ok.

That's what makes potential cuts like this so disturbing.  You'd be hard pressed NOT to know someone who works for AA.

[Townsend]

TW tweeted:

AMR announces restructuring plan: Company says it needs to cut 13,000 jobs

[zstyles]

Well now maybe the Tulsa Chamber will get off its A$$ and start doing what it needs to do which is ATTRACTING new companies here so all our fish isn't in one bucket....

[TheArtist]

  Now various reports are saying Tulsa may lose from 2,100 to 2,850 jobs 

http://www.newson6.com/story/16652549/american-airlines-ceo-wants-to-cut-13000-jobs

[Ed W]

The company is calling for 20% cost reductions from all employee groups.  Naturally, the only things we know are the broad strokes, not the devilish details.  They want to close AFW, eliminate defined benefit pensions in favor of 401K plans with some company matching, eliminate employee medical benefits, and change work rules to gain productivity.

As I understand the process, this is the company position going into further negotiations with the unions. It starts a clock running over 20 or 30 days.  If a consensual agreement isn't forthcoming, AA can go to the bankruptcy judge and ask that their proposals be implemented, abrogating any collective bargaining agreements.  Certain stipulations must be met before this can happen, including bargaining in bad faith by either party.  It makes me wonder why we've been negotiating for the last four years. 

AA was trying to control the flow of information earlier today.  No one was to speak to the press, despite the news media being given unprecedented access to the maintenance base.  Also, the unions were not putting out information from their meetings.  Everything came from AA.

Late in the day, an email came out saying that employees would probably see modest pay increases and profit sharing.  Yeah, profit sharing from a company that hasn't made a profit for...how long?  I'd expect any pay increase to be more than offset by medical insurance premiums, and for Mary and me, it may be impossible to obtain insurance in the first place given our pre-existing conditions.  Remember that "Affordable Health Care Act" that has some of our Republican friends howling?  It just may save our a$$.

More information will likely be available over the next couple of days.  In the meantime, don't pay attention to rumors, and don't pay much attention to what AA management says.  Do pay careful attention to what they do.

[jne]

Well now maybe the Tulsa Chamber will get off its A$$ and start doing what it needs to do which is ATTRACTING new companies here so all our fish isn't in one bucket....

Dont forget about the job gettin'ist mayor tulsa has ever seen...

[Townsend]

Dont forget about the job gettin'ist mayor tulsa has ever seen...

City Leaders Say Tulsa, State Can Absorb Laid Off American Workers

http://www.newson6.com/story/16654729/city-leaders-say-tulsa-state-can-absorb-laid-off-american-workers?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

TULSA, Oklahoma - Community leaders are responding to the layoffs, but already say there are other opportunities for American employees. The Chamber of Commerce is meeting to talk strategy.

As they've been expecting this announcement, the chamber and city have been more closely monitoring the job opportunities outside American - and they say - things actually look pretty good.

All of those machinists and mechanics at American Airlines have very good jobs - but if they lose them - they shouldn't be unemployed for long. Aerospace industry experts say many companies besides American are hiring.

"Most of the aerospace companies that are part of the aerospace alliance in Tulsa are growing," said Mary Smith.

Mary Smith leads the Oklahoma Aerospace Alliance and she's confident American's layoffs will be someone else's new employees.

"I know there's a place for them in the state. One of the concerns we should have in Tulsa is that we want to keep them here. Boeing is growing in Oklahoma City and Tinker is constantly saying they can't get the talent they need. So they'll stay in Oklahoma, just not in Tulsa," Smith said.

Without firm numbers on American layoffs in Tulsa, it's hard for even experts to predict the impact. Some American workers will need retraining to get jobs outside of aerospace - but their chances there too are good - but likely at lower salaries.


"It may require a shift in skills, but most of the American Airlines employees are such talented, skilled people, that the chances for them to stay local and shift into something new I think is an opportunity for us to hold our own," said Dr. Kara Gae Neal of the Tulsa Technology Center.

Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett says between changing jobs - and careers - the city is confident Tulsa's economy can absorb the layoffs from American.

"The aviation aerospace industry is actually generally doing pretty well. Now we'll see how American shakes out with what they talk about in the next few days, but the aviation industry is good," Bartlett said.

One of the bigger questions as employees try to make the transition is when - and how fast the layoffs will come.

[ZYX]

The way this is shaping up it is not looking good at all.

[SXSW]

The way this is shaping up it is not looking good at all.

Not in the short term but AA closing the Alliance base is good for the Tulsa base in the long-term when AA recovers from bankruptcy.  The Tulsa base could be hiring in the next few years if AA can right itself and doesn't decide to outsource all its maintenance work. 

I think Tulsa will be able to absorb a lot of the losses through early retirements and people getting jobs at other aerospace/manufacturing companies that are growing here.  Some will also go to OKC where Boeing and Tinker are hiring.  I don't think that many will just up and leave.

[ZYX]

Not in the short term but AA closing the Alliance base is good for the Tulsa base in the long-term when AA recovers from bankruptcy.  The Tulsa base could be hiring in the next few years if AA can right itself and doesn't decide to outsource all its maintenance work.  

I think Tulsa will be able to absorb a lot of the losses through early retirements and people getting jobs at other aerospace/manufacturing companies that are growing here.  Some will also go to OKC where Boeing and Tinker are hiring.  I don't think that many will just up and leave.

Oh I don't think it's the end of the world or anything, but losing this many jobs is just never a good thing. However, I do agree that it is good (for Tulsa) that they are closing Alliance. Hopefully they ar able to begin re-expanding in the nex five years or so.