WhisperJet

$16.9 million dollars is what this program costs to include the pilots. ($325*4qtrs*13000pilots). Would the pilot group voluntarily give up this benefit so that the other employee groups could get it back? Would be a nice gesture of unity. Just a thought.

Otterbox

Kirby is taking the expense saving tools implemented at American (Scope relief, increased labor force utilization, reduced bonus payouts etc.) and working to implement them at United to boost profitability of the company/share holder value.

Take a look at the greatest cost saving/ risk reducing items at American and Delta today (RJ flying domestically and Joint Ventures internationally) and you see the directions that he intends to take United over the next 10+ years.

WhisperJet

People need to realize that Kirby's job is to make United the most profitable airline in the world. It's business. The BOD and the shareholders could not care less what pilots make, how we feel, our job security, what we fly, etc. They want the best bottom line and SK's going to do whatever he can to deliver that.

Fortunately, he cannot unilaterally do this. It's up to our elected union officials to advocate for our best interests, and ultimately Joe Q Pilot to make the most informed and best decision on what is laid in front of him come vote time.

Anything management/union says leading up to negotiations is propaganda and positioning. Get informed, understand options, and make sure you make your voice heard amongst your LEC and MEC leaders.

crflyer

I prefer Perkins

Aquaticus

Back of the napkin math shows this saving the company $11-15 million every quarter. $44-60 million a year coming directly out of every employees pocket. That is a 50%-75% reduction in performance bonus.

A smart manager would have at least robbed us in a way that was somewhat sneaky like setting the performance metrics for a payout just out of reach of our operation. This guy just blatantly opened your wallet, took out a $100 a month for the next year, and makes you look at his smiling, smug face while he does it. This guy has balls or is an idiot.

Monkeyfly

In 2016 all eligible employees made $1500. I don't know how many eligible, but lets say 80k, maybe its less.

$1500 x 80,000 = $120 million

In 2017 they moved the goalposts and we made $975.

$975 x 80,000 = $78 million

IF we hit a metric each quarter and the company pays all the bonuses:

$18.8 million

$120m -> $78m -> $18.8m

Are we still wondering why they are doing this?
I appreciate all the complaints on Skynet, but there's only one way to prove this is a bad idea...

Grumble

I would. I never even notice it the way my pay changes from month to month. Is there even a path to float this by the MEC? Although I guess the horse has left the barn already as we can’t really give back something we’re not getting anymore.

It’s not all about you....

baseball

There must be a reason or two why American Airlines decided to let Mr. Kirby go.

I think I am starting to get the picture now.

Who is on deck to replace Mr. Kirby when he runs out of finger puppet skits and silly pet tricks?

Time to get a serious dude with serious ideas.

This is somewhere between boring and embarrassing.

rp2pilot

Do you honestly feel that you're undercompensated for your stellar airmanship and work ethic ?

Name User

Kirby was a dick and hated by labor especially the pilots. He had an air of arrogance about him. His one idea was RJs, hmmm, let's see how that is working out...AA is now forking out $60k+/yr for 35 seat Dash 8 FOs and paying the CAs on that plane $180k/yr to staff the flying.

New hire CAs are making six figures flying 50 seat RJs they've pulled out of the desert after parking them and shoving 1500+ Eagle pilots out the door to competitors only to have to pay twice as much when they hire guys to replace them.

He has now decided to go toe to toe with Spirit all while increasing capacity double GDP growth and flooding the market which will depress yields just as fuel prices among other things are pushing inflation into the 3% range instead of being nearly flat for a decade.

Best $13m AA spent IMO. As Bethune said "you're only as good as your dumbest competitor".