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CNN Live Saturday
American Airlines' Flight Attendants Union Takes Back Approval of Wage Concessions
Aired April 19, 2003 - 16:50 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: American Airlines flight attendants, angered by the company's plans to give executives massive bonuses plan another vote on wage cuts. The attendants took back their approval of wage concessions a day after approving them. Rebecca Lopez of CNN affiliate WFAA in Dallas reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
REBECCA LOPEZ, WFAA CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Hundreds of American Airlines employees protested in Oklahoma Friday morning. Employees have been outraged after learning American planned to give six of its top managers big bonuses for staying with the company. Union leaders say they feel like they've been duped. The Flight Attendants Union says it's rescinding its agreement to take concessions and plans to reballot members, despite an apology from CEO Don Carty.
GEORGE PRICE, ASSN. FLIGHT ATTEND.: It's really too little too late. The damage has been done. We went through and entered into this negotiating process in good faith.
LOPEZ: Carty taped a message to employees apologizing because he didn't disclose the bonuses during negotiations with the unions.
DON CARTY, CEO, AMERICAN AIRLINES: And you have my personal apology. It was never, ever my intent to mislead anyone.
LOPEZ: The company says the retention bonuses were set up to keep executives from leaving.
BRUCE HICKS, AMERICAN AIRLINES: At some point, our management does need to get paid. We can only cut so far. Sooner or later, they are going to have to earn some money. But they said in this case, they said we're going to step up, we're going to give up these retention agreements, because we think it's the right thing to do.
LOPEZ: Some employees we talked to say they were happy about management's decision to give up the bonuses.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE; The fact that they've canceled it shows that we're on the same ship and we got to keep it from sinking. So I'm glad to see it.
LOPEZ: But others say they've lost trust in the company and say nothing management says now will repair that trust. (on camera): The Flight Attendants Union says that the whole balloting process has been compromised, and it plans to revote. This is crucial, because American needs the approval of all three of the major unions in order to avoid bankruptcy.
Rebecca Lopez, Channel 8 News.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Approval of Wage Concessions>
Aired April 19, 2003 - 16:50 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: American Airlines flight attendants, angered by the company's plans to give executives massive bonuses plan another vote on wage cuts. The attendants took back their approval of wage concessions a day after approving them. Rebecca Lopez of CNN affiliate WFAA in Dallas reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
REBECCA LOPEZ, WFAA CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Hundreds of American Airlines employees protested in Oklahoma Friday morning. Employees have been outraged after learning American planned to give six of its top managers big bonuses for staying with the company. Union leaders say they feel like they've been duped. The Flight Attendants Union says it's rescinding its agreement to take concessions and plans to reballot members, despite an apology from CEO Don Carty.
GEORGE PRICE, ASSN. FLIGHT ATTEND.: It's really too little too late. The damage has been done. We went through and entered into this negotiating process in good faith.
LOPEZ: Carty taped a message to employees apologizing because he didn't disclose the bonuses during negotiations with the unions.
DON CARTY, CEO, AMERICAN AIRLINES: And you have my personal apology. It was never, ever my intent to mislead anyone.
LOPEZ: The company says the retention bonuses were set up to keep executives from leaving.
BRUCE HICKS, AMERICAN AIRLINES: At some point, our management does need to get paid. We can only cut so far. Sooner or later, they are going to have to earn some money. But they said in this case, they said we're going to step up, we're going to give up these retention agreements, because we think it's the right thing to do.
LOPEZ: Some employees we talked to say they were happy about management's decision to give up the bonuses.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE; The fact that they've canceled it shows that we're on the same ship and we got to keep it from sinking. So I'm glad to see it.
LOPEZ: But others say they've lost trust in the company and say nothing management says now will repair that trust. (on camera): The Flight Attendants Union says that the whole balloting process has been compromised, and it plans to revote. This is crucial, because American needs the approval of all three of the major unions in order to avoid bankruptcy.
Rebecca Lopez, Channel 8 News.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Approval of Wage Concessions>
