TWU Launches 'Online Picket Line' Against Corporate Greed at American Airlines

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/news_press_release,90810.shtml

DALLAS, April 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- While American Airlines' flight attendants and pilots will be holding rallies and setting up traditional picket lines this week to protest the airline's award of at least $177 million in stock to corporate executives, TWU members and their allies will let their fingers do the walking on an "online picket line." The Transport Workers Union (TWU) which represents 27,000 American employees, more workers than any other union at the company, has launched an online petition and is blasting emails to shareholders, customers and allies in consumer groups and other unions. A link to the petition can be found at .

"Our goal is to create a viral campaign on the Internet where thousands of individuals who find corporate greed as outrageous as we do will join a national conversation, send protest messages to the company and help us lobby for limits on executive compensation through Congressional action," said TWU International President James C. Little. In addition to circulating its petition and sending emails, the union will spread its message through Google Ad Words and other forms of online advertising.

This week, HR 1257, a bill introduced by Rep. Barney Frank D-Mass., to provide shareholders with an advisory vote on executive compensation, will be debated on the floor of the House of Representatives. "American Airlines has become the poster child for HR 1257," Little said. "American's executives are taking an amount equal to about 80 percent of the company's 2006 profits, while awarding employees nothing. These are the same corporate leaders that told workers 'share the pain and share in the gain.' We are going to make sure members of Congress know what's going on at American," he added.

Through its partnership with the company, TWU members have generated hundreds of millions of dollars in recurring cost savings and more than $100 million in new revenue since 2003. South American airlines and competing U.S. carriers are now flying their planes to American's U.S. facilities for repairs. Projections for new revenue related to the partnership are $100 million in 2007 and $175 million in 2008.

The union sent a proposal March 15 to the company asking it to award its "partners" with stock or provide compensation for dilution of shares already held due to the large management reward scheduled for April 18. On that date, a select few company managers will split at least $177 million in stock. The annual profit for American Airlines in 2006 was $231 million. The company formally rejected the TWU proposal last week and refused to discuss any alternatives.


FULL story at link.

Maybe just, maybe the workin' stiff might get a few crumbs from Robber Barons.....