ALPA America West Pilots Blast CEO's $1 Million Bonus

While the America West Airlines (AWA) pilots are encouraged by favorable company performance, they are fuming over the recent announcement by AWA indicating that CEO Douglas Parker has been awarded a $1 million bonus.

Captain Terry Stadler, Chairman of the America West Airlines Master Executive Council, part of the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA), said, "The AWA pilots find Mr. Parker's behavior outrageous -- that he accepts this bonus while his middle managers nickel-and-dime this pilot group over implementation issues concerning our recently ratified contract. For example, while Mr. Parker collects his $1 million bonus, the $920 retirement supplement promised to some pilots has been cut off as a cost-savings measure by the company. These pensions are but a fraction of the bonus Mr. Parker has accepted. Three months into the new contract and it is still business as usual in terms of labor relations at America West Airlines."

"America West is beginning an expansion program that will require everyone pulling together. This bonus is just another example of management lining their pockets at the expense of the employees and creates a disincentive for the hard work needed by America West pilots to make the expansion successful," Stadler concluded.

FMI: www.alpa.org