AA Flight Attendants Protest Executive Bonuses

April 21, 2011

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. --

Flight attendants for American Airlines are picketing at Palm Beach International Airport as part of a nationwide protest against executive bonuses despite major company losses.

Tuesday's protest was staged outside the American Airlines terminal.

Protesters claim American Airlines' top brass have received bonuses for six straight years while flight attendants have sacrificed to save the company from bankruptcy.

"We've given up so much since 9/11," said Barb Labishak, who has been a flight attendant for 23 years.

Labishak said American Airlines flight attendants haven't had raises since 2003. She said they've also given up vacation, health benefits and sick time.

Images: American Airlines Protest Staged At PBIA

"We love the company," said Labishak. "We want some of the money back that we've given. We've given $300 billion. Flight attendants only (gave) $300 billion to keep this company afloat so we would not go into bankruptcy."

Labishak questioned how the company can award bonuses to its executives because of that.

"They say they're not making money," said Labishak. "Well, then how can they take $100 million in bonuses?"

American Airlines released a statement saying the company's "executive compensation plan directly links pay to the company's performance and places a significant portion of management compensation at risk."

"Performance-based compensation plans are considered good corporate governance," American Airlines spokeswoman Missy Cousino stated.

"The value of any shares granted under the performance share plan won't be known until they vest, but it's expected this year's plan will pay out significantly below the value originally targeted" by the parent company's corporate board, Cousino explained. "The decline in value of these shares demonstrates the downside of at-risk compensation and serves as an illustration of our compensation philosophy that tightly links pay to company performance and shareholder interest."

Cousino said the company remains "committed to working with all the unions to reach agreements addressing the needs of both parties and that are in the long-term best interests of the company and all of its employees."

Similar protests were scheduled for airports in Miami, Fort Lauderdale and elsewhere throughout the country.

American Airlines Flight Attendants Hold Protest At PBIA

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