Goodbye Don Carty

I could not be more amused by the forced resignation of American Airlines CEO Don Carty. The employees of American Airlines, at least those that work on the planes, tend to be very conservative. Their unions should be considered separately from other types of labor union?more like professional organizations. The pilots themselves tend to be very conservative, mostly having learned their crafts in the navy and air force (the company has been trying to bring in more pilots from the civilian sectors, but their promotion has been slow.) In fact, they think of themselves as managers and professionals who are primarily responsible for the profitability of the company (this is, of course, a debatable point.) I am amused that the pilots would advocate for the interests of all employees and their families. In their actions (suggesting that Carty be replaced) they resembled an avant-garde for the other airline unions. The employees whom I know are shaken by the news of Carty?s betrayal. Many trusted the organization without question, believing that it would ultimately do what was right for the health of the entire company. Carty himself cannot be blamed: he personally took huge cuts in bonuses and salary, but his sacrifices did not translate to other American Airlines executives, and their actions reflect Carty?s leadership. The previous CEO, Crandall, although stingy, might have handled this better.