April 13, 2007, 10:35PM

Around the region

Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle News Service

Airlines

Flight attendants protest bonuses

FORT WORTH — Hundreds of American Airlines flight attendants descended on the airline's corporate headquarters Friday, chanting about executive greed and vowing to regain wages and benefits they lost four years ago.
The rally was organized by the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, which represents 20,000 American attendants. It was intended to showcase worker outrage over a slate of lucrative stock bonuses for top executives and managers scheduled to pay out next week.

The bonuses, which are based on American's stock price and other performance measures, will benefit 874 executives and top managers. Estimates vary, but union leaders say the payouts could top $200 million.

Gerard Arpey, American's CEO, is expected to receive more than $7 million under the deal, according to union leaders. Arpey wasn't working at the headquarters during the rally, company officials said.

American officials defended the bonuses as a crucial part of top managers' compensation and pointed out that the managers don't collect if the company doesn't perform well.

Jeff Brundage, American's senior vice president of human resources, said the airline's employees have richer contacts than many of the carrier's bankrupt rivals.