Local 514’s Ken Moss Retires After 42 Years & No Sick Days

A lot of union workers pride themselves on a good attendance record, often coming to work with a mild case of the flu or other ailment. But, the next time you feel under the weather, take an aspirin and call in sick in the morning because you can’t top Local 514 Member Ken Moss.

The 42-year veteran of American Airlines’ maintenance base in Tulsa, Oklahoma retired this month with his perfect attendance record intact. More than 100 co-workers, friends and AA executives gathered at the plant cafeteria January 9 to wish him well in retirement. Moss, 65, couldn’t attribute his good health to any special regimen, but guessed that walking thousands of miles in the huge plant and parking lot over the years might have helped. So did the fact that he really liked his job and the people he worked with.

“Out here, this is my home away from home. It’s friendship, camaraderie and teamwork,” he said. “Everybody’s looking out for one another. Those are the best things about the job.”

Moss told the Express that he’s keeping busy. “I haven’t just sat and looked at walls,” he said. In addition to catching up with paperwork, Moss plays his guitar, does yard work and other chores around the house.

Along with citations from management, Local 514 and his fellow mechanics presented him with mementoes and gifts, including an ebony Gibson guitar with an inlaid mother-of-pearl dove on the body. “It’s one of the prettiest I’ve ever seen,” a stunned Moss said.

Kent Landefeld, his longtime crew chief, said Moss’ retirement party was a standing room only event, a sign of the esteem he’s earned from his co-workers, who contributed more than $5,000 from their own pockets for the gifts.

“You can’t overstate his dedication and work ethic,” Landefeld said. “He was the one you went to when you had a problem in his area of expertise.”

Clearly moved by the outpouring of love from his co-workers,” Moss quipped, “I might have to call in sick Monday.”