A quick summary of major and noteworthy events since the start of negotiations.
View 2011 Updates | View 2010 Updates | View 2008 Updates | View 2007 Updates
American Airlines and the Transport Workers Union Mechanic & Related negotiating committees continued mediation this week in Chicago with NMB Mediator Jack Kane.
Discussions centered on the TWU’s June comprehensive proposal. American Airlines explained that, for a deal to be reached, the union’s comprehensive proposal needed to include productivity and other enhancements of interest to the company to allow American to better manage it labor unit cost and be more competitive.
Following these discussions, the union withdrew its June proposal. The November 2008 proposal, which would increase the company’s annual cost by $240 MM, is now the TWU’s table position.
Upon notification of the TWU’s table position, the company required additional time to formally respond, since it needed to reevaluate its position in light of the changing circumstances.
The mediator has set several tentative dates in December and a firm session for the week of January 11, 2010. At the insistence of the mediator, a subset of the full TWU negotiating team will meet at the next session and American M&E senior management will accompany the company’s negotiating members.
The American Airlines and Transport Workers Union Mechanic & Related negotiating committees continued mediation this week in Kansas City with NMB Mediator Jack Kane.
A subcommittee continued discussions about Article 12: Promotions & Transfer, primarily focusing on the transfer memorandum. The subcommittee plans to continue meeting before the larger group reconvenes.
The same subcommittee also met to discuss Article 3: Hours of Work. A recommendation was reached and will be presented to the full committee for approval at the next session.
At the end of the week, Mediator Kane strongly recommended the company respond to all open articles at the next session. The mediator will set the next session at a later date.
American Airlines and the Transport Workers Union Mechanic & Related negotiating committees met in Kansas City, Mo., for four days under the guidance of National Mediation Board mediator Jack Kane. On Monday, American provided two presentations to all of the TWU committees (M&R, Stores, Technical Specialists). One of the presentations focused on the five-year overhaul dock plan and the other on the competitive landscape and outlook of engine overhaul for Texas Aero Engine Service LLC (TAESL, American’s joint partnership with Rolls-Royce). The primary purpose for providing the presentations was to update the committees on the future workload and the potential impact it can have on the M&E organization, primarily as we get to 2012. The information was foundational for our subcommittee discussions on Article 12 and other related Articles so as to discuss potential solutions for filling the “white space” in the dock plan. “White space” is space on the dock plan that correlates to no overhaul maintenance work, which equates to the possibility of a headcount loss.
After the presentations on Monday, the subcommittees met to discuss a number of issues including Article 12: Promotions & Transfer, with the underlying intent to explore solutions to make us more flexible in the utilization of our resources. Subcommittee discussions were very professional and productive.
On Thursday, the TWU M&R committee presented the company with a comprehensive proposal covering all outstanding articles. The proposal was presented by the TWU as a response to the company’s presentations made earlier in the week. American is evaluating the proposal and will respond to selected articles at the next session, scheduled for July 13-17 in Kansas City, MO. The subcommittees, however, will meet before the next session.The National Mediation Board announced it is realigning the mediators assigned to the TWU cases. Now, Mediator Jack Kane will oversee all of the M&E related agreements (Mechanic & Related, Technical Specialists and Stock Clerks). Mediator Terri Brown will continue overseeing the Fleet and Flight agreements (Dispatch, Fleet Service, Ground School Instructors and Simulator Technicians).
The next mediation sessions are scheduled as follows:
American Airlines and the Transport Workers Union Mechanic & Related negotiating comittees met in St. Louis, Mo., from April 13-17, 2009, under the auspices of NMB mediator Jack Kane. During the week, the two parties reached a tentative agreement on Article 46/One Station agreements. The company also offered counter proposals on Article 6/Overtime, Article 25/Early Call-In and Article 36/Meal Periods. The TWU has not yet responded to those proposals.
The company and union agreed to form subcommittees to discuss in greater detail Article 12/ Transfers and Promotions. One subcommittee will address system (Line/Base) applications and another will review overhaul base applications. The subcommittees met briefly this week and will continue discussions during the next session, which will be scheduled within the next week.
This week, American Airlines and the Transport Workers Union met for three days with senior mediator Zachary Jones and assigned NMB mediator Jack Kane.
On March 11 and 12, each side met individually with the mediators, allowing team members the opportunity to introduce themselves and explain each party’s perspective regarding negotiations.
On March 13, the two parties met jointly with the mediators to review the 17 remaining open articles and the protocol to be followed moving forward.
The mediator set the next session for April 13-17, 2009 in St. Louis.
February 13, 2009
This week NMB mediator Jack Kane set the first dates for the American Airlines and Transport Workers Union Mechanic & Related mediated discussions. Breakout sessions with both committees and a joint meeting with all parties will be held March 11-13.
January 28, 2009
The National Mediation Board has assigned John J. Kane as the mediator for both the Mechanic & Related and Technical Specialist negotiations between American Airlines and the Transport Workers Union. Mr. Kane has worked as a NMB mediator since March 1997. Since then, he has served as a mediator in airline and railroad cases.
The Company welcomes the NMB’s assistance to work toward reaching tentative agreements with the Mechanic & Related and Technical Specialist workgroups.
January 26, 2009
The Transport Workers Union today announced they have filed for mediation for the Mechanic & related and Technical Specialist workgroups. While American Airlines and the TWU have continued to make progress on these two agreements, the company agrees guidance by the National Mediation Board would be beneficial. The NMB has docketed the cases and assigned a Mediator to facilitate future discussions.
American remains committed to reaching agreements with the TWU that will address the needs of both parties and position the company and its employees for long-term success.
January 13-14, 2009
American Airlines and the Transport Workers Union resumed negotiations Tuesday and Wednesday at the Wyndham Hotel in Las Colinas, TX.
The parties reached tentative agreements on Articles 2: Definitions; 15: Reduction in Force; 23: Attendance at Hearings, Investigations or Training Classes and 39: Physical Examination. The tentative agreement reached on Article 15 was with the understanding that the license premium provision will be deferred to the compensation discussion.
Article 46: One Station Agreements was also discussed and proposals exchanged, however, it remains open.
The parties agreed to set the next negotiations sessions for February 16 and 17.
January 6, 2009
American Airlines and the Transport Workers Union have set their next meetings for January 13 and 14.
