A quick summary of major and noteworthy events since the start of negotiations.
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This week, the American Airlines and Transport Workers Union Mechanic & Related negotiating committees met in mediated sessions with NMB Mediator Jack Kane, accompanied by Mediator Walter Darr. This is the first time the two parties have met in mediation since the tentative agreement failed to ratify in August 2010.
The negotiations began with the union discussing the reasons that the TWU-represented mechanic and related employees did not pass the tentative agreement. The main reasons that came out of the surveys the TWU conducted of the membership were changes made to workrules and benefits.
On Tuesday, the two parties agreed to 20 articles from the previous tentative agreements that would be carried over and do not require any change. Throughout the week, Mediator Kane had the two parties address several outstanding articles, and nine new tentative agreements were reached. These included the following:
American believes that resuming mediated sessions and reopening the dialogue with the TWU are good next steps toward reaching an agreement both parties can be proud of.
The company’s goal remains to reach an agreement that is in the long-term best interest of our employees, our company and our shareholders. We are committed to finding creative solutions to reach an agreement that makes good economic and operational sense, and that allow our mechanics to remain competitive in the industry, while positioning the company for long-term success.
American will continue to listen and be amenable to reworking key areas of interest for the TWU in the contract, however; the economic interests of the company remain the same. The company must be positioned to compete successfully for the long-term.
Since we began negotiations, the company has come prepared to each negotiating session and ready to bargain with TWU toward reaching a new contract.
We look forward to continuing working with the TWU at the next mediated sessions, which Mediator Kane set for the week of January 10, 2011 in Hurst, TX.
Today the company met with National Mediation Board mediator Jack Kane. NMB mediator Walter Darr, who joined the NMB in October 2010, accompanied Mediator Kane as part of the NMB’s training.
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the state of the TWU Mechanic & Related and Stores negotiations, since both workgroups rejected their tentative agreements in August 2010 and to determine the best way to proceed. Jack provided some insight as to his assessment of the case and will report back to the NMB.
Mediator Kane will notify us of any future negotiations dates.
American is very pleased the TWU-represented Maintenance Control Technicians (Technical Specialists) ratified their contract. These employees will realize immediate financial gains, along with more vacation days, holidays and sick time.
Since we started negotiations with all of our workgroups, our objective has been clear: Position the company to compete successfully for the long-term and provide competitive pay and benefits, and a good career for our employees.
While the Mechanic & Related and Stores agreements were not approved, we expect to continue working toward new agreements and will look to the National Mediation Board for guidance on next steps with these workgroups. American felt the tentative agreements reached with both groups represented the company’s best offer and demonstrate we can reach agreements with the TWU. That’s important to remember because we’re not at a point in negotiations where a strike could occur. Only the NMB can release the parties, which typically only happens after it’s clear a deal cannot be reached. We look forward to re-working the agreements in a balanced way that will achieve ratification.
To view the Maintenance Control Technician full-text language, click here.
American and the Transport Workers Union have finalized the language for the Mechanic & Related tentative agreement, as well as question & answer documents related to the TA reached.
To view the full-text language, click here.
To view the M&R question & answer document, click here.
To view the Retiree Medical question & answer document, click here.
American Airlines and the Transport Workers Union have reached a tentative agreement in principle for the Mechanic & Related workgroup.
This tentative agreement provides our mechanics with market-based compensation, including structural increases, and enhancements to other contract items such as vacation, holidays and sick leave. It also provides American additional flexibility in its maintenance operation.
Both parties worked hard and put a significant amount of time and effort into this negotiating process to reach a tentative agreement that recognizes the interests of our TWU-represented employees and the company.
It is our understanding the TWU is recommending the ratification of the tentative agreement and will provide details regarding its terms and the ratification process to their members in the coming days.
American Airlines has more than 50,000 employees represented by unions, including approximately 11,500 under this tentative agreement.
American is pleased the National Mediation Board has called for the parties to reconvene, while it continues to consider the requests from the union and the company. American's negotiating teams remain focused and are ready to get back to work at the table once the NMB sets dates to reconvene the parties.
This week the American Airlines and Transport Workers Union Mechanic & Related negotiating committees were notified the next session, scheduled for March 1-5 in Tulsa, Okla., has been postponed. We expect to receive new dates from Mediator Jack Kane soon.
This week the American Airlines and Transport Workers Union Mechanic & Related negotiating committees resumed negotiations with Mediator Jack Kane. This was the first time to meet since the mediator requested the TWU to establish a smaller committee and the company bring additional M&E management to the session.
On Wednesday, American gave the TWU a comprehensive proposal in response to the union’s table position from November 2008. The company’s proposal aimed to address the current state of both the airline and the industry while also addressing many of the union’s interests.
Since American’s last comprehensive proposal, the company has worked with the union in an attempt to narrow the issues and establish priorities. The company’s proposal offers some improvements aimed at recognizing the needs of our TWU-represented employees while also allowing American to better manage its labor unit cost and be competitive.
We look forward to continuing negotiations with the TWU at a later date to be determined and scheduled by Mediator Kane.
The proposal includes:
