American is committed to reaching a new labor agreement that uses a collaborative problem-solving approach to labor negotiations in an effort to maintain a working relationship that emphasizes constructive debate and cooperation. To this end, the company is committed to open communication and a sincere effort to comprehend different points of view, particularly on disagreements that must be addressed and resolved. American will strive to achieve creative solutions to issues which are satisfactory to the interests of both parties.

Our negotiations will include specific proposals for work rules and contract provisions, and we are committed to creating opportunities for growth and new business, along with job preservation in recognition that we must reach a viable cost structure necessary to compete in both the passenger airline industry and among MROs. To realize these goals, the company proposed and will continue to propose utilizing the collective bargaining process to:

• Agree upon a negotiating protocol that uses a collaborative, problem-solving approach. 
  

• Develop process language for the “Working Together” leadership model recognizing the need for employee involvement as a key contributor to improving business results.
  

• Modify the work rules relating to scheduling to better match staffing to workloads and schedules.
  

• Create opportunities for Technical Specialists to increase their earnings through a model that links higher wage rates to higher productivity and/or lower costs.
  

• Develop an outcome-based variable compensation system that rewards employees for meeting performance, productivity goals or other agreed-upon metrics.
  

• Address health, benefit and retiree costs through competitive, market-based benefit plans.
  

• Simplify and clarify contract language and applications.

WHO IS?
Technical Specialists Job Description: Technical Specialists provide technical direction to field maintenance and flight crews, assist crews with in-flight troubleshooting, and analyze trends in aircraft systems. They also create bills of work to repair discrepancies encountered; ensure that functional tests are accomplished when required on out-of-service aircraft. Number of Technical Specialists: 81