American Airlines and Labor Negotiations

[Tim Nelson]

ok, that's great..

...but, if the company wants a deal and you're mucking it up by giving sito and assoc. dirt to penthouse magazine; the company will let you know - one way or another. the company is negotiating with the assoc., not with you. billions in labor costs and profits are at stake.

oh i dont know. Its just one person...me. But my message is for sito to recuse, and to vote

 

[1986Mekanic]

Well, the good news is, this JCBA negotiation is finished and we can move on. The bad news is section 6 starts. Im gonna hang my hat on 18 months before the next phase, which will either be self help or a vote.

I guess the iam didnt want to jump on the medical grenade and the twu didnt want to jump on the scope grenade, so, they need help sorting it out.

 

[WeAAsles]

I guess the iam didnt want to jump on the medical grenade and the twu didnt want to jump on the scope grenade.

By Jove Sir, I think you got it.

 

[Talos]

Been here long enough to know, we will be looking at this same offer 2 years from now - to vote on. Both the IAM and TWU are weak at negotiating for the members. On the flip side, when it comes to taking care of their own interests - wow, no expense is spared. We are screwed, the company loves it, the internationals are already getting the dues increase due to the last raise - so no rush there. The membership is being played.

You hit the nail on the head. It is pretty sickening.

 

[dfw gen]

Been here long enough to know, we will be looking at this same offer 2 years from now - to vote on. Both the IAM and TWU are weak at negotiating for the members. On the flip side, when it comes to taking care of their own interests - wow, no expense is spared. We are screwed, the company loves it, the internationals are already getting the dues increase due to the last raise - so no rush there. The membership is being played.

Unfortunatly the weakness in negotiations is due to:
1) both unions obsession with secrecy and refusing to meaningful use and education of their only tool. The membership
2) the associations refusal to address the their inception based on deceit. Lying about the no vote.
3) the total blunder of the iam's leadership's decision to not take part in the twu's protest. It showed the lack of solidarity, and confirms item#2 above.
4) the control of associations information by the iam. And their policy of keeping everyone in the dark.

And as they continue to take advantage and ignore the membership

 

[WeAAsles]

 

[ALUS78]

Members of Local 502,

On September 12 our current contract became amendable and American Airlines proceeded with Section 6 filing. This signals that neither side could reach an agreement before this date and a third party has been introduced into the negotiation process. The National Mediation Board will assign a mediator to the negotiation process for the Association and American Airlines. Although there will be a mediator in the room (again), this individual will not have power over either group and cannot instruct either on what to do or what to agree upon. They simply facilitate and attempt to bring both sides closer to an agreement. Under the Railway Labor Act, once there is the filing, scheduling of dates and times must be set in 10 days and a meeting within 30 days. Basically, under this process, the clock starts ticking and negotiations become expedited.

The company put out through JETNET, their version of the events of the section 6 filing and followed with information from their proposals. LET ME MAKE ONE POINT PERFECTLY CLEAR, American has NOT given us anything. Everything that has been mentioned has been negotiated by the Association, and for the record, the Association does not agree with the dollar amount for the signing bonus or the lump sum buyout because there was no discussion on this matter. Another thing to consider is what strings are attached, for instance; the 65k offered for an early out and what that looks like after taxes and the fact that if you accept this option you are responsible for your own medical which greatly diminishes the actual value, also the fact that it is at the company’s discretion as to who actually gets the buyout. So if we have members that were contemplating leaving the company based on this narrative, then vote yes on the current proposal they could end up receiving far less than they anticipated.

Other negotiated items that were referenced in the company’s communication do not state what was originally offered to the membership. Holidays for Fleet were only 7 until the Association fought to gain 10. Compensation on the holidays was at double time until the Association again fought to gain double time and one half. Sick time was capped at 9 we negotiated to 10. I mention these examples to show that nothing has been given to us in these negotiations without a fight. We were told in the early stages of negotiations that we would have the industry leading contract across the board only to have it reduced to terms today of industry leading wages. This is a big difference in what our members have been lead to believe.

What I’ve learned in life and especially in these negotiations, if you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything. These negotiations did not need to take so long to reach an agreement. The company has insisted on passing bankruptcy and concessionary language to the Union in a hope to get something for nothing. American could offer a significant buyout today if they wanted, but in March at the 1st Quarter Earnings meeting and when pressured on questions about negotiations, Doug Parker said they wanted to get something for a buyout and have attached it to the contract. He also said at this meeting that they felt section 6 could be a good option for the company. The reality here is we are dealing with individuals who do not keep their word, constantly change the end zone, and look for ways to stuff their pockets and spend more money on things we don’t need (state of the art headquarters facility).

The short is, the section 6 process gives us the opportunity to get to an agreement faster, to show a third party what has actually been done in the negotiations arena thus far and ultimately put some power in the hands of the Association if American continues to play useless games. Based on the surveys taken from the membership of the IAM and TWU, our position is clear and lines will be drawn to get our Association membership a contract they deserve and one that captures all the sacrifices that WE HAVE PAID. American Airlines could not be where they are today without us. Never let them forget or minimize what has been given up. We have a stake in this company and its fair time that we are compensated fully. WE are TWU and WE move America!

In Solidarity,
Andre Sutton
TWU Local 502 President
TWU International Vice President

Paraphrase; section 6 gives us an opportunity to get an ageement faster.Obviously thats the whole idea of section 6.Bit of a spin or an optimistic view, you decide. But I bet you're looking at years and dont be surprised if it's alot of years.

 

[ALUS78]

View attachment 13342

If I posted stuff like this you would text me telling me I'm not funny any more or I'm losing my audience or its getting old and annoying. Well I'm not going to text you but......

 

[lax]

Ah...words spoken from someone who has done diddly squat

Spoken from someone who tells the truth. I know it's probably a stretch for you but you should try it sometime.

 

[Tim Nelson]

Paraphrase; section 6 gives us an opportunity to get an ageement faster.Obviously thats the whole idea of section 6.Bit of a spin or an optimistic view, you decide. But I bet you're looking at years and dont be surprised if it's alot of years.

Me thinks the company is going to give the Association a wake up call. Shhhhhhhhh. You will see.

And, it will be up to the Association to take less. Now or in 2-5 years. Remember, expedited talks is about 6 months. If they fail, then normal section 6 talks commence. This will never be a situation involving self help, so the only thing the union can do is accept the contract terms now or later. Otherwise, the company absolutely loves kicking the can. It has it made with 70% of the craft stuck in bankruptcy.

The longer negotiations go, the less will be offered. Mark my words! And there is nothing the union can do.

 

[ALUS78]

Me thinks the company is going to give the Association a wake up call. Shhhhhhhhh. You will see.

And, it will be up to the Association to take less. Now or in 2-5 years. Remember, expedited talks is about 6 months. If they fail, then normal section 6 talks commence. This will never be a situation involving self help, so the only thing the union can do is accept the contract terms now or later. Otherwise, the company absolutely loves kicking the can. It has it made with 70% of the craft stuck in bankruptcy.

The longer negotiations go, the less will be offered. Mark my words! And there is nothing the union can do.

Tim I see there are more TWU people posting the last couple of days I hope they understand the AW pilots and the US pilots never had a joint contract.I sound like a broken record to most on here, but can't stress that fact enough. Not that it was the company's fault but they had no problem dealing with it, none at all

 

[Kev3188]

Unfortunatly the weakness in negotiations is due to:
1) both unions obsession with secrecy and refusing to meaningful use and education of their only tool. The membership
2) the associations refusal to address the their inception based on deceit. Lying about the no vote.
3) the total blunder of the iam's leadership's decision to not take part in the twu's protest. It showed the lack of solidarity, and confirms item#2 above.
4) the control of associations information by the iam. And their policy of keeping everyone in the dark.

And as they continue to take advantage and ignore the membership

+1

These don’t reflect the union principles most of us grew up with.

If I posted stuff like this you would text me telling me I'm not funny any more or I'm losing my audience or its getting old and annoying. Well I'm not going to text you but......

Someday he’ll figure it out. I guess yesterday just wasn’t that day.

 

[Vortilon]

Ok we are being played. So now you tell me what Union you could go with that you’re positive this would be done by now and you would have a contract you deserve?

Now without just giving me a name I want you to tell me precisely how the group you like would speed things along and get it for you?

Name that Union that would be strong for the AMT’s?

Are you telling me, that when - what I posted, comes to fruition in two years - you're gonna feel confident that we were not played?
As far as what union I would feel confident with negotiating on our behalf, you already know the answer to that.
There is no end in sight to these negotiations, and the people negotiating have no incentive to get it done on either side of the table, except to avoid the ire of the membership or employees. Bottom line, they don't care.
So, the AMP drive continues, and the stalemated negotiations will incentivize many current fence sitters to sign authorization cards.

 

[title 2]

I have been reading all the crap of the last week and i have one comment. The best part of the M&R IAM contract is the medical and the best part of the M&R TWU contract is the scope language and this management team wants us to give both back. We should all be pissed at management not each other.

 

[sendmeupacrowsfoot]

So, for some, the best option is to keep what they have and let this drag on for years. For others, the best option is to take what the company is offering now? Quite a conundrum you have going on over there.