TWU proposes intense period of negotiations with American Airlines
7:25 PM Tue, Oct 14, 2008
Terry Maxon
American Airlines and its Transport Workers Union have tried twice to get a quick contract deal in intense negotiations. On Friday, the TWU suggested a third attempt.
In a letter to American Airlines employee relations executive James Weel, TWU official Dennis Burchette suggested eight days of concentrated talks, Dec. 1-8, to try to get a new deal.
"At the end of the eighth day, if no agreement is reached, both sides would jointly file for mediation," wrote Mr. Burchette, American Airlines system coordinator and international vice president of TWU.
The talks would involve joint negotiations for fleet service clerks, stores employees, simulator technicians and instructors.
Mr. Burchette's proposal calls for the negotiating teams to "remain sequestered and available 24/7, totally focused and committed to the process."
Before talks began last fall, the two sides tried to work out a fast deal to replace the current contract, which became amendable on May 1, 2008.
In a second attempt in May, the company made a two-year proposal that gave the TWU members a couple of lump sum payments, but no pay rate increases, plus other goodies, in exchange for provisions that the union wouldn't accept.
In the May offer, American insisted that all TWU negotiating units, including those representing mechanics and dispatchers, accept the deal, including the ones represented by the joint committee.
Negotiators for some units were willing to send the agreement to a membership vote, but other negotiators didn't think it was good enough to vote on.
The TWU faces restlessness from its membership, including some local presidents, for a deal that regains what the union gave up in 2003 concessions.
7:25 PM Tue, Oct 14, 2008
Terry Maxon
American Airlines and its Transport Workers Union have tried twice to get a quick contract deal in intense negotiations. On Friday, the TWU suggested a third attempt.
In a letter to American Airlines employee relations executive James Weel, TWU official Dennis Burchette suggested eight days of concentrated talks, Dec. 1-8, to try to get a new deal.
"At the end of the eighth day, if no agreement is reached, both sides would jointly file for mediation," wrote Mr. Burchette, American Airlines system coordinator and international vice president of TWU.
The talks would involve joint negotiations for fleet service clerks, stores employees, simulator technicians and instructors.
Mr. Burchette's proposal calls for the negotiating teams to "remain sequestered and available 24/7, totally focused and committed to the process."
Before talks began last fall, the two sides tried to work out a fast deal to replace the current contract, which became amendable on May 1, 2008.
In a second attempt in May, the company made a two-year proposal that gave the TWU members a couple of lump sum payments, but no pay rate increases, plus other goodies, in exchange for provisions that the union wouldn't accept.
In the May offer, American insisted that all TWU negotiating units, including those representing mechanics and dispatchers, accept the deal, including the ones represented by the joint committee.
Negotiators for some units were willing to send the agreement to a membership vote, but other negotiators didn't think it was good enough to vote on.
The TWU faces restlessness from its membership, including some local presidents, for a deal that regains what the union gave up in 2003 concessions.
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