Bargaining Update #10

25 JULY, 2023

Our CWA-IBT Association Bargaining Committee met with American Airlines management last week in our tenth round of bargaining for a new contract. In a recent discussion between our bargaining teams and CEO Robert Isom, he committed to reach an agreement with our union that is competitive in the industry and not concessionary. Together, we will hold him to that commitment!

Last week at the bargaining table, the company responded to our proposals on the following articles:

Article 5, Hours of Service
Article 6, Overtime-Customer Service
Article 9, Filling of Vacancies
Article 14, Recall
Article 17, Leaves of Absence

The company made two new proposals on Article 16, Medical Examinations and Article 21, Limited Duty, which we then reached tentative agreements on. Our Bargaining Committee responded to all of the company's proposals and made a proposal on Article 34, General and Miscellaneous. We are very close to agreement in all of the above articles.

We have heard your questions and comments about when we will begin bargaining the economic elements of the contract. We understand your concerns. The company still has not responded to our proposed changes to Article 3, Recognition and Scope, which we made in October. This crucial article provides job security, and it is absolutely necessary to reach agreement on it before we move on to the economics.

Apart from contract bargaining, our union is fighting for additional improvements in our working conditions, including getting the company to make changes in the uniform policy to allow for tattoos and piercings. We are also working on improvements to the attendance policy and hope to see changes implemented soon.

Member Mobilization Makes the Difference

Members throughout the system are mobilizing and it's making a difference at the bargaining table. As we all know, the company needs to see and hear that we are united and ready to fight for the Industry Leading Contract we deserve. So continue to wear your wing pins and check in with your stewards or local officers about upcoming mobilization plans at your station or center. In particular, please SAVE THE DATE of August 15.

Stay informed and share information with fellow members.

Our next round of bargaining takes place August 8-10. And don't forget to mark your calendars for August 15. More information to come.

Bargaining Update #9

26 MAY, 2023

Our CWA-IBT Association Bargaining Committee met with American Airlines management last week in our eighth round of bargaining for a new contract.
 

The discussion was productive and the two sides exchanged proposals on the following articles:

Article 5, Hours of Service
Article 6, Overtime-Customer Service
Article 14, Recall
Article 15, Furlough Benefits
Article 18, Sick Leave
Article 20, Vacations
Article 34, Call Monitoring

We are continuing to focus a lot of energy on Article 6, Overtime-Customer Service, in an effort to meet the needs of our members for work-life balance while also responding to the needs of our customers. The main area of disagreement is mandatory overtime. Our union bargaining teams proposed changes to Article 5, Hours of Service, at the first round of bargaining last October, and the Company responded to our proposal last week. We will continue to make reaching a good agreement on these issues a priority.
 

We are still waiting for the Company to respond to our proposal on Article 3, Recognition and Scope. This article is very important because it defines your protected work in the future. We have made a complex proposal for consideration. While we are trying to work through the language as quickly as possible, each article is important and requires time to resolve.

The Company has taken note of increasing member involvement in our mobilization efforts. We need to step up the mobilization, especially as we move on to the crucial economic issues.

Stay Informed, Get Involved

Our next round of bargaining will take place June 20-22.

Bargaining Update #8

17 APR, 2023

Our CWA-IBT Association Bargaining Committee met with American Airlines management last week in our seventh round of bargaining for a new contract.

The two sides exchanged proposals on the following articles:

Article 6: Overtime-Customer Service
Article 7: Overtime-Reservations
Article 9: Filling of Vacancies
Article 18: Sick Leave
Article 19: Holiday Vacation
Article 20: Vacations

The two sides reached tentative agreement on the language in Article 7: Overtime-Reservations and Article 19: Holiday Vacation, but not on the economic portions of those articles. Therefore, these two articles will now be held for the economics portion of bargaining.

The following articles are still open:

Article 3: Recognition and Scope
Article 4: Groups/Classifications
Article 5: Hours of Service
Article 6: Overtime-Customer Service
Article 9: Filling of Vacancies
Article 17: Leaves of Absence
Article 18: Sick Leave
Article 20: Vacations
Article 24: Shift Definitions and Premiums
Article 25: Grievance Procedure
Article 26: System Boards of Adjustment
Article 27: Insurance, Retirement, and Other Benefits
Article 28: Retirement Plan
Article 29: Training, Travel Pay, and Meal Per Diem
Article 31: Part-Time Employees
Article 32: Call Monitoring
Article 34: General and Miscellaneous
Article 36: Compensation
Article 37: Duration

As you can see, we have a long way to go, but our Bargaining Teams are committed to fighting for gains in every one of these articles. They need members' visible support to demonstrate to the company that we are all in this fight together. Recently, thousands of members signed the petition about the unilateral door-closing policy and hundreds of members have sent us their solidarity selfies, all of which has been noticed by management. Actions like these show the company that members are aware of what's happening in bargaining and are willing to take action to win a fair deal.

Be sure to follow us on Facebook.com/AmericanAgentsConnected where you can like and share our updates and other bargaining-related content. Look for and use the hashtag #FairPayAA.

Check in with your stewards or local officers to find out about mobilization actions at your station or center.

Our next round of bargaining will take place May 16-18.

Bargaining Update #7

16 MAR, 2023

Our CWA-IBT Association Bargaining Committee met with American Airlines management last week in our sixth round of bargaining for a new contract.

The two sides exchanged proposals on the following articles:

Article 7, Overtime-Reservations
Article 9, Filling of Vacancies
Article 12, Reductions in Force
Article 25, Grievance Procedure
Article 26, System Boards of Adjustment
Article 30, Safety and Health

The bargaining has been difficult because our Bargaining Teams are fighting for improvements in these articles, but the company is standing their ground. Nonetheless, the two sides reached tentative agreements on Article 12, Reductions in Force and Article 30, Safety and Health.

To make real gains at the bargaining table, we must increase the pressure on the company. How do we do that? Members at every station and center must show unity and solidarity with the Bargaining Teams. It's the only way to move the company on the issues that are important to members, like giving us the work-life balance that we all deserve.

Check in with your stewards or local officers to find out about mobilization actions at your station or center. And share your Solidarity Selfies and group pictures with us at info@american-agents.com. We'll post them on Facebook.com/AmericanAgentsConnected.

Our next round of bargaining will take place April 4-7.

Profit-Sharing Update

For the purpose of determining profit-sharing payments, the quarter ending this month (March 2023) will replace last year’s first quarter, when there was no profit for the Company. American Airlines reports that it is on track to see a profit in Q1 this year and final numbers will be calculated for profit sharing soon, with a possible payout in May 2023. However, employees should be aware that no specifics have been decided yet, and CWA-IBT will provide more information as soon as it is available.

Our Bargaining Teams met up with the bargainers for the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) last week in Dallas. They have been in bargaining for three years and just gave their economic proposal to the company last week. We agreed to support each other as we fight for fair contracts for agents and flight attendants at AA.

Bargaining Update #6

25 FEB, 2023

Our CWA-IBT Association Bargaining Committee met with American Airlines management last week in our fifth round of bargaining for a new contract.

Our union committees proposed changes to the following articles:

Article 14, Reduction in Force (furlough)
Article 18, Sick Leave
Article 19, Holiday Vacation
Article 20, Vacations
Article 25, Grievance Procedure

In addition, we responded to a company proposal to make changes to Article 32, Call Monitoring. Our proposal preserves the current practice.

The company proposed changes to the following articles:

Article 7, Overtime-Reservations
Article 14, Reductions in Force
Article 25, Grievance Procedure

The two sides reached agreement on parts of some of the articles, so overall progress was made. Our next round of bargaining will take place March 7-9. 

Bargaining Update #5

10 FEB, 2023

Our CWA-IBT Association Bargaining Committee met with American Airlines management last week in our fourth round of bargaining for a new contract.

The two sides exchanged proposals on the following articles:

Article 25, Grievance Procedure
Article 9, Filling of Vacancies
Article 4, Groups and Classifications

Article 4: Groups and Classifications is a really important article because it provides job security for our members. This article describes the exclusive work that members may perform by classification versus the work that a contractor or other airline employee may perform. Our comprehensive union proposal, which reflects members' responses to the Bargaining Survey, includes getting back some work we had given up in the past.

Our next round of bargaining is next week, February 14-16. We need members at every station and center to show unity and solidarity with the Bargaining Teams to help us achieve our goals at the bargaining table.

Next week, show some Valentine's Day love to our Bargaining Teams by sharing your Solidarity Selfies and group pictures with us. Include a homemade sign that says which article/s are most important to you and send your photos to us at info@american-agents.com. We'll post them on Facebook.com/AmericanAgentsConnected.
 

Our upcoming bargaining schedule is as follows:

February 14-16
March 7-9
April 4-6
May 16-18
June 20-22

Bargaining Update #4

26 JAN, 2023

Our CWA-IBT Association Bargaining Committee met with American Airlines management on January 17-19 in our third round of bargaining for a new contract. The two sides exchanged proposals on the following articles:

Article 6, Overtime Customer Service 
Article 7, Overtime Reservations
Article 9, Filling of Vacancies 
Article 23, Uniforms
Article 25, Grievance Procedure 
Article 26, System Board of Adjustment

We reached a tentative agreement on Article 23, Uniforms. The new language provides an increase in the allowance for uniforms and staggers the mandatory purchase of uniforms for new hires.
 

Our Bargaining Committees are working hard to address the overtime issues in an effort to improve the work-life balance for all members.

Our bargaining schedule is as follows:

January 31-February 2
February 14-16
March 7-9
April 4-6
May 16-18
June 20-22

Bargaining Update #3

10 NOV, 2022

Our CWA-IBT Association Bargaining Committee met with American Airlines management on November 1-3 in Dallas in our second round of bargaining for a new contract.

The Company responded to several of the proposals presented by our Bargaining Teams last month and made new proposals regarding the following articles:

• Article 1, Purpose of Agreement
• Article 7, Overtime Reservations
• Article 8, Seniority 
• Article 10, Temporary Employees 
• Article 22, Probation
• Article 25, Grievance Procedure
• Article 26, System Board 
• Article 30, Health & Safety
• Article 32, Call Monitoring

Our Bargaining Teams made counter proposals regarding the following articles:

• Article 1, Purpose of Agreement
• Article 8, Seniority
• Article 10, Temporary Employees
• Article 22, Probation
• Article 25, Grievance
• Article 26, System Board

After exchanging proposals, we reached tentative agreements on four articles:

• Article 1, Purpose of Agreement. New language would require the Company to discuss any changes to the Agreement with the Union.
• Article 8, Seniority. A change in pronouns with no change in meaning.
• Article 10, Temporary Employees. New languages would require the Company to discuss with the Union the number of employees and the duration to be filled within the duty assignment. The language would protect current employees from being displaced as defined in the contract.
• Article 22, Probation. New language would allow members to bid when qualified.

Bargaining Update #2

10 OCT, 2022

Our CWA-IBT Association Bargaining Committee met with American Airlines management on October 4-6 in Dallas in our first round of bargaining for a new contract.

The American Airlines Committee included Lynn Vaughn, Director of Labor Relations; Jerry Glass, Chair; Linda Brochetti-Kirby, Labor Relations; Cindy Meister-Diaz, Labor Relations; John Kashchy, Airports; Maryam Ali, Reservations; Sarah Mahood, Premium Service; Ellen Perlioni, Legal Airport; and James Cespedes, Legal Reservations. We are now in bargaining at the same time as the Allied Pilots Association (APA) and the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA), who have been bargaining since the start of the pandemic.

In this first round, our union presented proposals on:

Article 1, Purpose

Article 3, Recognition & Scope

Article 5, Hours of Service

Article 6, Customer Service Overtime

Article 7, Reservations Overtime

Article 10, Temporary Employees

Article 17, Leaves of Absence

Article 22, Probation

Article 23, Uniforms

Article 25, Grievances

Article 26, System Board

Article 30, Safety

The company responded to Articles 1, 10, 17, and 30. However, no agreements were reached.

CWA-IBT Association Bargaining Update #1

20 SEP, 2022

Bargaining between the CWA-IBT Association and American Airlines will kick off on October 4th, 5th, and 6th in Dallas.

In preparation for bargaining, our CWA-IBT Association Bargaining Committees have been meeting throughout the summer. They went through an intense negotiations training in Dallas in June. And over the past several weeks, they've been analyzing members' responses to the bargaining survey. The bargaining proposals that they will bring to the table are based on those survey responses.

The CWA Bargaining Committee includes:
Tom Gunning (BOS), President, CWA Local 1171
Tony Abrams (MIA), Executive Board Representative, CWA Local 3146
Quesaun Naugle (Chicago), President, CWA Local 4201
Tammy Scott (Reservations), President, CWA Local 3642 (Raleigh, NC)
James Womack (Reservations), CWA Local 6001 (Dallas, TX)

The IBT Bargaining Committee includes:
Tara Kelly (LAX)
Lynn Koch (PHX Res)