Dear Sisters and Brothers:

Our contract votes are in, and now we must re-start the contract campaign. We will continue to push forward to secure an equitable agreement, to be recognized for our sacrifices, and most importantly to stop the continuing erosion of the future of all airline professionals.

Our next steps must be initiated immediately.  I have asked the ATD to call for an urgent meeting of the entire team to develop a renewed strategic plan.   

While the team will help design our campaign, there are four changes I am instituting now until we can fully review the current negotiating structure at AA.

1.There will be two equal co-chairs of the team, one from ATD staff and another elected by the team. This hopefully avoids much of the miscommunications we are currently experiencing.

2.The co-chairs will BOTH attend their meetings with the company and the NMB with no exceptions.

3.We will also make sure that every member of the negotiating team is fully engaged in the process and demonstrates their ability to get real time information to our members at the drop of a hat. As an example: having dedicated team captains in the field to disseminate the information directly from the negotiating committee.

4.I have asked the ATD to provide additional electronic communications sent out as the “Contract Connection” after every negotiating session. Regardless of how you voted, the time is now to be more united than ever. The company may be counting on us to fight one another and destroy ourselves from within; I can assure you that will not happen unless you and I allow it to happen.

Again, now that the membership has spoken, we must put the past behind us and come together and speak with ONE VOICE with the ultimate goal to get the best contract we can for our members.

The ride is not going to be easy, but we are in this together for as long as it takes. It is a proven fact that ‘United We Stand, Divided We Fall”.

In solidarity and fraternally,

James C. Little
International President

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Transport Workers Union of America announces that a four year tentative agreement has been reached with Horizon Air Industries and its Flight Dispatchers represented by TWU Local 542.  Local 542 President John E. Plowman said "This agreement provides surety and certainty regarding wages, working conditions and hours of work for a meaningful period of time."

Specific details of the Tentative Agreement will be discussed in upcoming membership meetings currently scheduled to take place in early September with a ballot ratification vote taking place in early October.

Press Release
If Ratified, 2,145 Transport Workers Union Members Will Gain
Structural Wage Increases and other Benefits

DALLAS – Negotiators for the Transport Workers Union (TWU) and American Eagle, a subsidiary of AMR, have reached a tentative agreement for a new four-year contract that includes structural longevity increases, signing bonuses and improvements in healthcare for part-time workers, among other improvements. The agreement, if approved by the union’s membership, would place Fleet Service Clerks at American Eagle among the highest paid fleet service workers employed at a regional carrier, ranked in the top three with comparable employees at Chautauqua and SkyWest. A ratification vote will likely be scheduled for mid-September.

Under the new agreement, a clerk with 12 years or more experience would earn $16 per hour. Workers with 4 to 11 years on the job would receive a $500 signing bonus, new employees would receive a $250 bonus. Crew Chiefs also would receive additional hourly increases, if ratified.

Fleet Service Clerks are responsible for loading and unloading cargo, as well as transporting cargo to and from the aircraft. American Eagle’s Fleet Service Clerks also clean and service cabin interiors. In addition to representing fleet workers, TWU represents approximately 4,000 workers at American Eagle, other TWU-represented work groups at the airline include Aircraft Mechanics, Ground Support Mechanics, Inventory Control Specialists, Ground School Instructors, and Flight Dispatchers. TWU represents more workers at American Airlines and American Eagle than any other union.

The Transport Workers Union of America (TWU) represents 200,000 workers and retirees, primarily in commercial aviation, public transportation and passenger railroads. The union is an affiliate of the AFL-CIO.

Unions Agree to Coordinate Aggressive Lobbying Program on Legislative Priorities Including Tightening Aircraft Maintenance Standards, Increased Pilot Training, Protecting Workers During Airline Bankruptcies

(Washington, DC July 27, 2010) – Three transportation organizations announced today the creation of a large aviation labor alliance to combine and coordinate lobbying efforts on airline safety and security. The American Aviation Labor Alliance (AALA) is a formal partnership of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT), the Transport Workers Union (TWU) and the Coalition of Airline Pilots Association (CAPA), which represent more than 140,000 aviation workers.

“The airline industry is under intense financial and competitive pressure and as a result, we believe that security and safety standards are being weakened, said TWU President James C. Little. “Combining our lobbying efforts will allow us to push for legislation that will insure both diligence and vigilance.”

“We are leading the fight that workers care about in the airline industry,” said Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa. “As the American Aviation Labor Alliance, we will speak on the most pressing aviation issues facing our membership and the public with one strong voice.”

“The 28,000 pilots of CAPA want to work with all labor organizations to enhance safety and improve the working conditions of airline employees across our industry,” said CAPA President Paul Onorato. “CAPA wants to help provide a flight plan for a successful commercial aviation industry in this country.”

The first task for the AALA will be passage of the FAA Reauthorization bill that Congress is expected to finish during the current session. This comprehensive aviation bill deals with a range of issues related to the FAA, including security and safety requirements for overseas repair bases, and rules related to pilot training. In addition to the FAA Reauthorization Bill, bankruptcy reform will be a major focus.

The new alliance is significant because the unions are affiliated with different labor federations or are independent, and they are joining forces to influence labor issues that affect their members and the airline industry as a whole. The AALA will continue to build alliances with other labor organizations in the future.


The Coalition of Airline Pilots Association is a trade association representing over 28,000 professional pilots. CAPA's purpose is to address safety, security, legislative and regulatory issues affecting the professional flight deck crew member on matters of common interest to the individual member unions. CAPA-affiliated unions represent pilots at American Airlines, US Airways, Southwest Airlines UPS, ABX Air, Atlas Air, Polar Air Cargo, Kalitta Air and Southern Air. More information can be found at http://www.capapilots.org
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents more than 1.4 million hardworking men and women in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, including more than 64,000 workers in the airline industry, including Atlas Air pilots, Continental ramp workers, United Airlines mechanics, and more. The Teamsters Union is affiliated with the Change to Win coalition. Visit http://www.Teamster.org to learn more.

Transport Workers Union of America represents 200,000 workers and retirees, primarily in commercial aviation, public transportation and passenger railroads, including the majority of ground workers at American Airlines, American Eagle and Southwest Airlines and dispatchers at most major carriers. The union is an affiliate of the AFL-CIO.

The year was 1942, James Cagney had won the Oscar for Best Actor in the film, "Yankee Doodle Dandy" and teenager Al Blackman began his career with American Airlines working at LaGuardia Airport in Queens, New York.

Blackman has worked for American for 68 years now; a front line participant in the technological evolution of aviation. As an Aircraft Maintenance Technician, Blackman worked on turbo prop aircraft, to the earliest versions of commercial jet engines. On July 16, AA management and TWU Local 562 members celebrated this milestone with a party for Brother Blackman at JFK International Airport. He has been number one on the AMT seniority roster longer than most AMT's have been alive. Blackman obviously has been blessed with good health and a great attitude. Congratulations for such a remarkable achievement.

The TWU Air Transport Division Working Women's Committee (ATDWWC) held their second meeting of the year on June 14, hosted by Local 568 President Sidney Jimenez at the local's union hall in Miami, Florida. Two new representatives, Angie Bell from Local 514 and Shannon Smith from Local 525, joined the 21 women in attendance from ATD locals across the country.

The Committees' primary goal is to mentor women for leadership roles in their locals and communities. By influencing change, they work hard to energize coworkers and educate them about workplace harassment and discrimination.

Guest speakers shared their experiences overcoming career obstacles. Libby Herrera-Navarette, a labor attorney for Local 568, who specializes in employment discrimination and sexual harassment litigation was one speaker who addressed the group. Patricia Ireland, also a labor attorney, and the president of the National Organization for Women (NOW), shared her experience working as a flight attendant for Pan American Airways before returning to school to earn a law degree. Ireland said that “back in those days” when the company offered family coverage only for men she turned to NOW for help, which is when her relationship with the organization began. Ireland holds honorary degrees from: The University of Western Massachusetts College of Law, The University of Rhode Island, Indiana University and Sweetbriar College. She is working on a second book to follow her 1996 political autobiography, What Women Want.

Other speakers: were Deborah Dion, Political Director for the South Florida AFL-CIO, who discussed the importance of local and national political campaigns. Dion explained the importance of the Paycheck Fairness Bill and asked WWC members to contact their state representatives in support of the bill. Maria Greco, a professional pilot, spoke to the ATDWWC about overcoming her family's objection to her earning a pilot's license at the age of sixteen. Greco started her own air charter business despite discrimination from male pilots and passengers that would not fly with a female pilot at the controls. Greco, now a mother of ten, is featured in a traveling exhibit of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum and in a book by Carolyn Russo; Women in Aviation.

Jeannie Driscoll, Managing Director of American Airlines Cargo in Miami also addressed the group.

Cope Director Alex Garcia extended an open invitation to WWC members to participate in TWU's State Conferences held across the country. International Organizer Steve Roberts gave an update on campaigns and history of Local 500, which was the first TWU Local in the new Air Transport Division, organized in 1945.

Several WWC members distributed leaflets on the benefits of unionism to Jet Blue flight attendants on the final day of the meeting at Fort Lauderdale International Airport.

Local 568 members Joyce Frissora and Gilda Brown Suluki presented the results of their research on skin cancer, and Sister Suluki gave an informative presentation on the treatment and prevention of the disease. Newcomer Angie Bell said, "I was truly amazed by the strength and power of the women in the room; I've never experienced so much sisterhood."

The next WWC meeting is scheduled for October 14-16 in Hurst, Texas. A community service project supporting the Susan G. Komen "Race for the Cure" is scheduled for October 16. For details go to www.atdwwc.org

Mechanics and Related Workers to Review Tentative Agreements Starting Today, Ballots Mailed July 26, Results Announced Aug. 24

DALLAS –Beginning today, the Transport Workers Union (TWU) will begin to distribute written copies of tentative agreements reached with AMR for Aviation Maintenance Technicians, Facility and Automotive Mechanics, Technical Specialists and Stock Clerks at American Airlines. The written copies of the tentative agreements will reach TWU Locals across the country over the next week.

Roughly 13,000 workers at American will participate in the ratification votes. Ballots will be mailed to TWU members July 26; results will be tabulated and announced by the American Arbitration Association on the afternoon of Aug. 24.

Ballot language to be considered by members of the three bargaining units reads simply:

• I VOTE TO ACCEPT

• I VOTE TO REJECT AND AUTHORIZE THE NEGOTIATING TEAM TO TAKE WHATEVER ACTION NECESSARY UP TO AND INCLUDING A STRIKE

“The language is simple, but these are not simple choices,” said Don Videtich TWU International Representative. ,“It wasn’t an easy choice for our bargaining committees to agree to these TA’s. However, after 30 long months of negotiations and careful consideration they voted to send these agreements out to members for a ratification vote.”

This tentative agreement, calls for signing bonuses, structural pay increases, increases to existing premium pay and other pay increases and maintains defined-benefit pension plans for all current TWU members, as well as retiree healthcare benefits, although active members 49 and under will no longer prefund for the retiree healthcare benefit, they will utilize their sick bank hours to fund their coverage. Improvements also were negotiated in holidays, sick leave, paid time-off among other contractual changes.

The membership also must consider work rule changes, a new mechanic classification, and available seat mile cap percentage changes. If ratified, new hires will have a defined-contribution pension plan. And, despite the wage increases, pay and benefits would not be fully restored to pre-2003 levels.

These improvements were made possible while maintaining aircraft overhaul work in-house (in the U.S.A) by skilled TWU labor, unlike other major airlines that send the bulk of their aircraft overhaul overseas for repairs.

Added Videtich, “Our members understand that this has been a difficult economic climate to negotiate in. Understanding the challenges, we have been able to reach TAs that include raises and other improvements. The members must decide if these negotiated agreements are acceptable. If the members do not want to ratify the TA that is their right. However, It also is important that everyone understand the full consequences and next steps entailed in a “no” vote.”



Transport Workers Union of America (TWU) represents 200,000 workers and retirees, primarily in commercial aviation, public transportation and passenger railroads. The union is an affiliate of the AFL-CIO. For more information visit http://www.twu.org

Press Release
DALLAS –Today, the Transport Workers Union of America (TWU) has asked its 13 union locals that represent fleet and ground service (Title III) workers to schedule strike votes during the month of July. Each local is to report the results of the balloting to the International union no later than July 30th. Each TWU local also has been asked to mobilize member strike committees and apply for picketing permits at all airports where American Airlines operates and in all cities where the local unions are based.

“If our members authorize a strike, we believe that we could be granted release by the National Mediation Board as early as September,” said Robert Gless Deputy Director of TWU’s Air Transport Division. Under the Railway Labor Act, the federal National Mediation Board (NMB) must grant permission to strike and certain other actions termed “self help.”

On June 28th, TWU declared that negotiations for fleet and ground workers were at an impasse.

Fleet and ground service workers handle baggage, clean aircraft, deice and fuel planes and move freight. While the bargaining process is at impasse for fleet service workers, voting on tentative agreements is moving forward for TWU-represented mechanics, technicians and workers who handle parts at American. Those pending agreements have different terms and do not have the same issues related to contracting –out work that has caused the breakdown in the fleet/ground service negotiations.

For further information contact:
Jamie Horwitz 202/549-4921
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Unresolved Issues That Led to Suspension of Ratification Process Earlier This Month has Now Created an Impasse

DALLAS --The Transport Workers Union of America (TWU), today has asked the federal National Mediation Board (NMB) to release the union from further mediation with American Airlines for fleet and ground service workers. Unresolved issues that led to a suspension of the contract ratification process on a tentative agreement earlier this month have now led to a complete breakdown in contract talks.

“We are now at an impasse with AMR,” said TWU International Administrative Vice President John Conley. “We no longer have a tentative agreement and no ballots will be presented to members for a ratification vote. We urge the NMB to promptly grant us release so that we can begin the self-help process.”

Conley, along with TWU International President James C. Little and TWU International Rep. Timothy J. Gilllespie, met with AMR officials and representatives of the NMB, including board member Harry Hoglander, at the labor board’s Washington offices earlier today to request release and to report on the total breakdown in reaching agreement with AMR for American’s fleet and ground service workers.

Fleet and ground service workers handle baggage, clean aircraft, deice and fuel planes and move freight. While the bargaining process is at impasse for fleet service workers, voting on tentative agreements is moving forward for TWU-represented mechanics, technicians and workers who handle parts at American. Those pending agreements have different terms and do not have the same issues related to contracting –out work that has caused the breakdown in the fleet/ground service tentative agreement.

For further information contact:
Jamie Horwitz 202/549-4921
(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

On June 25, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, rejected the Air Transport Association's (ATA) attempt to overturn new National Mediation Board (NMB) rules governing union elections.

"The court has made a just ruling that brings America's working families one step closer to fairer union elections," said TWU International President James C. Little.

On May 10, the NMB announced changes in union voting requirements under the Railway Labor Act that would bring greater democracy to workers in the air and rail industries. Just one week later, the ATA, composed of major U.S. air carriers, filed a legal challenge to the change, causing a delay in the effective date of the new rule.

"The deck has been stacked against workers for too long with many union elections being invalidated by unfair rules that required super majority participation – a standard found nowhere else in our democracy," said Edward Wytkind, President of the AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department. "The new rules put an end to the practice of counting all non-voting employees as ‘no’ votes."

The Transport Workers Union, which represents tens of thousands of people who work in the railroad and airline industries, applauds the NMB's decision to reject the ATA's proposal to overturn the new rules. The TWU have lost elections in the past due to the rigged elections in which non-voters counted as "no" votes.

"We are currently working to help employees of Jet Blue and Virgin America airlines organize to win the same rights that our members at Southwest, American and other air carriers experience today," said TWU Organizing Director Frank McCann. "We look forward to holding union elections at these airlines, where employees do not currently benefit from collective bargaining, under the new rules that will finally and rightfully look like every other election in our society where a simple majority prevails."

"This change decision was long overdue. But rather than mourn the injustices of the past, we're going celebrate justice for workers today and we're going to organize," said President Little.