American Airlines
MAINTENANCE AND ENGINEERING CENTER
Mr. Robert Gless
International Representative
Transport Workers Union of America, AFL-CIO
1791 Hurstview Drive
Hurst, TX 76054
March 10, 2004
Intl TWU - 29d - Aircraft Maintenance Overseas
Dear Bobby,
This is to confirm our understanding regarding full and final settlement of the 29(d)
presidential grievance (M-2672-02) which addresses scheduled work performed at
stations located outside the United States.
The issue in this case involved American Airlines scheduling and performing aircraft
maintenance on the Company's aircraft at International stations rather than Domestic
stations staffed by AA/TWU represented Aviation Maintenance Technicians (AMTs).
In the interest of resolving this matter the Company is willing to commit to the following
on a prospective basis:
1. Scheduled "check" work: Continue to perform all "B" and "C" (MBV) checks at
the U.S. domestic stations with AA/TWU represented AMTs.
2. Scheduled "A" checks: Continue to perform all "A" checks at U.S. domestic
stations with AA/TWU represented AMTs, except for those "A" checks at an
International station that are required by the Federal Aviation Administration to allow
the aircraft to proceed to a Domestic station. Currently those are scheduled at LHR,
EZE, GYE, PTY and UIO.
3. With respect to Engineering Change Orders (ECO) and Fleet Campaign
Directives (FCD), Airworthiness Directives (AD) and Fleet Modifications, the
Company will commit to scheduling and having those accomplished within the
Domestic stations by AA /TWU represented AMTs, where they are staffed, so long
as the Company has ample lead-time to schedule within the Domestic U.S. and the
time frame for completion allows the work to be scheduled within the domestic
United States. In the event that there is insufficient time, the Company will utilize the
available time of the aircraft at the International station to complete the necessary
work. The Company commits to notifying the International TWU prior to the
commencement of such work.
Page 2
International TWU
March 10, 2004
4. With respect to Special Items Cards (SIC), the Company will commit to scheduling and
having those accomplished within the Domestic stations by AA/TWU represented AMTs
where they are staffed, so long as the Company has ample lead time to schedule within
the domestic United States. In the event that there is insufficient time to complete
necessary work, SIC cards may be performed overseas but will not reduce the
frequency of Domestic U.S. SIC scheduling. The Company commits to notifying the
International TWU prior to the commencement of such work.
The above is the Company's good faith commitment to retain as much scheduled aircraft
maintenance work at TWU represented Domestic stations, while still maintaining the
flexibility needed to perform work overseas at stations staffed by AA Aircraft Maintenance
Technicians (not represented by the TWU). If the overseas requirements change, the
Company will discuss those changes with the International in an effort to seek a mutually
acceptable solution prior to implementing such a change. In both cases, it further supports
our commitment to keep aircraft maintenance work in-house, being performed by AA /TWU
represented AMTs.
Sincerely,
________________________
Danny Martinez
Vice President, Line Maintenance
Agreed to:
________________________
Robert Gless
International Representative
Transport Workers Union of America
cc: R. Reding
M&E Vice Presidents
J. Brundage
J. Little
G. Yingst
M. Tinsman
ER Principals
TWU WINS NEW RESTRICTIONS
ON FOREIGN MAINTENANCE
What did they win? NOTHING! Committ, try, attempt, nothing concrete and what happens if they violate it? What happens if they dont notify the union?
Line Stations and Bases Keep Work In-house
The TWU is the first union in the airline industry to win new restrictions on the
outsourcing of foreign maintenance. On March 10, 2004, the TWU settled a
grievance with American Airlines that requires that:
• All B-checks and C-checks be performed in-house by TWU members.
Oh really? And how many B and C checks were done by foreign woirkers prior to this victory? None. The fact is that many of these Foreign workers earn much more than we do with better benifits, more vacation, holidays and no union!
• All A-checks must be performed in the United States by TWU members
unless federal regulations require that work be performed overseas in
order that the aircraft continue to operate safely.
Isnt that the claim that we have heard all along as to why A checks were being done overseas?
This is a major victory for the TWU that benefits our members at line stations as
well as overhaul bases. While other airlines like Northwest and United are
farming out more and more maintenance overseas and domestically, the TWU is
protecting our membership by requiring that this work be performed in the U.S.
by TWU represented employees.
Actually nothing has changed. The critcal word that is missing throughout this whole settlement is "shall". Commit is a very weak, nearly unenforcable word, they could has just as easily put in should. We have language that says that the company commits to having as many people as possible with the weekend off, but here at JFK with over 400 mechanics only a handful has weekends off. We have similar language regarding the holidays yet the company has already declared that all line workers will be assigned to work.
This grievance was successfully negotiated by Representative Robert Gless and
was aggressively pursued by Local 565 President Don Videtich. The settlement
strengthens the contractual requirements under our scope clause. As a result, all
scheduled maintenance will now be performed by TWU members in the U.S.
unless FARs requires that the work be performed overseas in order for the
aircraft to safely return home. Brothers Gless and Videtich deserve great credit
for successfully pursuing this settlement.
This is nothing more than a charade. The company is merely agreeing to a meaningless agreement in order to fluff up their lapdog union.Does the company now recognize this as outsourced work or is it all still considered in house?
This agreement reflects management’s recognition that TWU members are the
most qualified mechanics in the world to do this work.
If any work does come back it is more than likely due to the fact that we work for less. I never thought I would see the day when foreigners look at Americans as the third world country that works for less. But thats what we get with the TWU or Third World Union.
This also indicates that
management is acknowledging our contributions to the airline since entering
into the restructuring agreement last year.
TWU: Keeping Our Work In-house
So what contribution did Gless make 17.5% of the company check while also collecting a check from the International? As for Don, he probably just wants what Bobby's got.
MAINTENANCE AND ENGINEERING CENTER
Mr. Robert Gless
International Representative
Transport Workers Union of America, AFL-CIO
1791 Hurstview Drive
Hurst, TX 76054
March 10, 2004
Intl TWU - 29d - Aircraft Maintenance Overseas
Dear Bobby,
This is to confirm our understanding regarding full and final settlement of the 29(d)
presidential grievance (M-2672-02) which addresses scheduled work performed at
stations located outside the United States.
The issue in this case involved American Airlines scheduling and performing aircraft
maintenance on the Company's aircraft at International stations rather than Domestic
stations staffed by AA/TWU represented Aviation Maintenance Technicians (AMTs).
In the interest of resolving this matter the Company is willing to commit to the following
on a prospective basis:
1. Scheduled "check" work: Continue to perform all "B" and "C" (MBV) checks at
the U.S. domestic stations with AA/TWU represented AMTs.
2. Scheduled "A" checks: Continue to perform all "A" checks at U.S. domestic
stations with AA/TWU represented AMTs, except for those "A" checks at an
International station that are required by the Federal Aviation Administration to allow
the aircraft to proceed to a Domestic station. Currently those are scheduled at LHR,
EZE, GYE, PTY and UIO.
3. With respect to Engineering Change Orders (ECO) and Fleet Campaign
Directives (FCD), Airworthiness Directives (AD) and Fleet Modifications, the
Company will commit to scheduling and having those accomplished within the
Domestic stations by AA /TWU represented AMTs, where they are staffed, so long
as the Company has ample lead-time to schedule within the Domestic U.S. and the
time frame for completion allows the work to be scheduled within the domestic
United States. In the event that there is insufficient time, the Company will utilize the
available time of the aircraft at the International station to complete the necessary
work. The Company commits to notifying the International TWU prior to the
commencement of such work.
Page 2
International TWU
March 10, 2004
4. With respect to Special Items Cards (SIC), the Company will commit to scheduling and
having those accomplished within the Domestic stations by AA/TWU represented AMTs
where they are staffed, so long as the Company has ample lead time to schedule within
the domestic United States. In the event that there is insufficient time to complete
necessary work, SIC cards may be performed overseas but will not reduce the
frequency of Domestic U.S. SIC scheduling. The Company commits to notifying the
International TWU prior to the commencement of such work.
The above is the Company's good faith commitment to retain as much scheduled aircraft
maintenance work at TWU represented Domestic stations, while still maintaining the
flexibility needed to perform work overseas at stations staffed by AA Aircraft Maintenance
Technicians (not represented by the TWU). If the overseas requirements change, the
Company will discuss those changes with the International in an effort to seek a mutually
acceptable solution prior to implementing such a change. In both cases, it further supports
our commitment to keep aircraft maintenance work in-house, being performed by AA /TWU
represented AMTs.
Sincerely,
________________________
Danny Martinez
Vice President, Line Maintenance
Agreed to:
________________________
Robert Gless
International Representative
Transport Workers Union of America
cc: R. Reding
M&E Vice Presidents
J. Brundage
J. Little
G. Yingst
M. Tinsman
ER Principals
TWU WINS NEW RESTRICTIONS
ON FOREIGN MAINTENANCE
What did they win? NOTHING! Committ, try, attempt, nothing concrete and what happens if they violate it? What happens if they dont notify the union?
Line Stations and Bases Keep Work In-house
The TWU is the first union in the airline industry to win new restrictions on the
outsourcing of foreign maintenance. On March 10, 2004, the TWU settled a
grievance with American Airlines that requires that:
• All B-checks and C-checks be performed in-house by TWU members.
Oh really? And how many B and C checks were done by foreign woirkers prior to this victory? None. The fact is that many of these Foreign workers earn much more than we do with better benifits, more vacation, holidays and no union!
• All A-checks must be performed in the United States by TWU members
unless federal regulations require that work be performed overseas in
order that the aircraft continue to operate safely.
Isnt that the claim that we have heard all along as to why A checks were being done overseas?
This is a major victory for the TWU that benefits our members at line stations as
well as overhaul bases. While other airlines like Northwest and United are
farming out more and more maintenance overseas and domestically, the TWU is
protecting our membership by requiring that this work be performed in the U.S.
by TWU represented employees.
Actually nothing has changed. The critcal word that is missing throughout this whole settlement is "shall". Commit is a very weak, nearly unenforcable word, they could has just as easily put in should. We have language that says that the company commits to having as many people as possible with the weekend off, but here at JFK with over 400 mechanics only a handful has weekends off. We have similar language regarding the holidays yet the company has already declared that all line workers will be assigned to work.
This grievance was successfully negotiated by Representative Robert Gless and
was aggressively pursued by Local 565 President Don Videtich. The settlement
strengthens the contractual requirements under our scope clause. As a result, all
scheduled maintenance will now be performed by TWU members in the U.S.
unless FARs requires that the work be performed overseas in order for the
aircraft to safely return home. Brothers Gless and Videtich deserve great credit
for successfully pursuing this settlement.
This is nothing more than a charade. The company is merely agreeing to a meaningless agreement in order to fluff up their lapdog union.Does the company now recognize this as outsourced work or is it all still considered in house?
This agreement reflects management’s recognition that TWU members are the
most qualified mechanics in the world to do this work.
If any work does come back it is more than likely due to the fact that we work for less. I never thought I would see the day when foreigners look at Americans as the third world country that works for less. But thats what we get with the TWU or Third World Union.
This also indicates that
management is acknowledging our contributions to the airline since entering
into the restructuring agreement last year.
TWU: Keeping Our Work In-house
So what contribution did Gless make 17.5% of the company check while also collecting a check from the International? As for Don, he probably just wants what Bobby's got.
