Thursday, December 10, 2015

American Airlines, labor union negotiations set to begin

TULSA, Okla. — 
Quick Facts:

  • Negotiations between American Airlines, two labor unions are set to begin in January
  • The groups met to to discuss the future of the workforce first on Dec. 3
  • The negotiations are expected to last for three weeks

Intense negotiations between American Airlines and two labor unions, representing its national workforce of mechanics, are set to take place for three weeks in mid-January 2016.

The Transport Workers Union and International Association of Machinists met with American officials for the first time to discuss the future of the airlines 30,000 person workforce on Dec. 3.

FOX23 was told the meeting was primarily to introduce corporate officials with union officials and lay out initial terms, but in a document obtained by FOX23 of the schedule for future negotiations, the union reported that airline officials did not present their initial terms and conditions at the original meeting.

The three weeks of negotiations should lead to a work contract that will bring U.S. Airways mechanics and American Airlines mechanics under one contract, and it would allow U.S. Airways planes to be repaired at the maintenance base at Tulsa International Airport, which is currently not allowed.

The airline told FOX23 earlier this month that they want to give mechanics a pay increase, and they are committed to keeping the Tulsa base open and even bringing more work to it under the new American Airlines.

American is Tulsa’s third largest employer, and mechanics are the final group to be merged together under the newly merged airline’s operations.

FOX23 has obtained a copy of the TWU/IAM’s proposals, and we’ll break down what the mechanics are asking the airline to provide under a new contract on FOX23 News at 9.
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