June 19^th, 2007

Brothers and Sisters,      

   It’s been approximately 18 months since we’ve taken office, and I am proud of the hard work the officers, executive board, station chairmen, shop stewards and EAP representatives have done representing our membership. Whether it’s assisting individuals whose contractual rights have been violated, questions on benefits or personal matters the membership of this local have entrusted us in representing them.

     As you are aware, Transport Worker Union International President Jim Little announced earlier in the year that due to the success that your hard work has brought to American Airlines it is time for the company to share the wealth. To this end we will start negotiating amendments to our contract beginning November 7^th of this year.

     The preparation process for negotiations began the week of April 23-27^th, 2007. The TWU Negotiation Team met in Irving, Texas and the team consisted of Local Presidents and Representative from each respective Title and Contract group. The training was conducted by International education director Bob Wexler, of the National Labor College of Baltimore Maryland, June McMahon and Joaquinn Calderon from the Labor Education & Research Center of UCLA and Lynn Feekin from the University of Oregon. The training consisted of Negotiations Strategy and tactics, mock sessions of actual contract language, and negotiations strategy and techniques. Additionally, a complete review of the TWU-ATD Policy and Rules for Contract Negotiations was covered. The team’s next meeting was scheduled for the week of May 14^th-18^th, 2007 in the members from each local. Each Committee then assigned priorities to each proposal and ranked them by article. This process was very time consuming but after careful review each Committee presented their prioritized proposals to the full negotiating Committee.

     The Team’s last training session was the week of June 11^th- 15^th, 2007 again in Irving, Texas. The training was conducted by June McMahon from the UCLA Center for Research and Education and Walter Pearson from Simpson College; he has negotiation experience (negotiated 400 contracts). The training session consisted of Note Taking-Proposal Writing and also a presentation was given by John Donnelly of ECLAT on the Industry (update) and Contract Costing. The next scheduled training session will take place the week of August 6^th, 2007.

      It’s up to each and every one of us to do our part. “It’s time that we are all accountable and realize what is at stake”. “What will it take to prevail”?  The contract is amendable April 30^th, 2008. There are things we won’t be able to control such as the global economy, cost of fuel or war, but there is one thing we can control is our willingness and readiness for what it will take to regain what was taken from us in 14 days ( 2003 concessionary contract).

            “Getting a good contract isn’t everything, it’s the only thing”

     Also, as a reminder as in past negotiations rumors will mostly likely be circulating. If this is the case and you have concerns to what is being communicated, I suggest you contact your local union official.

                                   “UNITED WE STAND”
                             “DIVIDED WE FALL”

In solidarity,

John Iuliano

President, local 562