American Airlines

AA/TWU
Agreements

Fleet Service/Stores/Technical Specialist/Dispatchers/
Simulator Technicians/Instructors/Meteorologists

Joint Committee

Comprehensive Restructuring Proposal

 

 

 

AA Negotiating Committee

March 3, 2003

 

Introduction

 

The following proposal is intended to restructure the AA/TWU labor agreements consistent with the Company’s Business plan.

•       The proposal is being provided to the TWU under the following assumptions:

     

      1)      The TWU financial advisors/consultants have concluded that the Company requires the $620 million relief from the AA/TWU           agreements as part of the total $1.8 billion steady state savings in order for our Company to survive and sustain its viability.

      2)      Elimination of the system job/station protection provisions.

      3)      All wage and workrule proposals will be effective DOS.

      4)      All wage and workrule proposals will exclude “grandfathering” rights.

      5)      Article 11 modified to delete QAM reference.  Administration under sole jurisdiction of the Company.

      6)      Each proposal applies to all the AA/TWU agreements represented by the Joint Committee, unless noted by referencing a specific agreement.

     

 

The following savings values are not additive in every case.

 

Total savings require a roll-up adjustment for wage/benefit reductions.  Total savings will require adjustment to reflect double count between items.

 

Prelude to Joint proposals

 

•       In the interest of long term stability within the Fleet Service Clerk and other TWU classifications represented by the Joint Committee, the Company is proposing the following restructuring of the applicable AA/TWU labor agreements. 

 

•       The proposal is intended to be competitive as it relates to wages and work rules not only within the airline industry, but also with outside vendors who perform various Fleet Service and/or Cabin Service work. 

 

•       In addition, the proposal contains necessary restructuring for the other AA/TWU agreements that will allow American Airlines to be competitive and to survive and sustain its viability for the long term. 

 

•       Many of the wage and work rule proposals are intended to accomplish the above, however, the Company recognizes that there are alternatives contained within the proposal for many of the various wage and work rules with the overall objective of reaching the $620 million target for all TWU represented employees.

 



 


 

 Article 1 - Recognition and Scope

 

•       Propose restructuring of the agreement as follows:

      For the Fleet Service agreement:

 

•       Outsource all cabin cleaning                                                                    $ 48.7 MM

 

•       Outsource the AA/AE transfer driver function                                      $ 6.1 MM

 

•       Outsource non-hub cargo operations                                                    $ 5.6 MM

 

•       Outsource aircraft fueling                                                                         $ 3.8 MM

 

•       Outsource container/tub movers and interline transfers                  $ 1.8 MM

 

•       Outsource bus driving at LAX and ORD                                  $ 1.0 MM


Article 1 Recognition and Scope

 

•       Propose restructuring of the agreement as follows:

      For the Fleet Service agreement:

 

•       Increase station outsourcing up to 40 daily departures                    $ 110.5 MM

      or     

•       Increase station outsourcing up to 30 daily departures                    $ 88.5 MM

      or

•       Increase station outsourcing up to 25 daily departures                    $ 68.6 MM

      or

•       Increase station outsourcing up to 15 daily departures                    $ 26.8 MM

 

 Article 4 – Compensation

 

•       Propose the following competitive pay rates & premiums:

      For all TWU agreements represented by the Joint Committee:

 

•       Reduce the “chart” rates for all TWU classifications by  1%*          $10.0 MM**

 

•       Eliminate payment of longevity pay                                                         $7.4 MM

 

•       Eliminate C/C premium when not working in C/C capacity                $0.5 MM

 

 

*  Includes variable benefits for 2003 plan

** Each 1% reduction is equivalent to $10.0 MM


Article 4 - Compensation

 

•       Propose the following competitive pay rates and premiums:

      For the Stores agreement:

 

•       Eliminate D1 Driver pay                                                                               $0.3 MM

 

•       Eliminate weekend premium at the Maintenance bases                   $0.3 MM

 

Article 5 - Shift Differential

 

•       Propose restructuring of the agreement as follows:

       For all TWU agreements represented by the Joint Committee:

 

•       Eliminate all shift differential pay                                                             $16.5 MM

      or

•       Pay only for hours actually worked within the shift differential

      window.  Ex: Emp. A: 0430-1300 shift; pay 1.5 hrs. for period

      from 0430-0559.                                                                                           $TBD

      and/or                                                                                                             

•       Pay shift differential only for hours actually worked.  Ex: shift

      differential not paid for VC/SK/HO or other paid time

      not worked.                                                                                                    $1.9 MM

      and/or

•       Modify Shift 4 to 1700 - 0459                                                                     $2.5 MM

 

 Article 6 – Overtime

 

•       Propose restructuring of the agreement as follows:

       For all TWU agreements represented by the Joint Committee:

 

•       Elimination of the overtime meal allowance                                         $1.2 MM                                                                               

•       Modify penalty hour to pay for actual time worked at 1.5X               $2.4 MM                               

•       Employees must physically work 40 hours in a week                       

      before being eligible for 1.5X premium                                                  $TBD                     

•       Eliminate 2.0X overtime rate; all OT paid @ 1.5X rate                        $1.9 MM                               

 

Article 7 - Holidays

 

•       Propose restructuring of the agreement as follows:

       For all TWU agreements represented by the Joint Committee:

 

•       Reduce number of paid holidays                                                              $4.4 MM

      and/or                                                                                      (per holiday)

•       Reduce the premium paid for working on a holiday from

      2.5X to 2.0X                                                                                                    $15.8 MM

      and/or

•       Modify Article 7 to eliminate the rolling of the “observed” holiday,

      pay HO for holiday that falls on day off or during vacation                $3.9 MM

 

 Article 8 - Vacations

 

•       Propose restructuring of the agreement as follows:

       For all TWU agreements represented by the Joint Committee:

 

•       Reduce vacation accrual to a maximum of 5 weeks                          $5.1 MM

 

Article 17 - Leaves of Absence

 

•       Propose restructuring of the agreement as follows:

       For all TWU agreements represented by the Joint Committee:

 

•       Eliminate UBP - All Union business coded to UB or UBC    $1.4 MM

 

•       Discontinue Company subsidized medical benefits for                     $0.8 MM

      SKLOA after 12 months on leave

 

Article 19 - Termination of Employment

 

•       Propose restructuring of the agreement as follows:

       For all TWU agreements represented by the Joint Committee:

 

•       Elimination of the continuation of benefits for furloughed

      employees (prospective)                                                                           $207/emp./month

 

Article 25 - Recall and Call In Work

 

•       Propose restructuring of the agreement as follows:

       For all TWU agreements represented by the Joint Committee:

 

•       Eliminate 2 hour guarantee for call in and pay for actual time

      worked at appropriate overtime rates                                                   $1.2 MM

 

 

 


 

Article 27 – General

 

•       Propose restructuring of the agreement as follows:

       For all TWU agreements represented by the Joint Committee:

 

•       Eliminate Company paid cleaning of uniforms                                     $0.2 MM

 

•       Reduce provisioning of uniforms to 6 sets (non-contractual)          $0.2 MM

 

Article 34 - Sick Leave

 

•       Propose restructuring of the agreement as follows:

       For all TWU agreements represented by the Joint Committee:

 

•       Eliminate 80-day salary continuance for IOD occurrences               $14.3 MM

 

•       Provide alternatives to SK accrual and % of sick benefit pay:

      Ex:   

–     5 days accrual/yr pay @ 100%                                                           $7.2 MM

     maintain current maximum

or

–     12 days accrual/yr pay @ 70%                                                           $14.1 MM

     maintain current maximum

or

–     12 days accrual/yr pay @ 50%                                                           $19.4 MM

     maintain current maximum

 

Article 36 - Meal Periods

 

•       Propose restructuring of the agreement as follows:

       For all TWU agreements represented by the Joint Committee:

 

•       Eliminate the penalty lunch provision                                                     $5.4 MM

 

Article 37 - Severance Allowance

 

•       Propose restructuring of the agreement as follows:

       For all TWU agreements represented by the Joint Committee:

 

•       Modify severance allowance                                                   

 

 Article 40 - Retirement Benefits 

 

•       Standardize Retirement Plans across all employee

      groups                                                                                                             $9.0 MM*

 

•       Propose restructuring of the agreement as follows:

       For all TWU agreements represented by the Joint Committee:

 

•       Freeze the existing defined benefit plan for both pay and service

 

•       Employee would have an option on a one time basis of either:

 

•       Prospectively replace the defined benefit plan with a 5.25% cash balance plan

–     Accounts will receive a fixed rate return equal to the 30 year treasury rate

 or

•       Prospectively replace the defined benefit plan with a 401(k) match at 5.5%

 

*  Value for all TWU represented employees

 


 

Article 41 - Medical Benefits 

 

•       Standardize all Medical Plans across all employee groups 

 

Active Medical

 

Replace current plans with the following employee choices:

–     POS-like plan (high cost, high coverage plan)

–     PPO-like plan (medium cost, medium coverage plan)

–     Catastrophic plan (low cost, low coverage plan)

–     HMO plan, where feasible

 

•       Medical maximum benefit for active employees $1MM

 

•       Modify active medical company contributions to national average (presently 80%)

–     Company subsidy based on PPO plan value

*    employee contribution to make up difference

 

•       Change contribution structure to 4 tiers (from current 3 tiers)

Employee plus 2; Employee plus 3 or more

 

Article 41 - Retiree Medical

 

•       Standardize all Medical Plans across all employee groups

•       Employee portion of Pre-funding plan accounts refunded

 

Retiree Medical  Under 65

 

•       For prospective Retirees only - Company will determine changes for prior retirees

•       Plan design same as Active employees

•       Modify retiree medical contributions by the company to national average (presently 60%)

–     Company subsidy based on PPO plan value

*    employee contribution to make up difference

 

Retiree Medical Over 65

 

•       Modify medical plan design to provide only prescription drug coverage

•       Modify contributions by the Company to national average (presently 25%)

 

Article 41- Dental Benefits

 

•       Standardize all Medical/Dental Plans across all employee groups

 

 Active Dental

 

•       Eliminate 2002 Dental Plan enhancements

–     100% Preventative coverage (to 80%)

–     Adult Orthodontia coverage (eliminate)

–     Individual plan maximum reduced from $1500 to $1000

–     Child orthodontia reduced from $1500 to $1000 lifetime maximum

 

•       Remove cash back options

 

•       Reduce Company subsidy for Active Dental coverage from 87% to national average of 75% for employee and dependents

 

•       Change to 4 tier contributions (from current 3 tier)

      (same as medical plan above)

 

Article 42 - Job Security

 

•       Propose restructuring of the agreement as follows:

       For all TWU agreements represented by the Joint Committee:

 

•       Elimination of the system job/station protection provisions            

 

 

Article 43 - Part Time Employees

 

•       Propose restructuring of the agreement as follows:

      For the Fleet Service Agreement

 

•       Eliminate provision to offer OT to FT prior to PT                   $3.0 MM

 

•       Eliminate PT cap restriction (Aggregate and Stand alone)               $6.4 MM


Article 44 - Moving Expenses/Optional Severance
For Protected Employees

 

•       Propose restructuring of the agreement as follows:

       For all TWU agreements represented by the Joint Committee:

 

•       Eliminate Article 44 consistent with the change in Article 42         

 

 

Article 46 - Duration of Agreement 

 

•       Propose restructuring of the agreement as follows:

       For all TWU agreements represented by the Joint Committee:

 

•       Modify the duration clause to reflect an amendable date of 3/1/08

 

Miscellaneous

 

•       Propose restructuring of the agreement as follows:

       For all TWU agreements represented by the Joint Committee:

 

•       Selection of the most qualified Crew Chief by interview panel (Article 11,12)

 

•       Eliminate premium pay for travel time to training (Article 23)

 

•       Technical Specialists - Pay for before and after shift training at straight time (Article 23(b))

 

•       Eliminate pay increases when downgrading positions (Article 27)

 

•       Fully cross-utilize, as the operation requires, between all classifications and Title groups (Article 11) with the TWU’s cooperation

–     AMT’s for aircraft parking

 

Miscellaneous

 

•       Eliminate short turn penalty driven by shift bid or rotation (Art 21)

 

•       Remove time limitations on Temporary Employees (Article 35(a))

 

•       Number of RIF’d employees will be equal to the sum of the

      vacancies plus the employees targeted for displacement              

      and

•       The juniority list will be resized on a one for one basis when an

      employee fails to receive a displacement option for any reason (Art 15)

 

 


 

Dispatch, Instructors, and Tech Specialists

 

•       Propose restructuring of the agreement as follows:

      For the Dispatch/Metro agreement:

•       Eliminate Dispatcher debrief pay                                                             $0.6 MM

 

•       Change work work rig to 5:2                                                                     $0.2 MM

 

      For the Instructor agreement:

•       “W” days may be moved at the discretion of the Company              $0.5 MM

 

      For the Tech Specialist agreement:

•       Eliminate Tech Specialist debrief pay                                                     $0.2 MM

 

•       Change Tech Specialist work rig to 5:2                                                  $0.1 MM

 

•       Reclassify MOC Tech Specialist to a Title I Tech Crew Chief

      classification and reduce rate of pay                                                     $0.4 MM*

* Included in Mechanic and related pg. 16

 

 

Dispatch, Instructors, and Tech Specialists

 

•       Propose restructuring of the agreement as follows:

 

•       Reduce all license premium, skill premium and occupational

      premium by 10%                                                                                           $0.3 MM

–     Technical Specialists

–     Simulator Technicians

–     Ground School Instructors

–     Flight Engineer Instructors

–     Pilot Simulator Instructors

–     Dispatchers

–     Ops Coordinators

–     Meteorologists