Tentative contract agreements calling for 5 percent and 6 percent wage increases over three years have been reached between American Airlines and two Transport Workers Union work groups, company and union officials said Thursday.
The tentative contract agreements with the 80-member simulator technician work group and the 160-member ground school and simulator pilot instructor work group also include holiday enhancements, increases in vacation days and other benefits, union and company officials said.
Members of the two TWU work groups, most of whom are based at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, should receive copies of the tentative agreement in early August, union officials said. A ratification vote on the tentative agreements is expected in September, officials said.
American spokeswoman Missy Cousino said the tentative agreements were reached after collaborative negotiations between representatives of the company and the TWU.
“These tentative agreements provide our simulator technicians and ground school and simulator pilot instructors with market-based compensation, including structural increases, and enhancements to other contract items such as vacation and holidays,” Cousino said. “It is our understanding the TWU will provide details of the agreements and the voting process to its members in the coming days.”
Tim Gillespie, representative of the international division of the TWU, said the tentative agreements were reached after three years and eight months of negotiations.
Gillespie said other TWU work groups, including the mechanic and related group, 6,000 of which work at American’s Maintenance & Engineering Center in Tulsa, have significant issues to resolve in their contract negotiations with the company.
“There is considerably more work to do,” Gillespie said. “At the end of the day, it’s in members’ best interests to vote on something they think they can live with.”
Provisions of the tentative agreement reached between American and the ground school and simulator pilot instructors include:
- 2 percent wage increase on the day of contract signing.
- 1.5 percent wage increase 12 months after the day of signing.
- 1.5 percent wage increase 24 months after signing.
- Enhancements to premium pay.
- New profit sharing plan.
- Holidays increased from five to 10; holiday work pay increased from 1.5 times hourly rate to two times hourly rate.
- Vacation enhancements for employees with less than five years’ service: increase in accrued vacation days from five to 10.
Provisions of the tentative agreement reached by simulator technicians include:
- 2 percent lump sum signing bonus.
- 3 percent wage increase at contract signing.
- 1.5 percent wage increase 12 months after contract signing.
- 1.5 percent wage increase 24 months after signing.
- Shift pay differential enhancements.
- Holiday enhancements: from five to 10 days, and holiday work pay is at double time.
- Vacation days for employees with less than five years’ service can accrue up to 10 days.
SOURCE: Tulsa World