Recently, American Airlines started notifying Employees of awarded transfers electronically through e-mail or on Jetnet. Some members found out that their transfer rights have been suspended for 12 months due to not accepting a station transfer they were awarded, but they had not seen a notification of the award. When a TWU officer gets involved they are told the company notified the member electronically. This means the company e-mailed your supervisor and he was supposed to print it off and hand it to you. Many times this has not happened and caused major confusion. The good news is, there are openings across the system. Transfers and upgrades are taking place as you read this. The bad news is, if you have multiple transfers in place your last choice may be the first to be awarded and this will not allow you your first choice. You should only put in a transfer request that you are willing to accept so you will not be be locked out of transferring for one year. Be sure to check Jetnet regularly if you have requested a 12L transfer especially if you are in the top 5 on the list. Although we have only included article 12L below the same issues affect 12M upgrades and it would be wise to read all of Article12 concerning Promotions and Jobs to be posted.
Article 12 PROMOTIONS AND JOBS TO BE POSTED
(l) An employee may request a transfer from one station to another to fill a regular full time or part time vacancy not subject to bidding, provided that the employee’s qualifications are sufficient for the conduct of the work to which he is to be assigned. All transfers for Title II vacancies at all stations will be posted and filled within the appropriate craft classification. After the provisions of Article 46 (One Station Agreement)
or the TUL/AFW Transfer Process, if applicable, have been exhausted, the employee will be permitted to transfer before a new employee is hired at that station, provided:
(1) he has a minimum of six (6) months’ service with the Company,
(2) he has submitted a written request for transfer to his supervisor not less than fifteen (15) calendar days prior to transfer date or, in the event the Automated Bid and Transfer system is operational in all stations system wide, requests for transfer will not be less than two (2) calendar days prior to his transfer date.
(3) he has not completed or refused a transfer within the twelve (12) month period preceding the transfer date.
(4) each January 1 and July 1 a request for transfer not submitted within the preceding thirty (30) calendar days will be voided and it will be necessary for a new request to be submitted,
(5) a vacancy created by the transfer of an employee may be filled by the Company at its option,
(6) The Company will, upon granting an employee’s request for transfer, furnish space-available transportation of the employee affected and for the members of his immediate family, to the extent permitted by law, from the station from which he is transferring to the station to which he is transferring. Other expenses incident to such transfer will be borne by the employee.
(7) A copy of each request for transfer from one station to another will be furnished to the ranking local Union Representative at the station to which a transfer is being requested. Crew Chiefs and Inspectors will be permitted under this paragraph to transfer to an appropriate non-bid classification in their Occupational Title Group.