President:
This week I attended the Grievance Review Board at AA HDQ. I’m proud of the Eboard and Union stewards for getting a larger volume of grievances ready to go to the meeting. However, one thing is glaringly clear that I need to share with everyone. If you feel like you are bypassed for Overtime or a Field Trip, please immediately go print off or take a picture of the screen showing you were signed up. Without this one simple document, we will not be able to win the grievance.
As of today, the electronic bid system, found in Article 14.1 of your contract, has not violated anyone’s seniority. The officers have looked into a few instances where that was thought to be the case, but it turned out that the options were picked incorrectly or left blank. The officers have and will continue to make themselves available to help anyone who reaches out to them.
As always, I’m available 24/7 at 918-636-6089.
Take care
Vice President:
The April Membership meeting is Monday, the 28th.
7:15 am, 11:45 am, and 3:45 am
The May Membership meeting will be held on Monday, the 12th. This is a change from the calendar due to the upcoming election of Officers. The election committee will be taking nominations at this meeting. The election rules are posted on the Union bulletin board.
Grievance Update
As of today, Local 514 has a total of 1276 grievances.
We are still having issues with information not being uploaded into a grievance. If you were bypassed, you must have proof that you were signed up to work the shift in question. You should also fill out a fact sheet that tells exactly what happened to cause the grievance of any kind.
Chairman of Material Logistics Specialist:
Headcount: We have 482 MLS on Base with 22 on LOA.
New Hires: 10 new hires will start on Monday. They will be placed in CMS, Shipping and Issuing.
External Hires: 2 offers made last week.
Bids & Transfers: No postings this weekend. CMS Crew Chief opening will be posted next week.
Grievances: We have 7 open grievances, 9 resolved last week, 15 resolved this month, and 53 resolved for the quarter.
Entertainment & Welfare: The family party will be on June 21st at the WE Street Center. We have Tulsa Driller Baseball tickets at the Hall, and the Tulsa Oilers Football starts in April.
Hats & Shirts: We have hats and shirts at the Hall. Stop by and get yours.
LTA’s: If you go see the LTA’s for a meeting, make sure you are verifying your absences. Some occurrences might just need to be recoded, and the points can be removed.
B.J. Rackers
(918) 346-8918
bjracker@twumail.org
Chairman of Facilities Maintenance:
I’ve attended all of my standing meetings, RO, supervisor, and TMA, in addition to several 32j meetings, predominantly over the lack of TMA timekeeping.
One of the men’s restrooms in the north turbine building has been vandalized recently, and Management is looking to install cameras to monitor activities.
I am working on camera locations and adding more PM’s for all trades to our metrics.
I plan on meeting with management on changing the PM’s on our engine stands.
I have also worked on grievances.
- Current headcount 318
- Headcount on LOA 9
- Actual headcount 309
We had several postings last week.
As always, feel free to contact me at any time.
Jim Holt
(918) 378-2079
JHolt@twumail.org
Executive Board Members at Large:
George Albano:
- The Hangars 1, 2, and 3 grievance meeting has moved to bi-weekly. The next meeting will be on Wednesday, April 30. I’m still waiting for several pay letters to be issued for grievances that have been agreed upon.
- Recent issues with smoking have led to increased security monitoring.
- Please remember that if you sign up for overtime (OT) and do not report for your scheduled shift, you will face disciplinary action from management. Furthermore, your absence creates a negative impact on your fellow union members.
- I’ve attended several 32Js for attendance & disciplinary purposes this month.
Benefits/401k
Starting May 16, 2025, 401 (k) members who are aged 60-63 will have the opportunity for a higher catch-up limit. Details are below:
- Increased catch-up limit:
- SECURE 2.0 provides an optional provision for a higher catch-up limit starting in 2025 for team members who are 60 – 63 by the end of the calendar year.
- Eligible in 2025 are those born between 1962 – 1965.
- The higher catch-up limit is $11,250, which is up from $7,500.
- The higher catch-up limit is effective on the May 16 paycheck.
- Communications internally and from Fidelity will start later in April.
- Approx. 3,700 TWU team members are eligible for the higher catch-up limit this year.
- April Fidelity Education Sessions:
- Creating a Budget & Build Emergency Savings
- 4/29: 8 a.m. ET
- 4/30: 12 p.m. ET
- Registration link HERE
- Creating a Budget & Build Emergency Savings
Attended an EAP Coordinator/Peer Coordinator training event hosted by TWU Local 513 in DFW. The training was attended by representatives from multiple unions, including the UAW and IAM, as well as a large number of TWU members.
George Albano
918-378-1947
GAlbano@twumail.org
Gene Chapin:
- Continue covering the midnight shift, working in the grievance office, and walking the base daily.
- Attended 32Js for attendance.
- Continue working on new and old grievances.
- Continue having grievance meetings with management. Tentatively have five grievances to be paid.
- I attended the Town Hall on 5/17/25 to learn how the shift bid works.
- Helping members with a new shift bid.
- AA/TWU Red Cross Blood Drive starts May 5th to the 13th. Serving hamburgers.
- Keith Perrson A/O INSP retiring May 2. Mechanic and Shop Steward Phillip Giedrys, hgr 5, is retiring April 30.
- As always, let one of your E-board officers or union reps know when you’re retiring.
Gene
918-640-2097
GChapin@twumail.org
Tracy Hardin:
I have had some members ask for assistance when they have financial difficulties. If you are in this situation, don’t wait too long before asking for help.
One resource that is dedicated to helping union members is Union Debt Relief.
You can contact them at www.uniondebtassistance.com
Tracy
(918) 409-5962
THardin@twumail.org
Don McCormick:
Grievances – 232 open for multiple areas.
YTD- 466 Resolved – This is a rolling number of the last 12 months
Jan – Resolved 22 with 10 paid and 12 W/D
Feb – Resolved 44 with 41 paid and 3 W/D
March – Resolved 22 with 20 paid and 2 W/D
April – Resolved 12 with 9 paid and 3 W/D
A large number of new grievances all due to Workbrain or Admin Late calls for OT and FT Roughly 20 of these to be paid in the next couple of weeks.
Automated Bid – Looked into a few issues, all appear to be correct.
HGR 5/6
Working with management and Union on cleaning up HGR 5/6 work areas and establishing some 5S projects to benefit our members.
Complacency has been an issue with numerous A/C damage and slide deployments. Please take the time to communicate with others about any Jacking, servicing struts, hydraulics, and A/C movement. Do a thorough walk-around to make sure nothing will interfere with the work you’re doing.
Welfare and Entertainment
Tulsa Oilers Hockey – Playoff Game 5 tonight Friday 4/25
Tulsa Drillers Baseball – Home stand 4/29-5/4 6 games
Tickets available at the Union Hall only M-F 7am to 11am and 12pm to 4pm.
Tulsa Oilers Football – May 3rd and May 10th.
Tickets available at the Union Hall M-F 7am to 11am and 12pm to 4pm and the Grievance Office when occupied.
Family Day will be June 21st at the WE Street Center
Sign-ups will start Monday, 4/28/25. Details will be posted then.
Don
(918) 378-5823
DMcCormick@twumail.org
Daron Morgan:
- Continue covering the Grievance Office daily
- Continue working on new and old grievances
- Tuesday Apr 22, 2025, I met with the CRO Leadership and resolved 6 grievances. Those grievances should be paid out on their May 2nd paycheck, and once the pay letters are cut, I can close those out.
- I currently have 169 open grievances. 38 are current grievances. 106 tied to Presidential Grievances (62 Known CC Outages and 44 Qualifications).
- There has been a rise in 32Js and documented discussions lately. If you are having issues with a coworker or if you know a coworker having issues, contact an officer or a shop steward. We can help if given the opportunity.
- There is 2 external Plating Candidates that are interviewing with the company on Monday.
- The Tulsa Oilers Hockey team plays tonight. Tickets are available at the Union Hall
- Saturday May 3, 2025, is the next home date for the Tulsa Oilers Football Team.
- TWU Family Day will be on Saturday, June 21st at the WeStreet Ice Center. Registration will begin soon.
Daron
918-402-0089
DMorgan@twumail.org
Jay Potter:
Scope
- February % of Total Paid Outsourced Hours: 27.30%
- February % of Total Paid In-House Hours: 72.70%
Dodgeball Grievance Investigation:
- Dale, Don, and I started speaking with crew chiefs in Hangar 5 on Tuesday, April 15, 2025.
- We plan to continue this for all crew chiefs on base.
Been working on known outage grievances that have been on the books for a long time.
Hiring
- For available vacancies in Tech Ops, check jobs.aa.com.
- Aviation Maintenance Technician
Retirement Committee – Jay Potter & George Albano
- Retirement Seminar Presentation
-
- The company has shared the presentations with the union and is available to the members on the Local 514 website (twu514.org)
- Retirement Resources are available on Jetnet for those looking to retire..
- In Jetnet, click Resources at the top of the page
- Under Information and Help, click Team Member Services
- Scroll down and click on Retirement
- There you will find several links:
- Retirement eligibility
- How to access retirement income
- Retirement gift selection
- How to stay connected with American
- Retirement benefits and privileges
- Travel privileges for retirees
- Retirement Gift FAQ
- Signing up for an electronic W-2
- Fidelity has a designated phone number for AA employees
- (800) 354-3412
- Fidelity offers designated Medicare Advisors to answer any questions (this is a free service)
- Call (833) 886-0033 to schedule an appointment
- You may also schedule an appointment at medicare.fidelity.com
- In addition to setting up an appointment, this site is an excellent resource for Medicare
- Visit the Local 514 website for your retirement resources
- twu514.org
Jay
(918) 845-8059
JPotter@twumail.org
TWU 514 Officer Elections 2025 – 2028 Term
Officer elections are quickly approaching. Election & Nomination notices will be coming shortly.
Please make sure you have your address current and preferably local. (Check yours HERE)
The 2025 Election rules have been posted on base bulletin boards as well as the Local 514 website. The Bylaws are also posted there, on page 7 you will find the Election article.
If you need assistance with your login to the twu514.org website, please contact a Union officer, Call the Grievance Office: 539-283-6500, 918-660-6222 or Call the Union Hall 918-437-4300 you can also drop by the Union Hall from 7:00-11:00 am and 12:00 to 4:00 pm Monday thru Friday.
For other questions please contact the Election Board at election@twumail.org
Passages
“Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal.”
The Passing of Retired Brother Dennis Ray Ellsworth
We are deeply saddened to share with you the passing of retired Brother Dennis Ellsworth on April 16th, 2025. Dennis stated working here at American Airlines in 1977, he worked as a Blasting Machine Operator and in 1995 became a Overhaul Support Mechanic and then retired in 2010. Please keep the Ellsworth Family in your thoughts and …
The Passing of Retired Brother Thomas Blaho
With a heavy heart we share with you the passing of retired Brother Thomas Blaho on April 3rd, 2025. Tom started working with us here at American Airlines in 1985 and retired from the position of Aviation Maintenance Technician in 2010. Please keep the Blaho family in your thoughts and prayers. Thomas Stephen Blaho, beloved husband, father, grandfather, …
The Passing of Brother Chris Jirasek
We are deeply saddened to share with you the passing of Brother Chris Jirasek on April 19th, 2025. Chris started working with us at American Airlines in 1997 as an Aviation Maintenance Technician. Please keep the Jirasek family in your thoughts and prayers. Funeral Service at Dillon Funeral Service 1200 North Cleveland Avenue Sand Springs, Oklahoma 74063 Sat, Apr …