Local 514 Digest for the week of January 15, 2021

Update from Danker 

2020 earned vacation: We are still waiting for SR VP, Kevin Brickner, to give us an answer on this issue. Our ask is that American Airlines pay our members for 2020 vacation that they were not allowed to take in 2020. If Mr. Brickners answer is, not to pay out those members, I will file a grievance on our members behalf.

PSP2: Several stations have members that, because of the furlough, had to take positions that are paying them a reduced wage. We believe the PSP2 language stating pay everyone that was furloughed their wage starting Dec 1st should include the difference in the rate of pay for those that furloughed from AMT to A/C Cleaner, MLS tech CC to MLS, MCT to AMT. If there are others that I am not aware of, please contact the Union Hall at 918-437-4300 and give Jana your information. 

Furlough/Recall: A handful of guys have not yet reported to their furloughed cities.  The company is recalling 35 people to Tulsa. Those notices, I’m told, have been sent out. If you are in that 35 recall and get a notice, please respond in 10 days. If you are just outside that 35 recall and have not transitioned to your awarded furloughed city, the company is aware of it and will make an effort to receive the 35 recall answers, and quickly move on to the next names on the list if someone declines to exercise their recall rights.

There is some confusion on why there’s so many openings in the system. I will try to explain how this happens. This is an example: If 20 people were reduced under Article 6 KK. from DFW and the company needed a total of 50 increased headcount at that station, this is what they would do.

• • Send 20 recall notices to those reduced.
  • Post 30 openings to the system to let everyone bid on them (even those that are reduced from another station and have 6 KK. recall to their home station).
  • If 10 of the original 20 that were reduced from DFW declined the recall then those 10 openings would post to the system. The 10 that accepted would return to DFW. Eventually through this process the 6 KK. recall list would end up with zero on it.
  • Other stations, like Tulsa, will still have members with 6 KK. recall status. As long as there are members with recall to positions they were furloughed from, there CAN NOT be open positions posted for Tulsa or any like Station, unless the number of vacancies exceeds the recall list.

There can be open positions in other classifications posted in Tulsa if no recall list exists. Those with recall status can bid according to the Filling of Vacancies Article 9.

CREW CHIEF Self Demotions: This provision no longer exists. If you’re in a 90 day Probation and you feel as if you cannot fulfill the duties of a Crew Chief please contact an E-Board Officer. To leave a crew chief position, you have to bid on another job.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day (TWU Holiday)

Monday January 18th 2021

You should have received notification that you will not be working the holiday in most areas.

AA has posted the following:

TUL Team during the MLK holiday the following closures will occur.

The Cafeteria in Hangar 3 & 4 will close at 8:00 P.M. on Sunday, January 17th,  and re-open at 2:00 A.M. on Tuesday, January 19th.

The Cafeteria in CAM will be closed on Monday, January 18th, and re-open at 6:00 A.M. on Tuesday, January 19th.

North and South security gates will close on January 17th at 12:30 A.M. and re-open at 4:30 A.M. on January 19th.

Union Stewards

So far we have over 85 Stewards have signed up. You will have till January 22, 2021 to get your name on the list.

Sign Up HERE

If areas are needing elections, they will be held from January 25th through the 28th.  We will post the list of Union Stewards on January 29th.

Stewards are covered in the TWU Local 514 Bylaws HERE

Thanks,

Kendal Anderson
Vice President

Benefits

Medical Benefits

All members please check pay statements to ensure that there is a deduction for Medical Benefits, it’s been brought to my attention that several members are showing no coverage, if this is the case please go to my.aa.com, under forms, complete an appeal form for administrated issues and submit immediately. American Airlines is aware of  this issue. See link: https://my.aa.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Administrative-Issues-Level-1_05282019.pdf

LTD and STD

LTD , STD and TWU Voluntary Benefits transferring to Direct Deposit Accounts has been in process for the last 2 weeks. Members with LTD,STD and other Voluntary Benefits through the TWU who haven’t setup accounts need to do ASAP or risk the loss of Benefits. Details can be found on twuaauionbenefits.com  

Retirement / Survivor Support

Any member who took first VEOP in April of 2020 , must request a pension kit in the first of March in order to commence Pension on May 01,2021. Our Retirement Counselor, Mark Loeber (918) 491 0079, will be available to assist members in completing the package.

Number of Pensions commencement in 2019   2,025  785 of those TWU

Number of Pensions commencement in 2020    3,395 1,407 of those TWU

At this time 577 more payment to process approx. 400 of those are 2020 commencements. 

Hoping to have all the 2020 paid by mid-February.

2,697 of Deaths for 2020  2697

VEOP members who elected RHRA elections 474

7260 Retiree ID requested

401K Contributions 2021

The TWU-designated team members will receive the 5% non-elective company contribution and up to a 4% company matching contributions on their 01/15 pay check.  The company contributions will be listed towards the bottom of the pay statement on separate lines.

In addition to contribution limits, the IRS also sets an earnings limit of when contributions can no longer be made into the plan. Once an employee reaches the earnings limit, in this case $290,000 of eligible 401(k) compensation, contributions into the plan cease.  I’ve provided a breakdown of the IRS limits for this year.

The IRS 2021 limits:

      Limit for employee contributions (combined Pre-tax & Roth) = $19,500

        Catch up limit for employee contributions for age 50 or older (combined Pre-tax catch-up & Roth catch-up) = $6,500  Earnings limit for 401(k) eligible compensation = $290,000

      Limit for combined contributions (combined employee contributions & employer contributions) = $58,000

     Limit for combined contributions with Catch-up contributions (combined employee contributions, catch-up        contributions & employer contributions) = $64,500

Passages

“Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal.”

 

The Passing of Retired Brother John Barros

John Wayne Barros, 88, American Airlines crew chief and Army veteran, died Sunday, Dec. 20. John Wayne Barros Obituary It is always difficult saying goodbye to someone we love and cherish. Family and friends must say goodbye to their beloved John Wayne Barros of Owasso, Oklahoma, born in Little Rock, Arkansas, who passed away at…

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The Passing of Retired Brother William “Bill” Bennett

Obituary for William C. Bennett William “Bill” C. Bennett Born November 13, 1928 in Tulsa, OK, and joined his wife Emma Jean in Heaven on December 26, 2020, at the age of 92. Survived by his children, Rodney Bennett (wife Jeaneen), Jean Baucom and John Bennett. Grandchildren, Jill Schweikert, Amada Evers, David Bennett, Cassia Bennett,…

 

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The Passing of Brother Mickey Dennis Walker

It is with great sadness that we share with you the passing of Brother Mickey Walker. Mikey had been here at the Tulsa Base since 2019. Please keep the Walker family in your thoughts and prayers. Obituary for Mickey Dennis Walker Long-time local sprint car driver Mickey Walker, 23, took his final checkered flag on…

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