Coronavirus (COVID 19)
All, I have taken a lot of phone calls, text messages and emails with your concerns about the Coronavirus (COVID 19).
The International has filed a 29d grievance over concerns for your health and safety with the companies use of biometric time clocks. As a result the company is currently changing all time clocks, at all stations to use badge scan only. The company has stated they have made available hand sanitizer to everyone. If you feel you have been at risk from touching what you believe is a contaminated area, please use the hand sanitizer provided or use proper hand washing procedures. If there is not hand sanitizer available, please notify your immediate supervisor so this can be resolved immediately.
This just in from AA:
An important change to the way you clock in and out
Tech Ops team members,
In light of the ongoing COVID-19 (coronavirus) concerns, we’re taking steps to disable the biometric feature of Kronos timeclocks until further notice. This means the way that you clock in and out for your shifts will change. After your station’s clock is updated, you’ll simply select On or Off on the clock’s screen (using the edge of your badge, if you’d like) then swipe your badge, bypassing the fingerprint requirement.
As you can imagine, there are a large number of clocks across the system, so we’ll be updating them in batches. We began reprogramming clocks Wednesday, Mar. 18 at 1:30 a.m. ET and will continue this overnight process daily until all clocks are updated. Your leader will let you know the day before your station’s clocks are scheduled to be updated, and we’ll post a reminder once complete.
You’ll continue using your existing clock in/out procedures until your station’s clock is reprogrammed. Station leadership will continue taking steps to ensure the timeclock surface is disinfected regularly and remains as clean as possible for team members.
Questions
If you have any questions about this change, please reach out to your station’s timekeeper or your leader.
A working group has been formed to address all COVID-19 concerns. Team members can contact occupational.safety@aa.com with questions. Additional details, including FAQs, attendance and cleaning procedures can also be found on Jetnet.
Coronavirus and Voting on the Tentative Agreement:
As with the concerns we always have for the safety of our membership, rather than gathering in small confined areas with the chance of spreading this virus, We will be voting electronically. Please check that you can access your AA email address, we have some members that do not what us to have their personal email, so this caused the alternate aa.com email to be used.
Tentative Agreement Discussions:
Earlier this week I asked Terry Buck and Jason Best to cover a few articles in the TA that I felt may be of particular interest to some members. We are attempting to use modern technology to communicate with the members. It was our first attempt at a live broadcast. We had several members chastise myself and Terry that we were not covering what they thought was most important. I want to stress to each of you that I recognize with 4,600 members that there is an outside chance that someone might have a different opinion on what is important. So I asked Terry to cover Benefits and related articles because he is the Chair of the TWU/AA International Benefits committee. I did not ask Terry to cover articles that I believe he is not the subject matter expert in. Below is an audio recording of Terry covering benefits.
Tentative Agreement Clarifications: Benefits, Article 29
TWU 514 Officer Terry Buck, Recording Secretary and Benefits Chairman
The following is a list of articles and time that I will be covering next week:
Monday 3-23-2020
Times and Topics
- 8:00am
- Article 6, SCOPE
- 11:30am
- Article 11, Seniority & Article 16, Compensation
- 3:30pm
- Article 8, Qualifications & Article 7, Classification
Tuesday 3-24-2020
Times and Topics
- 8:00am
- Article 9, Filling of Vacancies
- 11:30am
- Article 14, Hours of Service
- 3:30pm
- Article 14.1, Absence from Duty
- Article 14.2, Rebids
- Article 14.3, Realignments
I will be using YouTube Live Broadcast. We have learned from Terry’s live broadcast earlier this week, that the questions that come in are delayed. So as I learn how to use this form of communication, please be patient. I appreciate Terry’s efforts in our first attempt at a live broadcast, the negative comments we received on how unprofessional we are were uncalled for. My goal as your President is to provide you an avenue to receive important information about this TA and a way to have your questions answered. That goal has now become hindered by the Coronavirus. In order to protect the health of all members.
We will post the live links soon, For now you can Subscribe to my Channel for updates: HERE
Company Voluntary Early Out:
There are many questions about the Company’s release of information regarding the voluntary early out package. I cannot stress enough that this is a Company plan without Union involvement. If you have questions, please ask your immediate supervisor and demand answers.
In closing, the Coronavirus has added high levels of stress at a time when we all should be excited that a long drawn out contract negotiation is coming to a close.
This TA, if ratified, will provide higher compensation rates, increased time off, enhanced retirement benefits and reduce obstacles for you to advance your career.
I would like to ask each and everyone of you for your continued patience as I sort through all that is in front of me.
Thanks,
Dale Danker
President of the Greatest Aircraft Maintenance Workers in the World!