When the merger between US Airways and American Airlines is announced, what issue will be uppermost on your mind? As you think about your future, your answer will be simple: seniority. Seniority determines not just when and where you work; it also determines if you work. When the American seniority list is “integrated” with the list at US Airways, you will certainly insist on having a representative who is entirely on your side; and who knows the ins and outs of seniority rights at AA.
The TWU has been criticized on a variety of subjects, but the vast majority of AA mechanics have a clear understanding that the only group we represent in the merger process is our members – we will look out for you, we will protect your seniority rights; and we know those rights inside out.
Ask yourselves if the Teamsters can meet the same test. Consider their conflict of interest. While the IBT is campaigning for the support of AA mechanics, it is also asking US Airways mechanics to decertify the IAM. As the IBT attempts to gain favor with US Airways group and convince them to sign additional cards, are they likely to be the strongest advocate for your interests at AA?
Even if they don’t sacrifice your interests, do they know enough about seniority rights at AA to adequately protect them? The recent letters that the IBT sent to the AA and US Airways groups on seniority integration shows that either they don’t understand seniority at AA, or they are already making decisions that deliberately shortchange you of effective representation. The IBT has stated its plan for seniority integration on a pure date of hire basis – either date of hire as a mechanic into the industry or date of hire as a mechanic at the carrier. The IBT also announced plans to develop a policy on this matter. We assume it will inform us of this policy when its staff comes up with one.
The US Airways group is more senior than the AA mechanic and related craft, and has a substantial number of employees on furlough. Given these facts, and other issues that are likely to arise, it is important for you to know that the TWU will approach seniority integration in a way that is fair, while protecting our members’ interests. We accept the date of hire principle, although it is date of hire at the carrier, not in the industry. We also recognize that in certain situations, this principle is not applicable because it can create grossly unfair results. Therefore, we reserve the right to negotiate conditions and restrictions on exercising seniority to make sure any integration is fair and does not unnecessarily damage our members.
Already, in the US Airways MOU, the TWU has insisted on several such conditions that protect our members against displacement by insisting there will be no “system flush,” and we have also prohibited employees on furlough from bidding on the jobs of active incumbent employees. There may need to be other restrictions, such as fences or delays in movement depending on what the merged carrier looks like. If the IBT wants to represent you, it seems they would have thought about these issues. Or, as in the past, perhaps the IBT will chime in on these matters, after the fact.