To: All Title I Represented Employees – AMT/Cleaner
RE: Special Crew Chief Self-Demotion Opportunity
The AA/TWU Agreement provides for a special fifteen-day window to be established to allow an opportunity for Crew Chiefs to self-demote outside the normal filling of vacancy provisions.
The jobs vacated by the self-demotion process will be awarded on a local basis only. If more employees desire to self-demote than those bidding for the jobs, self-demotions will be limited to the number requesting to backfill the positions. If insufficient local bidders are available, the self-demotions will be permitted in seniority order equal to the number of bidders.
In order to accommodate those Crew Chiefs desiring to self-demote and those employees, within the same station/base, classification and status, desiring to backfill their positions; the window for Crew Chiefs desiring to Self-Demote will be open for 15 days and will run from March 15, 2018 to March 30, 2018.
Crew Chief Self-Demotions
Crew Chiefs desiring to self-demote must submit an email to Kelli.McCall@aa.com no later than 2400 hours on March 30, 2018. After this date, these self-demotion requests will be irrevocable and cannot be rescinded.
Crew Chiefs self-demoting through the special self-demotion process will be prohibited from bidding a Crew Chief position, and from serving as an acting Crew Chief for two (2) years from date of demotion.
Backfill Requests
All jobs to be vacated during the self-demotion process will be posted on the online tool for bidding. Employees desiring to backfill must make the request, also on the online tool no later than 2400 hours on April 13, 2018.
Employees who did to replace an existing Crew Chief will be selected per the procedures outlined in Article 11.
Please see the attached Q & A. If you have additional questions you should contact your supervisor and/or your Local TWU Representative.
Q.1. I am a full time Crew Chief – AMT and I have less seniority than an employee with recall rights to the position I want to self-demote to at my station. Will I be allowed to self-demote?
A.1. In order to protect the recall rights of other employees, the Company and the TWU have agreed that under such circumstances, you would be prohibited from exercising the ability to self-demote during the special window. (Reference letter of agreement dated March 14, 1996.)
Q.2. I failed to report for a Crew Chief position four months ago. Am I eligible to bid for a Crew Chief opportunity created by the special self-demotion?
A.2. Your failure to report for the Crew Chief position will prohibit you from bidding on a Crew Chief opportunity resulting from the special self-demotion, as well as any other Crew Chief position (except a Temporary Crew Chief position) for twelve (12) months.
Q.3. I self-demoted through a transfer three months ago. Am I eligible to bid for a Crew Chief opportunity created by the special window?
A.3. Yes, you are eligible to bid for an opportunity created by the special window. Note: You are ineligible to put in a system bid for regular Crew Chief vacancies for one years (six months if you self-demoted through the transfer procedure to another city.)
Q.4. I was demoted for cause (or during the trial period) six months ago. Am I eligible to bid for a Crew Chief opportunity created by the special window?
A.4. As a result of your demotion less than 24 months ago, you do not meet the qualifications required for the Crew Chief classification. Therefore, you may not bid for a Crew Chief opportunity created by the special window.
Q.5. What qualifications are required to be a Crew Chief?
A.5. To qualify for a Crew Chief position created by the special window, an employee must take and pass the qualifying test(s) established in the QAM (Qualifications Administration Manual), and pass the interview process in order to be awarded a Crew Chief position. In other words, all employees must be qualified before the self-demotion and upgrade can take place.
Q.6. What shift, days off and/or work area will I have as a result of changing positions during the special window?
A.6. Shift, days off and other work assignment details will be handled on a local basis and coordinated with the Company and local TWU representatives.
Q.7. I am currently a Crew Chief at a station that is covered under the One Station Complex Agreement, specifically, LGA. Am I subject to being reassigned to EWR or JFK as a result of electing to self demote?
A.7. No. Although there is a provision in the labor agreement that covers One Station Complex Agreements, the self demotion process under Article 12 was intended to allow the self demotions at the Crew Chief’s station (local airport) at the time of the demotion. Therefore, if you are allowed to self demote or promote, you will remain at your station (in this example, LGA) as a result of this procedure.
Q.8. I’m an Avionics Crew Chief. If the only AMT that requests the swap is a General AMT,will I be allowed to step down?
A.8. Swaps must be from the same skill area however, if qualified this can be approved on a local basis.
Q.9. I am on an unpaid leave of absence/inactive status. Will I be eligible to self demote or promote under this special provision?
A.9. No. You must be on active payroll at the time you submit your request in order to be eligible to participate in the Crew Chief special self demotion window.
Q.10. If I self demote under the special window, will I be able to be utilized as an Acting Crew Chief after my self demotion? If not, how long will I be ineligible?
A.10. Crew Chiefs self demoting through the special self demotion process will be required to wait for a period of two years to bid another regular or temporary Crew Chief vacancy or from serving in the capacity of an acting Crew Chief.
Should you have any questions not addressed in this Q & A, please call your HR Business Partner or Labor Relations.
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