A Message from Denise Lynn, Senior Vice President – People
Dear American Team,
After additional discussions and clarification on a few sections of our June 20 proposal, the APA Board of Directors has agreed to share it with our pilots. This is incredibly welcome news. The agreement is the product of hard work by company and APA negotiators who have spent many hours focused on reaching a consensual deal. I’m very pleased we were able to reach this point and pilots will be given this opportunity to have a vote on their futures.
As a result of this announcement, Judge Sean Lane has delayed his ruling on all 1113 matters until the pilot vote is completed. That provides the remaining labor groups that have not reached agreement additional time to achieve consensual deals. Our negotiators are ready to continue bargaining with the remaining TWU groups and with the APFA, and have negotiating dates set with both groups early next week. We remain focused on reaching agreements instead of waiting for a decision from the court.
In the next few days, the APA will share details related to the process and timeline for ratification, which we expect to take about six weeks. Voting requires full contract language, which our teams have begun drafting. Judge Lane has said he will issue his ruling on all union contracts one week after APA issues its voting results.
We also met over the past couple of days with the TWU to identify adjustments to the terms of the five ratified agreements to reflect the 17 percent savings target we agreed to with the APA. These five agreements include a commitment that we would provide an equivalent adjustment if we moved off the original 20 percent savings target for any other group. We’re also committed to adjusting the savings target for our Agents, Representatives and Planners to 17 percent, and those changes will be based on employee feedback received during restructuring forums held earlier this year. Details about the changes will be shared with these employees separately.
The 1113 process has been challenging for everyone. But what I find most encouraging is that all parties have come to the table with open minds, putting us in a better position to rebuild our airline and create a brighter future. We are doing everything within our power to create an airline we can all be proud of. An airline that can go head-to-head with anyone and win and a company that sets the industry standard for travel and customer care. Today we are one step closer to achieving that goal, and I look forward to the airline we’re going to become.
Thanks,
Denise