Local 512 Newsletter

TRANSPORT
WORKERS UNION
A F LL-- C I O
INSIDE
LOCAL
VOLUME 30 NUMBER 2
Local 512 Newsletter
DECEMBER,
2012
512 Retirees & Early Buy-Out Members Saluted at Recognition Luncheon
IN THIS ISSUE:
D OYLE:
1
RETIREE BENEFITS
2
PENSIONS AND
MURPHY:
2
CHANGE — AND NOT
3
FOR THE BETTER!
HAGN:
4
RESPECTED &
VALUED—REALLY?
5
Local 512 hosted a Recognition Luncheon November 12 at Elk Grove VFW Post 9284 for some 120 members who retired or took the early buy-out or stand-in-stead
options. Above, officers greet attendees and pass out watches, honorary membership cards and letters of recognition. More photos on pages 7 and 8.
HILDMANN:
5
CURRENT STATUS OF OUR PENSIONS AND RETIREE BENEFITS
TOUGH TIMES
R ETIREE
6
R ECOGNITION
7
LUNCHEON
C HALCRAFT:
8
F RIEDMAN:
WAR ON LABOR
EXTENDS TO SPORTS
9
RETIREE LIST &
PARTY PHOTOS
10
MARTING: BATTLE
WON, WAR BEGINS
11
M ILESTONES
12
A NEED FOR LEADERS
The common excuse
of those who bring
misfortune on others
is that they desire
their good.
— Luc de Clapiers de Vauvenargues
(1715-1747)
With all their faults,
trade-unions have done
more for humanity than
any other organization of
men that ever existed.
They have done more for
decency, for honesty,
for education, for the
betterment of the race,
for the developing of
character in man, than
any other association of
men.
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
First, please allow me to wish all of you and your
families a very safe and happy holiday season. This is our
annual TWU Local 512 Holiday Newsletter and the last
newsletter of the year. These newsletPRESIDENT’S
ters are widely read by our members,
MESSAGE
retirees, and the TWU International
Officers. The Local 512 Newsletter
gives the Local 512 Officers a chance to communicate to
the membership as well as to the retirees. I know the
retirees are very concerned with AMR’s bankruptcy filing, and what the impact may be to their pensions, retiree medical, and life insurance benefits. I would like to
take this opportunity to explain based on the information we have currently.
Our pensions have been “frozen”, not “terminated”.
What this means is AMR is fully responsible to fund and
payout our pensions as they were before the BK filing. If
the company had been allowed to “terminate” our pensions, then the responsibility of paying out our pensions
would have fallen to the US. Government under the
guidance of the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation
(PBGC). Fortunately for all of us this did not happen.
Many at other Legacy carriers were not as fortunate and
they saw a reduction in their pension benefit as well as
limitations on age and percentage of what they would be
able to collect.
The 1114 process can be a very complicated procedure under the US. Bankruptcy code. Section 1114 is the
step in the bankruptcy process that applies directly to
retiree benefits. During this long, drawn-out bankruptcy
process, retiree benefits remain the same, ‘status quo’ on
November 29, 2011 (the date of the bankruptcy filing)
until the bankruptcy judge has signed off on Section 1114
of this case. Below, some background and history:
On November 29,
2011, AMR filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Since that time, all
seven TWU contracts on
the property were negotiated by the TWU Negotiating Committees and ratified by the membership.
On September 12, 2012, Retirees have a word with President
Bankruptcy Judge Sean Doyle at the Recognition Luncheon.
Lane signed off on the
TWU agreements as well as the APFA (Association of
Professional Flight Attendants). The APA (Airline Pilot
Association) is the only group that does not have an
agreement at this time. They voted down the company’s
“LBO” (Last Best Offer) and the Bankruptcy Court did
abrogate (terminate) their contract. The Company did
impose their “ASK”. The company and the APA did restart negotiations and have reached another tentative
agreement. The Allied Pilots Association board of directors voted 12-4 on November 16, 2012, to send the agree(Continued on page 2)
A Day on the Ramp: Getting the Job Done with Integrity and Skill
Janet Mallon
Laura Mills-Jackson
—Clarence Darrow (1857-1938)
Maury Raggioli
Every day, dedicated members of Local 512 work hard to make American Airlines one of the finest airlines in the business — while the Company executive who once
described labor costs as “bricks in the backpack” has left. In this issue we feature some of the many Fleet Service Clerks whose labor makes AA a great airline.
Page 2
Official Statement from the 1114 Retiree Committee:
On May 3, 2012, the United States Bankruptcy Court
overseeing American Airlines chapter 11 bankruptcy
case approved the appointment of a committee to represent all of American’s 40,000 plus retirees. Under Section 1114 of the Bankruptcy Code, the Committee’s role
is to represent individuals who retired from American
Airlines before November 29, 2011 with respect to their
medical, dental and life insurance benefits. American
Airlines has indicated that it wants to expand the size of
the Section 1114-protected group to include individuals
who retire prior to November 1, 2012. Section 1114 establishes certain procedures that a debtor in bankruptcy,
like American Airlines, must follow before it changes or
eliminates the medical and life benefits it provides to its
retirees. Section 1114 also recognizes that if benefits are
changed or eliminated, retirees would have a claim
against American Airlines for the value of the benefits
that are lost.
On July 6, 2012, American Airlines filed suit against its
retirees, asking the Court to declare that it has the right
to unilaterally take away the medical and life insurance
benefits that retirees earned when they worked for
American Airlines. On August 15, 2012, American Airlines filed a motion for partial summary judgment in that
case, asking the Bankruptcy Court to rule that none of
the American Airlines retirees has a “vested right” to the
medical and life insurance benefits currently provided by
American Airlines. American Airlines has stated that it is
advancing this motion solely for purposes of determining
whether the retirees will have a claim against American
Airlines for damages if retiree benefits are terminated or
changed. American Airlines has not asked the Court to
find that American Airlines can terminate these benefits
without going through the Section 1114 process and has
stated that it will comply with Section 1114 before it
changes retiree benefits. Section 1114 requires American Airlines to negotiate in good faith with the [1114]
Retiree Committee about changes to the retiree benefits
and prove, among other things, that changes to retiree
benefits are necessary to permit American Airlines to
reorganize, that it is fair and equitable to change retiree
benefits and that the Retiree Committee’s decision not to
agree to the proposed modifications is made without
good cause. The Retiree Committee intends to oppose
this summary judgment motion and will file its written
response on November 9, 2012. The Court will hear argument on the motion in late December or early January.
Our expectation is that the Bankruptcy Court will reject
American Airlines’ summary judgment motion and find
that the retiree benefits are in fact vested. If the motion
is denied, the matter will be set for trial thereafter.
Currently, the [1114] Retiree Committee is in the process
of obtaining information from American Airlines, both
through the discovery process and informally, to defend
against American Airlines’ lawsuit and to understand
American Airlines’ position on the continuation of retiree
benefits. The [1114] Retiree Committee also has met
and will continue to meet with American Airlines in an
effort to resolve the dispute over continued retiree benefits.
In the meantime, American Airlines is still providing
medical and life insurance benefits to its retirees and has
told the Committee through counsel that it will continue
to do so until this litigation and the Section 1114 process
are resolved.
Posted at http://www.amrrc.net/amr-briefings.php.
(President’s Message continued from page 1)
ment out to the pilots for a ratification vote. Their vote should be concluded December 7.
Thus far the following steps have been accomplished in accordance with Section 1114 of the (BK) code.
1. The judge administrating the AMR bankruptcy appointed an 1114 Retiree
Committee in May consisting of 5 official “seats” with each representing a specific
group of retirees. The members of the 1114 retiree committee are as follows:
• Bobby Gless, Deputy Director of the Transport Workers Union, Air Transport Division
• Laura Glading, current President of the
Association of Professional Flight Attendants
• Jim Sovich, retired pilot and former president of the Allied Pilots Association
• Rita Keeple, non-union retirees. Member of
the Passenger Service Ad Hoc Committee
• Charles Marlett, former corporate secretary Bobby Gless (foreground) with Sean
Doyle, Terry Boyle and Kevin Hagn,
for American and AMR, for non-union retirMadison, 3/12/11
ees
Each of these “seats” gets one vote regarding
any decision made concerning the 1114 process.
2. In July, AMR Management filed a lawsuit against the 1114 Retiree Committee giving notice that AMR management intends to alter, if not fully revoke, any
and all retiree health and life insurance plans currently in place.
3. In August, pre-trial discussions began between management and their
council and the 1114 retiree committee and council, with an active exchange of
historical documents detailing benefit plans presently under way (the discovery
period).
4. Currently there are pre-trial interviews and depositions underway of individuals directly involved in administrating the retiree benefit plans.
These are certainly unsettling times for all of us. None more so than for our
retirees. It is our commitment to keep you fully updated in the 1114 process. Please
refer to our Local 512 website, www.twulocal512.org, as well as the following:
www.twubkfacts.org; www.amrrc.net; and www.aa.com/restructuring,
for any updates or changes in the 1114 process.
Sincerely and Fraternally,
Sean P. Doyle
President, TWU Local 512
sdoyle@twu.org
2012 Word of the Year : CHANGE (and not for the better)
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
WE CAN ALL AGREE ON ONE THING: WE have been inundated with change — at
times overwhelming change — since AMR filed for bankruptcy November 29,
2011. To review:
1) COMPENSATION: Let’s face it — we are not working here for the entertainment
value. Our overall compensation continues
to erode relative to cost of living increases.
Among the many unfortunate outcomes of
the AMR bankruptcy is that we have been
saddled with a pay structure that will not
keep up with the cost of inflation for the
duration of the agreement.
The minimal scheduled
2 ND V ICE
2nd VP & Benefits Coordinator Tim Murphy
pay increases that our assists
P RESIDENT
retiree Stan Coleman with paperwork.
T IM M URPHY contract provides for will
make little to no difference
in our take home pay, and can best be described as wage stagnation. And the
contractual provision that may provide wage adjustment relief at the mid-point of
the agreement is contingent on wages paid at some of our competitors, all of
whom have been subject to bankruptcy filings. Many of our members will take a
sizable pay cut due to a change in status from full-time to part-time as a result of
the reduction in force.
2) PENSION: Throughout our careers, the Company provided a defined pension benefit as part of our retirement — a defined amount of money in the form
Page 3
Mary Craig
Dan Bura
Mark Otterman
Mike Bartucci
Shirlean Thicklin
of a lifetime annuity for ourselves and our spouses. It was a bargaining chip during contract negotiations, and we all made less money per
hour in return for this benefit. Now our pension plan is frozen, which
means that you will still get a defined amount of money in retirement
from the pension plan, but a lot less money. Going
forward, the Company has replaced this benefit with a
Company-matching 401(k) Plan, up to 5.5% of
eligible earnings. This means that the risk has been
transferred to the employee: how you manage your 401
(k) plan will determine its value, and even then, we’ve
all seen the huge loss of value in 401(k) accounts
caused by the stock market decline. Furthermore, as challenging as it
may be to set aside money for retirement, if you fail to contribute the
full 5.5%, the company will only match the amount you contribute —
which amounts to letting the Company keep the money that should be
going toward your retirement. I urge you to take full advantage
of the Super Saver Plus Company match. For example, if you
are a full-time topped-out Fleet Service Clerk, your 401(k) matching
benefit contribution will be approximately $2500 per year. If you
contribute less than 5.5%, you allow the company to use the reduced
matching funds for other purposes. After all that we have given up
over the years, this Company does not deserve any additional donations from its workers. Imagine your unclaimed retirement money
helping AMR fund a propaganda campaign to declare how much they
value their employees. Or, even worse, being used to provide generous bonuses to AMR Management.
3) MEDICAL: The cost of our medical benefits has increased dramatically for next year, while the level of coverage has decreased. Essentially the entire TWU workforce was enrolled in the Value Plus Plan in
2012. The alternate option available in 2013 is the Value
Plan, which comes with higher deductibles and out-ofpocket costs, as well as premium increases. The Standard Plan (the default for existing employees who fail to
make a selection) is one of the two contractual plans offered. It comes with an introductory offer of up to $750
in reimbursements for 2013 only, but with significantly
higher out of pocket costs than were realized under the Value Plus
Plan. The other contractual plan, the all new Core Option (the default option for any new employee) is best described by its name:
core. With an out-of-pocket maximum of $24,000 for out-of-network
services, these costs can easily exceed the employees’ overall compensation for the entire year.
We have already made our selections for 2013. In the past, many
employees simply allow their benefit selections to roll over from year
to year. But those who selected the Standard Plan for 2013 need to
realize that the financial incentives associated with this plan will not
be offered in 2014, and most likely, additional costs will be incurred
by employees due to the automatic rollovers next year.
4) RETIREE MEDICAL: This is one of the saddest chapters in the
AMR bankruptcy filing. The changes to this benefit will have a draconian effect on us all. Once again, we made less money over the years
so that we would have medical coverage in our retirement. We even
put aside our own money every payday (prefunding) to insure this
benefit would be available when we needed it the most. And although
changes to this plan have been enacted as a result of the AMR bankruptcy filing, you will still have this benefit available to you and your
spouse if you qualify, provided you want to pay for it. And pay
you will. For 2013, the cost for the Standard Retiree Medical Plan will
be approximately $460 per person per month.
Frank Edwards
Jim Kelly
Those who retired on or after November 1, 2012, will get their
portion of their prefunding money refunded to them along with interest. They may even get back the company’s portion of the prefunding,
but that is contingent on the already-retired employees losing their
medical coverage, a change they can ill afford. The sad fact is that the
pension benefit of many of our coworkers doesn’t even cover the cost
of their retiree medical coverage.
5) OUTSOURCING AND JOB PROTECTION: The outsourcing of work
previously performed by the TWU membership will have a direct impact on us all. Many members have already been forced to
relocate, some have been forced into retirement, and many
more have been affected by a reduction in force. We have
all lost protection status, even though that came in exchange for concessions in prior contracts. The changes we
are seeing in relation to outsourcing are not good for anyone. Many valued employees, our Brothers and Sisters,
are out of work. Their jobs are being replaced by lowerpaid contract workers with few, if any, benefits. Once proud, loyal
employees holding jobs that allowed them to provide for their families
and contribute economically to their communities are out of work.
The jobs offered to the replacement contract workers are junk. These
workers will most likely never be able to provide an adequate living
for their families. These workers will never have the sense of pride
that comes with getting a fair day’s wage for a fair day’s work.
6) RELOCATING AND OPPORTUNITIES LOST: For those who planned
on transferring to another station, think again. The changes brought
about by the AMR bankruptcy mean far fewer opportunities for all
employees. In Chicago, we had not even seen all our full-time employees recalled from the 2003 lay-offs, prior to the latest reductions.
Unwanted displacement to part-time status,
as well as employees forced to commute, has
caused further financial strain. Workers who
require shifts that are not physically challenging now have few options. Many of our
Permanent Medically Restricted employees
are on leaves of absence due to being unable to hold a shift within
their restrictions. Overall changes to our work schedules can best be
described as negative. For the workers who remain, there will be
fewer schedule choices and fewer prime vacation weeks available. The
AMR bankruptcy brought on more change than we ever expected. It
makes one wonder how many changes were simply enacted during
the bankruptcy process because those changes could not be realized at
the bargaining table. Unfortunately, few if any of the changes that we
are experiencing are in any way positive, despite the Company’s new
branding campaigns. The employees will work harder for less. Workers trying to make up the shortfall will have less time at home with
their families. Workers will experience more stress and find it harder
to make ends meet.
SO, WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? The first thing we need to
realize is that more changes are to come — the AMR bankruptcy is not
over. The assault on the workers will continue. We need to understand the changes that have been enacted, and to stay informed about
pending changes. And while we all need to understand and honor the
terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, we also have a responsibility to ensure that Management does the same.
Sincerely and Fraternally,
Timothy M. Murphy
Local 512 Second Vice President
tmurphy@twulocal512.org
Page 4
Jim Lorenz
Mike Bartus
Doug Morano
Anthony Johnson
“Respected and Valued” — For a Change
past ten years are still here. Unfortunately, that doesn’t inspire a lot
of confidence that they have figured out this business, as they continue to take their failures out on the front line employees.
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Although they aren’t giving us any reasons to be hopeful, someThe end of this difficult year is near. With it, hopefully, will be how, we have to remain hopeful. It’s all we have left, but if history
repeats itself, that too soon will be squashed as we possibly could be
the end of the perpetual bad news about the
looking at Chapter 7 liquidation. So, I’m calling the company out to
state of the industry and this once-proud comdo what many of us have been clamoring for since the concessionary
pany. We all chose to take this job when it
deal: respect and fairness for those who have helped this
meant a career. Oh, how things have
company survive. Not only on the balance sheet, but in our daily
changed….for some of us. As we watch many of
work. We make the difficult and sometimes impossible tasks seem
our friends leave via the early out or layoff, rest
routine, and yet the only thing we hear is about John Doe getting a
assured that the management structure here,
Career Decision Day for petty infractions. We have all seen this iron
and throughout the system, is almost identical
fisted application of discipline for anyone wearing a blue shirt that
to what it was last year right before the BK filmakes a mistake, and yet those making such determinations are not
ing. Very few changes have been made, and it
held to the same standard. While PPC (Peak Performance through
can be seen as more of a light cleaning, a reCommitment) exists in theory, it has virtually become a one-stop
shuffling of responsibilities rather than a
discipline program.
“restructuring”. Our jobs were eliminated, and
Peak Performance through Commitment (PPC) is a syswhile management has reduced its headcount,
tem developed under Bob Crandall that’s supposed to get the maxithey intend to start hiring CSMs in the very S ECRETARY– T REASURER
K EVIN H AGN
mum contributions from employees and make American a better
near future. As I scratch my head over this one,
place to work. Here’s a quote from Mr. Crandall from 1986 regarding
I’m hoping there is a rational fact-based decision as to why they would hire more managers at a time when the the purpose of the PPC:
“There’s nothing more important than making certain
workforce has never been smaller. All the managers in the world
aren’t going to get the work done; although looking at the number of each employee feels respected and valued- that each feels a
CR-1’s and advisories being issued, it seems that their plan is a little sense of confidence that we are listening to his or her
ideas. Because that kind of attitude is the source of prodclearer now.
The company will soon tell us we need to look forward and focus uct quality—it translates into better services—which
on the “new” American and the customer. Look at their customer brings us more business and builds a stronger airline.”
It doesn’t take a genius to see that in today’s world, this tool is
service numbers for this year (taken from the DOT website): from
January through June, they ranked no higher than eighth in on-time being used incorrectly by management in their heavy-handed mandependability, baggage mishandlings and customer complaints. agement style of demanding rather than collaborating. It only further
Eighth — that’s barely average — and most months they ranked in the demoralizes an already beaten-down, underappreciated workforce.
They require us to complete mandatory training lessons about
lower third of the categories among the fifteen
major airlines. I don’t think our performance is “There’s nothing more important than the value of respect. In our world, respect just
hasn’t materialized. It’s amazing that no matter
what should be called into question.
“The Union recognizes that the Company making certain each employee feels what the circumstances, they Monday-morning
respected and valued — that each -quarterback the things we did, never considerwill have sole jurisdiction of the management
and operation of its business….” (See article 28
feels a sense of confidence that we ing the fact that we do the best with what we’re
dealt, and forgetting that a majority of what
(b) for the full text of the contractual language)
are listening to his or her ideas.
we’re dealt is a direct result of their decisions.
but with that proclamation, at some point they
Because that kind of attitude is the We do the best we can in a bad situation, and
have to be accountable for their decisions. They
chose this path almost 10 years ago and we source of product quality — it trans- when we don’t perform a miracle, the outcome
is called into question by the very people who
(many reluctantly) agreed to help. Now, they
lates into better services—which
fail to identify that they were part of the probblame us for their failures…..again. Last I
checked, we didn’t have the right to make busi- brings us more business and builds a lem to begin with. Our successes, and our failures, are a direct reflection of those who manstronger airline.” — Bob Crandall
ness decisions. THEY DID. Nine years after we
age us. They should be just as upset with themgave them the help THEY asked for, they had to
selves when the company experiences the infafile for BK. Where’s the accountability for those
decisions? I’ll grow much older and much grayer waiting for an an- mous “service failure” but instead they ease their conscience by handswer — yet a majority of the people making the business decisions the ing out discipline.
Henry Chang
Terry Joyner
Brian Minneci
Paul Durden
Rich Hernandez
Page 5
Eric Pudil
Vernadette Greenleaf
Joe Capezio, Joe Soberon
Rick Gillies
Kennie Davis
Tough Times for Union Workers
For a company that does many things wrong on a regular basis I
hope the new year brings something new to this company other than
new planes and the new branding we keep hearing about. If this company is going to avoid the fate of the many airlines before them that
have faded away, they need to establish genuine change, and a lot of
that energy and focus should be focused on their employees. We are
the people who make it happen every day in spite of long odds working against us. I’ve created a list of qualities I’d like to see going forward with the new American, and I challenge Management to live up
to the ‘cornerstones’ laid out below. I admit, I have my doubts, but
their new vision of this company must include things other than the
color of planes or the uniforms we wear.
● Respect: Without doubt, for all that we’ve done for this company from 2003 through this year, and for remaining the consummate professionals throughout the most difficult times, we have
earned it. They should work to earn our respect and not just expect it.
● Perception: We are seen as a liability that costs this company
money. I challenge the company to start seeing us as an asset that
when used properly provides more than a fair share on the return
they invested in us.
● Accountability: It can’t always be labor’s fault. If anything,
our shortcomings are a direct reflection of those who are leading us.
And, by the way they treat us, it’s clear that better leadership is
needed.
● Fairness: I don’t care who you are or what job you hold — we
all deserve to be held to ONE standard. Anybody that tells you that
this happens today is just lying. Actually use PPC as the tool it was
meant to be. Stop issuing career days to good employees for making
one mistake. We’re all human and we all know that Management has
made their fair share of mistakes — yet few, if any, of them has any
type of documented discipline.
● Competence: I challenge Management to actually read and
understand the contract they are responsible to uphold. Except, of
course article 29(f). Their understanding of that article is without
question. Relying on anybody or anything other than the contract is
shortsighted and negligent.
For those of you who have left taking the early out, I wish you
nothing but success and happiness as you start this new chapter in
your life. For those who are leaving because of the reduction in force,
I wish you good luck and a speedy return to your position here. Local
512 will do anything and everything to find more work that drives
jobs for all our members. In the interim, if there is anything the Local
can do for you, please call us and ask. We will do all we can to help
you in these difficult times. I wish everyone a happy and healthy holiday season. And I hope the New Year brings us a much better environment in which to work. We’ve earned it and the check is due.
Fraternally,
“IN TODAY'S ECONOMIC UPHEAVALS, DOWNSIZING, LAYOFFS, MERGERS,
and bankruptcies have cost hundreds of thousands of workers their
jobs. Adding to the pressures that workers face are computer surveillance of production, fewer health and retirement benefits, and the feeling they have to work longer
and harder just to maintain their current economic status.
Workers at every level are experiencing increased tension
and uncertainty,” according to the American Psychological Association. “The loss of a job can be devasRECORDING
tating, putting unemployed and underemployed
SECRETARY
PAUL HILDMANN workers at risk for physical illness, marital strain,
anxiety, depression, and even suicide. Loss of a job
affects every part of life. Until the transition is made to a new position, stress is chronic.”
Employees can counteract these pressures by contacting Local
512’s EAP Coordinators. Sometimes your work setting creates physical stress because of noise, lack of privacy, poor lighting, poor ventilation, poor temperature control, or inadequate sanitary facilities.
Settings where there is organizational confusion or an overly authoritarian, crisis-centered
managerial style are all
psychologically stressful.
Act through the union or
the EAP to alter stressful
working conditions. The
Occupational Safety and
Health Administration Recording Secretary Paul Hildmann meets with Rich Beeks and
(OSHA) is the federal Facilities Maintenance Chair Tom Schultz following a recent Memberagency charged with moni- ship Meeting.
toring the work environment in the interest of work safety and
health. If you think your work environment is dangerous to your
health and safety from a physical standpoint, give them a call.
If nothing helps and the working environment remains stressful,
exercise your avoidance options and get a new job. Job hunting can
be stressful, particularly in times of high unemployment, but being
ground down day after day by work is far worse.
If you are feeling stress due to your job situation, please call an
EAP representative. We have counselors in almost every work location. Go to www.twulocal512.org for contact information.
If you are unemployed or underemployed, please call the hall.
Through the assistance of the Illinois AFL-CIO we have many ways to
help you with your job search.
Fraternally,
Kevin Hagn
Paul Hildmann
Local 512 Secretary-Treasurer
khagn@twulocal512.org
Local 512 Recording Secretary
phildmann@twulocal512.org
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Lucille Monroy
Joe Kalscits
Mohammed Siddiqui, Ash Hasan, Aslam Bakhrani
Sarah Brown
Page 6
Retiree Recognition Luncheon
Local 512 hosted a Retiree Recognition Luncheon November 12 at
Elk Grove VFW Post 9284 for some 120 members and guests who
retired or took the early buy-out or stand-in-stead options.
We congratulate these members for their years of dedicated service
and wish them well in the future!
Page 7
Page 8
AMR BANKRUPTCY TIMELINE
[Compiled by Terry Maxon, Dallas Morning News. Used with permission.]
American Airlines, AMR Eagle Holdings and parent AMR, have slogged
through a lot since filing for bankruptcy at 6:57 a.m. EST Nov. 29, 2011.
Here’s a month-by-month look at what’s happened.
NOVEMBER 2011
Nov. 29: AMR and 19 subsidiaries file for bankruptcy in the Southern District of
New York. The case is assigned to a relative newcomer, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge
Sean Lane, appointed to the bench in September 2010.
DECEMBER 2011
Dec. 5: The U.S. trustee appoints the unsecured creditors committee, the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors.
Dec. 15: AMR/American Airlines chairman and CEO Tom Horton tells employees
that there’ll be a lot of people who will get involved in the bankruptcy, warning
“there may be opportunists who wish to acquire our company while we are in this
situation.”
Dec. 16: Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. director Josh Gotbaum criticizes comments from an American Airlines bankruptcy attorney that American would have
to terminate its pensions.
Monthly results: Operating loss of $728 million, net loss of $904 million.
JANUARY
Jan. 25: US Airlines chairman and CEO Doug Parker confirms that the carrier has
hired consultants to look into a merger with American Airlines.
Monthly results: Operating loss of $5 million, net loss of $234 million.
FEBRUARY
Feb. 1: American outlines its new business plan which seeks $3 billion of financial improvements by 2017: $1 billion in revenue increases, $2 billion in costcutting. That includes $1.25 billion in employee-related savings, $990 million of
which is to come from unionized employees. The potential job cuts eventually
were as high as 14,000-plus. AMR says it wants to terminate all its definedbenefit pension plans for employees.
Feb. 2: Horton scoffs at a potential US Airways bid, pointing out that US Airways
had three previous merger attempts fail. “I would argue that this will be every bit
as successful as their prior tries. I’m not sure what’s in the water out there in
Phoenix. Maybe it’s the cactus. I don’t know what it is.”
Feb. 15: AMR reports a net loss of $1.98 billion for 2011, up from a $471 million
loss in 2010.
Feb. 22: The Ad-Hoc Committee of Passenger Service Agents asks judge to block
cuts affecting PSAs until agents can vote on Communications Workers of America representation.
Monthly results: Operating loss of $186 million, net loss of $375 million.
MARCH
March 7: American, PBGC, others announce plans to freeze pensions rather than
terminate them, following sharp criticism from the PBGC about dumping the
pensions on the federal agency. Up in the air was the pilot pensions. American
says it fears a loss of senior pilots if the lump-sum option remained.
March 22: Judge Lane grants a six-month extension for exclusivity period to
submit a plan of reorganization and the period to obtain acceptances of plan, to
Aug. 27 and Sept. 28. The original deadlines were March 28 and May 27.
March 27: After nearly two months of negotiations, American files motions to
reject contracts of the Allied Pilots Association, Association of Professional
Flight Attendants and Transport Workers Union.
Monthly results: Operating income of $102 million, net loss of $856 million.
APRIL
April 18: American outlines job cuts, other changes for passenger service agents
and reservationists.
April 20: US Airways and American’s three unions announce conditional contract
deals that would go into force if US Airways and American Airlines merge. Unions
announce support for a merger in which Parker’s management team runs the
combined companies.
April 23-27: U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Sean Lane hears testimony on American’s
motion to reject the contracts of APA, APFA and TWU.
Local 512 Executive Board Members Bob Brun, Trevor Chalcraft, Terry Boyle, 1st VP Chris Biancalana, and Rick Friedman (Executive Board), awaiting guests to the Retiree Recognition Luncheon.
We Need Leaders to Mold the New A.A.
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
AS I WRITE THIS, ON THIS THANKSGIVING EVENING, I CAN'T HELP
but reflect back on the extremely turbulent year that we have all
shared. We have all experienced more changes that have not only affected our work lives, but our personal lives as well. One thing has
remained constant; our desire to see a true outline and plotted line of
action that will take us, as a company, out of bankruptcy. And in some
small way our future pathway could justify the necessary but still draconian sacrifices we have been forced to accept in yet another attempt
to save this spiraling company.
I am tired of watching my pay, benefits, pension, work rules and
jobs shrink or disappear all together while the size of Management
grows to cover a much smaller operation with much
fewer employees. They live in some other different
place where as we get more efficient and productive
they grow conversely to what they demand of us. They
are hiring as though they exist in some sort of a strange
and parallel environment that is expanding. It begs the
question: When will we see and/or hear a plan or get
tangible information about the direction this company
will take after exiting Bankruptcy? And will it possibly
put us in a better and improved financial place? I can
say with all certainty spending millions upon millions
of dollars on unproven and flawed technology will not
T REVOR
C HALCRAFT get us to that place, and that shrinking the business is
not the answer. Neither is treating passengers and the
E XECUTIVE
workforce with contempt a good start to the path of
B OARD
industry leading success.
As we approach the end of this calendar year, surpassing the one year mark in the "restructuring" process and in the midst
of the season which is full of hope, I have very little to none. This is
something I don't easily admit. Deep down, I am usually a very optimistic person. I always try and see the brighter side of things, but now,
in this environment, I can't.
So, I challenge the powers to be; prove me wrong. If you do, I will
follow. But only if the person who leads us has a successful vision and
true leadership ability. We will not survive with the same old manage
by chaos philosophy we’re accustomed to. We need true, strong and
honest leaders who will mold this “new” American into something it
used to be. The industry leader we all want to be. They have a lot of
work to do and it’s going to take more than hot dog days and five dollar vouchers to get me to buy in. As thankful as I am for the things I
have outside of the workplace I am equally as unthankful to work for a
place that doesn’t practice what it preaches.
Fraternally,
Trevor Chalcraft — Local 512 Executive Board Membrer
tchalcraft@twulocal512.org
Monthly results: Operating loss of $15 million, net loss of $75 million.
MAY
May 14-18: U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Sean Lane resumes hearings on American’s
motion to reject the contracts of APA, APFA and TWU.
May 15: Five of seven TWU bargaining units approve new contracts with American.
(Continued on page 9)
Tony Montanez
Henry Espinosa
Bob Eriks
Dave Leech
Page 9
War on Labor Includes Sports
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
THE WAR ON LABOR CONTINUES TO BE WAGED IN THIS COUNTRY at
an alarming rate, and it is being waged against workers of all income
spectrums. Even professional sports aren’t immune to these labor
battles. Professional Football, Basketball and Hockey players have all
recently come under attack. I understand it’s hard to defend these
players when they make the money that they do, but they are sacrificing their long-term health and well-being for money that will give
their families lifetime security. Wouldn’t we all do that for our families and children?
The current battle is being waged against NHL players. The players have been locked out since September 15. NHL owners want to
change not only how much players get paid but entry level contracts,
unrestricted free agency, salary arbitration and maximum term contracts, to name just a few of the issues. Most of these issues are to
protect the owners from themselves because they can’t spend their
money wisely. Once again, the workers have to be the adults in the
management/worker relationship. Sound familiar?
On a more relatable note I’d liked to talk about Walmart. I
know we all have to live within our means and watch how we spend
our hard-earned dollars, but I’m urging you not to shop at Walmart.
This is a corporation that treats their workers extremely poorly with regards to pay and benefits.
Robert Reich, former Secretary of Labor under President Bill Clinton, wrote an excellent article why you
shouldn’t shop at Walmart. He writes that 50 years
ago, General Motors was America’s largest private
sector employer. Workers there averaged $50 an hour,
in today’s dollars, including health care and pension
benefits. Today, Walmart is America’s largest employer, whose employees make an average of $8.81 an
hour, work less than 28 hours a week and don’t qualR ICK F RIEDMAN ify for health benefits. Reich states very plainly in his
E XECUTIVE
article that one of the main reasons for the decline of
B OARD
the average hourly wage in workers is attributable to
the decline of labor unions in the U.S. The wealth of
the Walton family, owners of Walmart, exceeds the wealth of the bottom 40% of all American families combined. How much is too much
when you can’t give your employees a decent living wage and working
conditions? Doesn’t it make your employees better workers and people when they can gain a better standard of living? He writes that consumer spending is 70% of economic activity and that consumers are
also workers. Median wage income is now 8% lower than it was in
2000, and that a larger portion of the American workforce lacks the
spending power to get the economy going again. Without a vibrant
and growing middle class, Walmart won’t have the consumers it needs
to spend their money in its stores. He quotes a study by the think tank
Demos that reports “raising the salary of all full-time workers at large
retailers to $25,000 per year would lift more than 700,000 people out
of poverty, at a cost of only a 1% price increase per customer”. We as
consumers and the middle class work force of this country have to
speak out through our organizing, our purchasing power, and by supporting businesses that treat their workers with the respect and dignity that we all would expect. In closing I would like to wish you all a
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Make it a safe holiday season.
Fraternally,
Rick Friedman — Local 512 Executive Board Member
rfriedman@twulocal512.org
Manny
Alimagno
Rollie Manlangit
Jeannette Maxie
Philip Score
BANKRUPTCY TIMELINE CONTINUED...
May 16: Judge Lane rejects Ad-Hoc Committee of Passenger Service Agents’
motion to block American from imposing cuts on that work group.
May 21-25: Lane holds third and last week of hearings on American’s motion to
reject the contracts of APA, APFA and TWU.
Monthly results: Operating income of $55 million, net loss of $134 million.
JUNE
June 20: U.S. Treasury proposes a new rule that would let American kill the lumpsum option for retiring pilots, a step that American said would let it freeze the
defined-benefit pension plan for pilots.
June 27: The APA board of directors, by a 9-7 vote, sends American’s last, best
and final offer to pilots for a vote.
Monthly results: Operating income of $102 million, net loss of $21 million.
JULY
July 19: Judge Lane grants another three-month extension for exclusivity period
to submit a plan of reorganization, to Dec. 28, and the period to obtain
acceptances of plan, to Feb. 28, 2013.
Monthly results: Operating income of $240 million, net loss of $54 million.
AUGUST
Aug. 8: APA rejects its proposed contract with American, but the remaining two
TWU units approve their contracts.
Aug. 15: Judge Lane rejects American’s motion to toss out APA contract on two
issues.
Aug. 19: APFA approves its contract with American.
Aug. 24: American Eagle fleet service clerks, represented by the TWU, approve
their contract.
Aug. 24: American Eagle ground school instructors and its mechanics and related employees, represented by the TWU, reject proposed contracts.
Aug. 31: American Airlines, US Airways announce they’ve signed non-disclosure
agreement to discuss a potential merger. It’s later extended to Nov. 30, with a
further extension expected past Dec. 1.
Monthly results: Operating income of $55 million, net loss of $86 million.
SEPTEMBER
Sept. 4: Judge Lane grants American’s revised motion to reject APA contract.
Sept. 7: AMR Eagle files a motion in bankruptcy court seeking to reject its existing contracts with mechanics, ground school instructors and dispatchers.
Sept. 7: American Eagle flight attendants, represented by the Association of
Flight Attendants-CWA, approve their new contract.
Sept. 12: Judge Lane approves APFA and TWU contracts with American.
Sept. 12: American outlines plans to implement contracts of TWU and APFA,
impose terms on APA.
Sept. 13: American’s on-time performance worsens significantly, and the number of cancellations climb for several weeks as reports of mechanical issues
soar.
Sept. 21: American says 2,205 flight attendants elect to take an early-out option.
Monthly results: Operating loss of $244 million, net income of $3 million.
OCTOBER
Oct. 8: American Eagle pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association,
approve their contract.
Oct. 17: American Airlines says it will hire more than 1,500 flight attendants over
the next year.
Oct. 19: American Eagle ground school instructors, represented by TWU, approve
their contract.
NOVEMBER
Nov. 9: Judge Lane signs order extending exclusivity period to Jan. 28, 2013,
acceptances period to March 28, 2013.
Nov. 9: APA board votes 13-2 in favor of “agreement in principle.”
Nov. 13: US Airways chairman and CEO Doug Parker briefs the unsecured creditors committee about US Airways’ views on a potential AMR-US Airways merger.
Nov. 14: AMR chairman and CEO Tom Horton briefs the unsecured creditors
committee about AMR’s views on a potential American Airlines-US Airways
merger.
Nov. 16: APA board votes 12-4 to send AIP to members as a tentative agreement.
Nov. 23: American formally asks Judge Lane for permission to eliminate lumpsum pension option for retiring pilots.
Nov. 23: Pilots begin voting on contract, with ballots to be counted Dec. 7.
For accurate and up-to-date news reporting on aviation and the AA bankruptcy,
visit http://www.twubkfacts.org/ and Terry Maxon’s blog at the Dallas Morning
News: http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/
Page 10
Retirees Steve McDonald, Neill Sachs, Joe Kane, Joe Hotovy,
Steve Ginder, Bob Herbert & Joe Dembosky.
Local 512 Eagle Ramp Connectors gathered to honor retirees. Photo courtesy CSM Joanie Avery.
CONGRATULATIONS TO TWU LOCAL 512 MEMBERS WHO RETIRED, TOOK EARLY BUY OUT OR STANDIN-STEAD SINCE OUR LAST NEWSLETTER:
ORD: FERNAND ABELLA, KAREN ADAMS, CURTIS ANDERSON, JUANITO ANGELES, FERDINAND ANGELES, DAVID ARCHER, LUIS ARZU, SALAH ASKAR, ANNABELLE AUSTRIA, ROGELIO AUSTRIA, LARRY
BAGBY, GEORGE BARNES, RICHARD BIVER, GARRY BLAIR, FREDERICK BLANDA, JOHN BOOTH,
SCOTT BRACK, BERNARD BROWN, STEVEN BROWN, KENNETH BUKOWSKI, FREDRICK CALDWELL,
CONSTANCIO CAPILI, LILLIAN CASTILLO, ROBERT CHAMBERLAIN, VINCENT CHIERO, ROBERT
CIVITELLA, MARCIA CLARK, MICHAEL COLEMAN, STANLEY COLEMAN, MARGARITA COLON, ADRIAN
COOK, VIC CRISOLOGO, WARNE CROW, RONALD CRUMP, BERNARDINO CUARESMA, HENRY CUBACUB, NILDA CUEVAS, BONITA DAVIS, DILIS DEL QUADRO, JOSEPH DEMBOSKY, ERNEST DIGIOIA,
REYNALDO DIONISIO, RONALD DONALDSON, HECTOR DONIS, MIGUEL DUAZO, STEPHEN EBERWEIN,
PATRICIA ELDER, GARY FARRELL, STEVEN FERRELLI, TONI FORBES, JOSE GARCIA, ROBERT GAY,
CHRISTOPHER GIANNOBLE, STEVEN GINDER, WILLIAM GREELEY, ERVIN GREEN, EDDY GRESHAM,
ROBERT HALLEY, FREDERICK HALTVICK, STEVEN HAUSHERR, LAWRENCE HEFFRON, STEVEN
HEINZELMAN, ROBERT HERBERT, MARGARITA HERNANDEZ, MARY HESS, KEVIN HICKEY, JOSEPH
HOTOVY, SYED HUSSAINI, MICHAEL JACKSON, DENNIS JACOB, EMMA JEFFERSON, JEFFREY JONES,
MATHAI JOSEPH, LENORE JOYCE, JOSEPH KANE, MARTIN KEDROSKI, JAMES KIRKENDALL, LEN
KISELLUS, WILLIAM KLEIN, CLIFFORD KUHLMAN, BILL LARSEN, LEONILO LAUDE, RONALD LEE, MICHAEL LIVINGSTONE, PAMELA LOFTON-TOLEMY, STEVEN LOOMIS, RUSSELL LUSCALZO, REYNATO
MALLARI, RICHARD MASTERS, STEVEN MCCLINE, CORNELIUS MCCLURE, STEVEN MCDONALD,
KAREN MCKENZIE, BENJAMIN MCKINNEY, LARRY MENDOZA, TONJA MEYER, MELINDA MOORE, WILSON MUNOZ, MICHAEL MUSCOLINO, LINDA MYRICKES, CHRISTINE NEVILLE, ROBERT NOVOTNY,
DADARIS OCASIO, DOUGLAS ONORATO, REGINALD OVERSTREET, SILAS PATTERSON, MICHAEL
PAWULSKY, NORMAN PETERSON, THOMAS PRELLETZ, SAMUEL QUINONES, CHARLES RAHN,
SOFRONIO RAMIREZ, NATHANIEL REEVES, STEVEN RICHARDSON, ANTHONY RICHARDSON, JESUS
RIVERA, THOMAS RYAN, NEILL SACHS, FRANK SANDERS, JAMES SCHULTZ, ROCCO SCHUMACHER,
JAMES SCHWICHTENBERG, MIKE SCILINGO, OMADATH SEECHARAN, MOHAMMED SIDDIQUI, TANYA
SIMS, ROMARITO SOLOMON, JOHN TALDONE, DAVID TATUM, SANDRA TATUM, LORENZO THOMPSON,
WALTER THURMAN, CURTIS TILLERY, VINCENT TILLMAN, GEORGE TONEY, RONALD TROXELL, RICK
VANDENBERG, EDUARDO VELASCO, EDGARD VELASQUEZ, ROSALEE WASHINGTON, WALTER WHITESIDE, JOSEPH WIEREC, JACK WILLIAMS, CORTEZ WINTERS, EDWARD WOJTON, PHILLIP WOLFE, ALFRED WRONSKI JR, JAMES ZUBRZYCKI.
Local 512 President Sean Doyle congratulates retiree
Steve Hausherr; 2nd VP Tim Murphy congratulates
retiree Mathai Jospeh.
Local 512 would like to express its gratitude to three
retiring representatives at ORD: Pat Elder has served
the Local many years as a Shop Steward and a Safety
Steward for Title III Fleet Service. She also participated in last year’s protest against OneWorld’s Qatar
Airlines for outsourcing TWU work at JFK (photo
below). Mike Coleman served this Local many years as
a Shop Steward, Chief Steward and Safety Steward for
Title III Fleet Service. Joe Pacenti has served for many
years as Shop Steward, Chief Steward and Section
Chairman for Title II Automotive Maintenance.
CMH: JEFF OSBORNE.
DEN: AGERICO AYALA, GARRY BURRIS, WILLIAM CALDWELL, WILLIAM DISE JR, SHAUN DREW, DOYLE
DUNAWAY, THOMAS FARLEY, JORGE GONZALES, FLOYD LOOMAN, LILY LUCERO, SHEILA MARES,
LOUIS MARES JR, NICK MARTINEZ, DOUGLAS MILLER, STEVEN NEIL, MICHAEL PERRELLA, DAVID
RICH, WILLIAM ROBERTS, DONALD ROMERO, WAYNE SCHLOTTACH, JOHN SLAUGHTER, ROBERT
THOMPSON, KENNETH TOMASZEWSKI.
IND: TIMOTHY DIEHL, JEFF DILLON, RONALD HNATKO, JAMES JOHNSON, ROBERT KOENIG, BILLY
MARCUM, MICHAEL MARSH, JOHN MEAD, JON MOYER, PATRICK PANYARD, CHARLES RECORD,
PAUL WOODLEY, KERRY ZICKUHR.
MCI: PHYLLIS BULLER, BRUCE DOTZLER, KENNETH GIFFORD, LARRY HALL, DENNIS LESTER, RANDALL SHOEMAKER.
MSP: KEVIN BARNES, ROBERT BRELJE, KIMBERLY FRAZIER, THOMAS GIBBONS, JOSEPH GLOVER,
GREGORY HALLAL, RICHARD LARSON, STEVE LUZAICH, MAURINE RELLER, JAMES SCHROER.
Local 512 would like to express its gratitude to former
CMH Section Chairman Jeff (Ozzie) Osborne, who
served our members while also serving as a TWU
organizer, not only in the ATD but in other divisions.
Ozzie has been a real advocate for the TWU and workers rights to organize. Congratulations on your retirement, Ozzie!
Page
We Won the Battle; the War is Just Beginning
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
THE 2012 ELECTION IS OVER NOW, BUT IT DOES NOT STOP THERE. In fact
it cannot stop there. The TWU Illinois Indiana State Conference endorsed and
supported four candidates to national office. The TWU and other unions were
instrumental in helping win three of those four races. They included Joe Donnelly for Senate in Indiana, Brad Schneider for U.S. Congress (IL 10) and
Tammy Duckworth for U.S. Congress (IL 8).
The reason I say the war has just begun is because now that the election is
over, the next battle is the so-called fiscal cliff. On January 1st, 2013, the Bush tax
cuts will expire, the payroll tax cuts will
expire, and automatic spending cuts will
kick in across the board for almost every
government program. This is known as the
fiscal cliff. All members of Congress want to
bring down the debt, it’s just that Republicans and Democrats have different ways of
accomplishing this. In simple terms, the
Brad Schneider addresses members at the
Republicans in Congress want the Bush tax
September Local 512 Union meeting.
cuts to be made permanent, and to bring
down the debt by reducing spending on most domestic programs such as schools,
roads and bridges. They also want to radically change Social Security and Medicare for anyone under fifty-five years old. The Republicans also will say that they
are willing to raise revenue by closing loopholes in the tax codes.
The Democrats, on the other hand, say that Social Security and Medicare are
off the table, and that we need to raise taxes on the wealthiest 2% and close the
loopholes that the wealthiest Americans enjoy. At the same time, Democrats want
the Bush tax cuts to remain in effect for anyone making less than $250,000
yearly, and to keep the tax loopholes that most middle income families in this
country enjoy, such as your home mortgage deduction.
Another example of these loopholes concerns wages. We are paid hourly, and
therefore we are required to pay income taxes, Medicare taxes, and Social Security
taxes. The income tax alone at the top rate is just above 36% for some of us. On
the other hand, Paris Hilton’s income comes from Capital Gains. Her family just
gives her money from their family trust.
We are the ones that need the tax Because of the Capital Gains tax loophole,
breaks, as most of us are living
she only pays 15% tax. Now I have no probpaycheck-to-paycheck.
lem with a Capital Gains tax of 15% for
someone who invests in a company, creates
jobs and strengthens our economy. Paris Hilton does none of that, so why does
she pay less in income tax than most of us pay? For her to keep that tax credit, the
Republicans want to fix our budget by cutting Social Security and Medicare. Are
you kidding me? Now I don’t know how you feel about this, but I have been
paying into those two programs since I was 16 years old. They are not part of the
budget, and they did not add to the debt. These are not entitlements; these are
insurance policies that I have been paying into
for 33 years now. I’ll be damned if our government is going to shortchange me during my
retirement years so Paris Hilton can enjoy her
Hollywood slacker lifestyle on my dime.
At the beginning of this article I said we
won the battle, but the war is just beginning.
What I meant is that the argument over the
fiscal cliff is taking place right now. I need TWU Members Juan Elvira, Vince Bellino, and
each and every one of you to email Congress Tim Marting, along with other labor activists,
protested the treatment of Sensata workers
and President Obama and tell them not to bar- in Freeport Illinois, whose jobs were being
gain away what we have paid into since we shipped to China by Bain Capital. The Ed
started working for a paycheck. We are the Schultz TV Show was being filmed live.
ones that need the tax breaks, as most of us are
living paycheck to paycheck. The $70-80 a month we will lose is a lot of money
for us, but it is not even a bottle of champagne to Paris Hilton. We need to hold
our politicians accountable to us, the working class citizens of this country. Please
email Congress and the President and put a stop to this insanity:
http://act.aflcio.org/c/18/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=5062
With that said, I would like to wish all of you and your families a safe and
happy holiday season.
Fraternally,
Tim Marting
TWU Local 512 Political Action Coordinator
tmar5918@gmail.com
Tim Marting and Vince Bellino with Brad Schneider outside the union hall. Brad
addressed the members of Local 512 at our September 27 Membership Meeting,
and was successful in his bid for Congress. Tim and Vince worked in conjunction
with the AFL-CIO, through the TWU Illinois-Indiana State Conference, to advocate
for labor-friendly candidates.
Local 512 President Sean Doyle volunteered in the Columbus, Ohio “Get Out the Vote” Campaign with fellow TWU Members from Local 208 (Transit Division). L to R, Lowell Latham, TWU
Local 208 Retiree; Terry Daniels, TWU International Legislative Field Staff; Sean Doyle; Alisia
Combs, TWU Local 208, Union Steward; Theo James, TWU International Representative,
Transit Division; Simon Carruthers, TWU Local 208 Retiree, Edith McIntosh, TWU Local 208
Retiree; Bryant Henderson, TWU Local 208 Executive Board; Nila Smith, TWU Local Retiree;
Duane Marbury, TWU Local 208 Sec. Treas.; Andrew Jordan, TWU Local 208 President; April
James, TWU Local 208 Retiree.
AA Loses Bid to Stop Agents from Voting on Union
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia denied a
request by American Airlines to delay a union representation election for passenger service agents so the high
court could hear its appeal, union organizers said Nov.
27. The 9,700 agents will begin voting Dec. 4, with votes
tallied by the National Mediation Board on Jan. 15. The
Supreme Court request was the latest legal challenge
made by the company to stop the organizing effort by
the Communications Workers of America. "With the
election now going forward, we urge all of our agents
and representatives to vote," said AA spokesman Bruce
Hicks. American had argued that the union did not collect authorization cards from 50 percent of workers, as
required by a law enacted in February. The NMB, which
oversees union representation elections, argued that the
previous 35 percent standard should be used, since the
application for an election had been filed in December
2011, while an older law was in place. "It's been just
about one year since agents filed for this election, and
many agents have seen their jobs outsourced, wages and
benefits cut over that period," said CWA spokeswoman
Candice Johnson. "Agents want their union, and today's
decision brings that union another step closer." The
union said that American could appeal to the full Supreme Court, but would need four of the nine justices to
hear the case, which probably would not occur until
January. A majority of the votes cast will decide the election. (Source: Andrea Ahles, Dallas Star-Telegram)
In March, 2012, the TWU signed an affiliation
agreement with the CWA. “The goal of both unions is to
enhance job security, working conditions, bargaining
and organizing capacity, necessary to insure economic
prosperity for our members, while preserving and building upon the proud history and accomplishments attributed to both Unions,” according to a joint statement.
Congratulations to Scholarship Awardees!
Congratulations to our Local 512 Scholarship winners
listed below, chosen at our Membership Meeting July 26.
Scholarships are for $1,000.00.
1.Foresman, Daniel — Son (Jeffrey)
2. Lindley, James—Son (Nathan)
3. McMillian, Clarence — Daughter (Rebecca)
4. Angell, Louise — Daughter (Amanda)
5. Landauer, Ronald — Son (Jonathan)
6. Theis, Leo — Daughter (Katherine)
7. Angell, Louise — Son (Ryan)
8.Jakubosky, Julie — Son (Michael)
Alternates, in the order in chosen:
1.Landauer, Ronald
— Son (Joshua)
2.Gulik, Greg — Daughter (Kimberlee)
3. Colangelo, Carmen — Son (Nicholas)
4. Antosh, Michael — Daughter (Carly)
5. Masters, Richard — Son (Travis)
6. Drabik, David — Son (Brian)
7. Alexander, Daniel — Son (Brandon)
8. Guerrero, Christopher — Self
Congratulations to all
Retirees & Early-Buy-Out
Members! We wish you
all the best.
Milestones
WITH SINCERE SYMPATH Y
We offer our sincere
condolences to the
family and friends of
Facilities Maintenance Crew Chief
Robert Biggs, who
passed away recently. May he rest
in peace.
Local 512 Members who worked as Eagle Ramp Connectors for many years gathered at a local
nightspot to celebrate those among them who were retiring and taking the early buy-out. Thanks to
CSM Joanie Avery for providing photos from the event.
Transport Workers Union
Local 512 — AFL-CIO
650 E. Devon Ave. Suite 170
Itasca, IL 60143
(847) 956-6996
FAX: (630) 250-6077
Web: http://www.twulocal512.org
For Bankruptcy Updates - http://aa.twu.org
E-mail: mail@twulocal512.org
Mike Brennan — Editor
Newsletter E-mail: twu512@gmail.com
TWU Int’l - www.twu.org
AFLAFL-CIO Transportation Trades Dept. - www.ttd.org
Illinois AFLAFL-CIO - www.ilaflwww.ilafl-cio.org
National AFLAFL-CIO - www.aflcio.org
Chicago Federation of Labor - www.chicagolabor.org
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