This story has been updated to include a discussion of APA’s response to the United Airlines pilots tentative contract deal.
The negotiating committee for American Airlines pilots says it has reached a revised agreement in principle on a new contract, twelve days after an earlier AIP was derailed because United pilots got a better deal.
The committee for the Allied Pilots Association, which represents 15,000 American pilots, said Thursday afternoon that it has reached an agreement that includes “proposed enhancements to the tentative agreement.”
The revised agreement has been submitted to the union’s board of directors for review. The board is scheduled to meet August 2. Its approval would lead to a tentative agreement that members would vote on.
The negotiating committee is calling the revised agreement “TA 2,0.”
The airline said Thursday, “We appreciate the Allied Pilots Association for its collaborative work to reach an updated agreement on a four-year contract for American’s pilots. It’s a contract we’re proud of and one our pilots deserve.”
While American pilots are represented by APA, United pilots are represented by the Air Line Pilots Association. Some American pilots have said they would prefer to be in ALPA.
APA and American reached an agreement in principle on a new contract in May. It was approved by the board, becoming a tentative agreement, and was ready to go out for a vote on Saturday, July 15, when United ALPA announced it had reached an agreement in principle.
The United announcement triggered a hurried review by APA. American quickly said it would “take care” of its pilots and on the carrier’s earnings call on July 20, CEO Robert Isom said American would match whatever is in the United deal. A brief conflict, which regarded the pace of accepting the carrier’s revisions, emerged between the APA negotiating committee and APA President Ed Sicher.
Sicher addressed the conflict in a message to pilots on Monday. He wrote, “In the immediate aftermath of the fortuitous circumstance of the release of United’s agreement in principle, your elected and appointed representatives went to work and quickly delivered demands on your behalf to management to ensure that your collective bargaining agreement reflects your worth and the new industry-standard landscape in compensation, benefits, and work rules.
By Friday of last week, management responded with a comprehensive proposal, addressing concerns your negotiating committee raised on behalf of the board of directors.” Sicher wrote. “As the board was evaluating that proposal, CEO Robert Isom released a video to pilots and the news media disclosing his version of an improved agreement.”
Sicher said he responded with a “non-comprehensive review of developments,” which “was not an endorsement for or against these developments,” in order to honor his promise to be transparent if he were elected president.
“I will always believe that the most unified membership is the best-informed membership,” Sicher wrote. “You are APA and our union is only as strong as your collective will.”
Changes were made in the American deal to conform to the United deal. They include a 21% ratification bonus that will begin in January rather than May, and pay rates that match United and Delta pay rates – contingent on United pilots ratifying their agreement in principle by Jan. 1, 2024.
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