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Curbside Arbitration Update

The bargaining team reached a tentative agreement with American Airlines on December 6, 2023, which was ratified by the membership on January 8, 2024. However, a disagreement emerged between the Company and the Union regarding the language in Article 4, Section B.3.g of the tentative agreement, which specifies that only union-represented American Airlines employees can collect curb side baggage fees. To resolve the dispute, both parties agreed to go through mediation. If mediation fails, the matter will then go to Arbitration (System Board of Adjustment).  

On December 5, 2024, the Union, along with its attorney, and the Company, along with its attorney, participated in mediation. The Mediator conducted several sessions with both parties, but ultimately, no agreement was reached. As a result, the matter was then arbitrated.

The Union Attorney presented its case with several key points: (1) the agreed-upon language prohibits contracted fee collection and ensures Union-represented AA employees handle it; (2) after over a year of negotiations, changes to Article 4 B.3.g affected the Union's bargaining and acceptance of the tentatively agreed (TA) Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), especially Article 4; (3) its members ratified the TA; and (4) the Company’s attempt to alter a substantive provision of the negotiated and ratified contract is both inappropriate and undermines the legitimacy of the agreement.

Despite our efforts, the Union did not Prevail in the arbitration process. The Arbitrator ordered that Article 4 B.3.g of the CBA be reformed to read: “all curbside work (other than ticketing transactions).”