Summer Bid Structure Update and New Member Welcome

Good evening everyone,

Wanted to give some quick updates.

I have a 1:00 p.m. bid meeting with the company tomorrow. There have been several developments over the last 24 hours regarding construction of the summer bid.

The Crew Chief section is now completed, and we have moved on to the remainder of the bid, including driving, where there are some major changes coming.

Currently, ABR ML and ABR REG are separate driving areas staffed independently for the summer bid. The company has now decided to integrate both work areas into one ABR driving position staffed with 80 drivers.

What does this mean?

This means if you bid ABR, you could work either a regional flight or a mainline flight depending on operational needs and how the schedule is flowing.

Why is this happening?

The reality is the operation is constantly evolving, and the company is focused heavily on efficiency and operational metrics. When they review staffing, they see one group with large gaps between assignments while another group is struggling to keep up with the workload. In today’s environment, those are the types of things companies analyze closely.

As a union, our responsibility is not only to protect the work contracted to our members, but also to make sure we are evolving with the operation in a way that protects jobs long term. If we refuse to adapt, companies often look for other ways to solve efficiency concerns, and that can eventually impact headcount and opportunities for our members.

That is where your union steps in.

Our role is to have those difficult conversations with the company and work toward solutions that improve efficiency while protecting our members, preserving jobs, maintaining contractual protections, and ensuring the workforce is treated fairly.

The goal is not to do more with less. The goal is to show the company that our members can continue handling this work effectively while keeping these positions protected under our contract.

Summer Bid Changes

For the summer bid, you will see:

• ABR combined with 80 driving lines
• ORD, OAL, and Hot Shot remaining separate work areas

There is also a contingency plan in place. If this structure does not work the way the company expects, there is an option to revert back to the current method we are using today.

I will have more details after tomorrow’s meeting.

Today, the Executive Board welcomed more than 50 new members into the TWU Local 571 family. I want to thank the Executive Board for stepping up, participating in the new hire welcome, and educating these new members on what this Local can do for them and why union solidarity matters.

Tomorrow, the company will also be conducting an FOD walk, and the Executive Board will be joining at 10:00 a.m. as we continue finding ways to work together to improve the operation while keeping safety and communication at the forefront.

Lastly, if you have not completed your Sexual Harassment Prevention lesson, the deadline is approaching quickly. Failure to complete the lesson on time will result in a 30-day restriction and corrective action.

If you are experiencing any issues completing the lesson, please reach out to management immediately to avoid disciplinary action. The union is also here to help, so please do not hesitate to contact us.

Thank you everyone.