American Airlines customer service and gate agents approve new labor contract

American Airlines customer service and gate agents approve new labor contract
http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/2015/11/american-airlines-gate-agents...

Sheryl Jean Follow @SJeanDallas Email sjean@dallasnews.com
Published: November 30, 2015 2:08 pm

American Airlines ticket agent Jaime Chen (on right) checks in a passenger at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. (Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News)
Updated at 4 p.m.: Revised to include live union comments

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American Airlines customer service and gate agents approved a new labor contract that includes average pay raises of 30 percent, the union representing the workers just announced today.

yes votes came from 73 percent of agents, according to the Communications Workers of America/International Brotherhood of Teamsters Passenger Service Association. The five-year contract covers nearly 15,000 agents.

“I think it’s a great contract,” said Mike Lo Vuolo, staff representative for the union group. “Of course, you don’t get everything you always want.”

American agents now will be the highest paid in the airline industry, he said.

The previous contract for US Airways’ agents became amendable in 2012, the same year American agents rejected a tentative agreement. Then the American and US Airways merger was announced; it was completed in December 2013.

American said it was “pleased” with the vote.

“Our passenger service employees have played a critical role in the integration of our airline and we rely on them to give our customers the best service in the industry,” said Kerry Philipovitch, American’s senior vice president of customer experience. “This agreement is a huge step in making us truly one combined team.”

The contract includes an immediate pay raise of about 30 percent. Senior gate agents from legacy US Airways would get a bump of roughly $1,200 a month to about $62,000 a year. American agents would get the same hourly rate, but their current pay is higher, so the increase isn’t as large.

The contract also calls for:

* An additional 9 percent wage increase over the life of the contract.

* Retains and strengthens existing furlough protection.

* Better benefits: American and the union can negotiate an improved healthcare plan by June 1, 2016. No-cost life insurance coverage is increased to twice the employee’s annual salary. Employees can buy short- and long-term disability insurance.

* Increases shift premiums, so employees who report to work at or after noon will earn an extra 55 cents an hour and employees who report to work at or 6 p.m. will earn an extra 62 cents an hour.

* Exclusivity, meaning only agents can do certain work, such as helping passengers with self-service kiosk check-in.

* The union must establish two committees as the first step toward integrating the seniority lists of American and US Airways agents. Then, both airlines will publish their lists for agents to verify, Lo Vuolo said. Agents can file an appeal, he added.

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