APA Board Holds First Section 6 Special Meeting

Two primary issues were discussed: Section 6 negotiations and potential changes to Aggressive Pick-up (APU). It’s important to remember that these are separate efforts. Changes to APU are being pursued outside of Section 6.

Section 6
We discussed when early openers began in August that the first step in Section 6 is to establish a protocol agreement with the Company. That agreement sets the framework for negotiations, including who participates, meeting frequency, agenda notice, information and data sharing, record-keeping, and expectations. These talks are complete and contract talks have begun in earnest.

As both parties identify and develop their priorities at the table, one point remains important: APA entered Section 6 to Raise the Standard, not surrender protections earned.

Aggressive Pick-up
The Board tasked the Negotiating Committee with pursuing changes to APU after pilot feedback and operational data demonstrated that the provision was not meeting expectations regarding seniority, equitable access to flying opportunities, transmission consistency, and the improper use of technology.

This is how a member-driven Association should work: pilots provide feedback, APA gathers facts and data, the Board establishes direction, and our subject-matter experts take that direction to the table. The Negotiating Committee delivered on that Board direction and both APA and management have identified opportunities for a mutually advantageous solution.

Our objective is to improve APU by incorporating stronger seniority principles and more equitable access to available flying. At the same time, discussions identified an opportunity to introduce seniority and bidding principles into qualification training, something that has never previously existed in our contract, while helping the Company address an operational need for their summer XLR schedule.

APA remains committed to Raising the Standard, both in the agreement we are negotiating and in how we represent pilots along the way. Our Negotiating Committee has the full support of the Association as it executes the Board’s direction.

Other Union Business
The Strategic Planning and Scope Committees also provided updates during the meeting. Strategic Planning continues evaluating both near and long-term threats and opportunities to ensure our pilot group is prepared for changes across American Airlines and the broader industry.

The Board also received an update from the Section 6 Integration Team (SIT) which is a coordinated effort involving Communications, Family Awareness, Membership, Negotiating, Strategic Planning, and STOP.

One of the lessons identified following the 2023 contract effort was the need for greater integration across APA. Over the past several years, the Association has worked deliberately to break down organizational silos and ensure the committees supporting negotiations operate from a common strategy.

As Section 6 progresses, our goals are better coordination, better preparation, and a more informed and engaged pilot group.