Maintenance Instructors Tentative Agreements
[MODIFIED - Changes in Bold]
Chicago Point:
AHNOC and WHQ were added under the Chicago Point.
Houston Point:
IAH, HOU, TCTC, and NHC were added under the Houston Point.
The TA adds additional Maintenance Instructor locations under the Chicago and Houston Points. These locations already had represented work being performed there, and the new language formally captures that work in the contract.
[MODIFIED - Changes in Bold]
Employees awarded a position at another location may now be provided up to thirty (30) days to report for duty after the award.
The language also provides:
- One (1) consecutive day off for relocation
- Additional travel time based on 300 miles per day
- Positive space transportation when applicable
Employees transferring to another location may now receive additional time to report after receiving an award. The language also adds relocation-related travel protections and clarifies transportation support when applicable.
[MODIFIED - Changes in Bold]
The TA updates the definition of the work week and allows schedules with up to ten (10) consecutive hours per day, inclusive of the paid meal period.
Employees on these schedules continue to receive a paid thirty (30) minute meal period.
The overtime language was also updated to create separate overtime rules for:
- Employees assigned to eight (8) hour shifts
- Employees assigned to ten (10) hour shifts
The TA creates flexibility for 10-hour schedules while keeping the paid meal period. These schedules are intended primarily for development and training work, not for teaching classes for 10 straight hours. The overtime language was updated to match the new schedule structure.
[NEW - All New Language]
Management will provide the System Committee Chairperson the quarterly schedule as soon as practical, in advance of posting such schedules, allowing for consideration of Union input.
The quarterly assignment schedule must now be provided to the System Committee Chairperson before it is posted, allowing the Union an opportunity to review the schedule and provide input before assignments are finalized.
[MODIFIED - Changes in Bold]
The probationary period for:
- New hires
- Employees awarded their first Maintenance Instructor bid
was changed from one hundred eighty (180) days to two hundred seventy (270) days.
The TA extends the probationary period for new hires and employees entering their first Maintenance Instructor assignment from 180 days to 270 days. According to the negotiating committee, the additional time is intended to give employees more opportunity to learn and develop necessary skills in the position. This helps ensure that actual workloads and expectations do not exceed what is reasonable for new instructors.
[MODIFIED - Changes in Bold]
The annual bank of paid union business hours for committee representatives was increased by fifty (50) hours.
The total available bank increases from 500 hours to 550 hours.
The TA increases the available bank of paid union business hours for committee representatives, providing additional time for representational work and contract administration.
[NEW - All New Language]
The TA creates a formal Maintenance Instructor Upgrade Plan process.
The language recognizes that instructors may require additional preparation and development time before teaching certain subjects or course material.
Instructors will not teach an entire course until the required upgrade plan has been completed, unless the topic being taught is only a portion of the course requirement.
The TA creates a structured upgrade and preparation process for Maintenance Instructors. According to the negotiating committee, the goal is to give instructors enough time to properly learn and prepare course material before being assigned to teach full courses.
The language is also intended to reduce situations where instructors are overloaded or assigned to teach subjects before they have had enough time to fully develop proficiency in the material.
[NEW - All New Language]
The Company cannot unilaterally impose a vaccination requirement on employees covered by this Agreement.
This restriction does not apply if vaccination is required by law or by the terms of a government contract.
The Company may still offer voluntary incentives to encourage vaccination.
The Company cannot require vaccinations on its own. Requirements only apply if mandated by law or a government contract. Voluntary incentive programs are still allowed.
[MODIFIED - Changes in Bold]
The TA updates travel compensation language for both domestic and international assignments.
Employees assigned to:
- Domestic travel assignments receive one (1) hour of pay before departure and one (1) hour after arrival.
- International travel assignments receive three (3) hours of pay before departure and three (3) hours after arrival.
The TA also establishes that international assignments will first be offered to qualified volunteers.
If there are insufficient volunteers, assignments will be made in reverse bid seniority order.
The TA creates additional paid time connected to domestic and international travel assignments and establishes a process for assigning international work.
International assignments must first be offered to qualified volunteers. If there are not enough volunteers, assignments move in reverse bid seniority order.
[NEW - All New Language]
With management approval, employees assigned to international travel may be reimbursed for required passports, passport renewals, visas, inoculations, and vaccinations connected to the assignment.
Employees assigned to qualifying international work will also receive a $4.50 per hour override for all hours worked on the assignment.
The TA formally adds reimbursement language for certain international assignment expenses, including passports, visas, and vaccinations, when approved by management.
The agreement also adds a $4.50 per hour override for qualifying international assignments.
According to the negotiating committee, many of these practices were already being followed operationally, and the TA now places them into contract language.