This week significant changes were announced that are reflective of discussions, both long and short term, between the IAM and PSA Airlines. The changes include a completely revamped wage scale with increases at all steps and all remaining years over the current rates. Also included was an increase in A&P License Premiums from $1.00/each to $2.00/each (now $4.00/hour total for both A&P/Avionics Tech). The effective date for pay purposes is this past Monday, May 27, 2019. Also included in these changes are the ability for the Company to address costs in each base individually through geographic premiums. While they are currently unfunded, they may be used at some point in the future.
These changes are being driven by many and varied reasons that include a shortage of A&P Mechanics both inside of the industry due to upward mobility availability and a dwindling supply of individuals coming into the industry. While these current changes came about over the past 2 weeks, it is worth reinforcing again that your negotiating committee took a position as far back as early May of 2016 in projecting not only the current shortage, but also the downstream effects they would have on PSA Airlines. The Union even proffered a LOA in negotiations to address everything that has happened over the last 3 years and it was rejected by the Company negotiators at the time as being too expensive. That increase in May of 2016 was only 3% in an effort to lessen the impact of what your negotiating committee knew was coming. The Company negotiators were replaced along with some of your executive and mid-level management team. The last 12+ months have been demanding on you to say the least and these increases certainly are reflective of your hard work.
A conference call was conducted with Stewards from all bases to discuss these changes, the timeline and this history more in depth so they are prepared to answer your questions. If you have a question they cannot answer, please contact me.
