Local 512

August 15, 2026

My fellow 512 family,

We want to take a moment to welcome the few hundred new members joining TWU Local 512. Many of you are currently in your orientation and training phase and will soon be joining us on the ramp here at Chicago O’Hare. 

We know the last few years haven’t always been perfect. We’ve faced our share of challenges, changes, and difficult times here at ORD, as well as in other stations and hubs. But through it all, your union has continued to stand up for our members each and every day. Through our safety team and field office, we have created a bigger footprint on the ramp than in this local's 80 years of existence.  

As you begin your careers here at O’Hare, remember that you are not alone. You have a union behind you, and we encourage you to learn your contract, know your rights and responsibilities, and never hesitate to ask questions.

We look forward to working with all of you. Welcome to TWU Local 512—and to the family.

Let’s start by reviewing a few important things so your transition into your career at American Airlines goes as smoothly as possible.

As a new employee, you will be considered a probationary employee for your first 100 days. During this period, you will be accruing sick time and vacation time. However, it will not appear in Workbrain until after you complete your 100 days. Both accrue monthly, and vacation accrues for the following year.

ATTENDANCE DURING PROBATION

Attendance is especially important during your probationary period. You should not call in sick simply because. Absences during probation can have serious consequences. 

If you experience a serious illness, accident, or other circumstance that requires you to miss work, make sure you follow the proper company call-in and notification procedures and provide any required documentation.

Illinois Kin Care leave will not be available to you because you are on probation. Using Illinois Kin Care, you must have sick time in your bank for your absence to be coded, so you won’t incur a point. Full-time accrues 40 hours, and part-time accrues 25 hours. Illinois Kin Care is for caring for a family member; use it wisely.

When in doubt, contact the field office before making a decision that could affect your employment.

Your first 100 days are important. Show up, be on time, learn your job, follow the rules, and ask questions. We want to see every one of you successfully complete probation and become a strong member of the TWU Local 512 family.

Lastly, during our weekly meeting, we had a general discussion and requested updates on several items addressed over the past month.

The company is still waiting for the CDA to paint the required boxes on the outer H-side. Until this work is completed, the company has suspended push and pull operations on the outer H-side.

There are still four open positions for facility Maintenance Mechanics. We will continue to follow up with the company regarding these vacancies and the need to properly staff the department.

We requested another update regarding the cables needed for the new printers in the bag room. We were informed that the cables are on the way.

We also requested information regarding how tornado warnings and severe weather alerts are communicated to employees working on the ramp. We want to ensure our members receive timely, effective notifications when severe weather threatens operations.

If you have any concerns or any questions, you can contact us at the field office at 773-894-0077 or our safety team.

Sincerely and fraternally,

Juan Elvira

President – TWU Local 512

TWU Local 512 is proud to announce the Local 512 app for your smartphone is available for download in the Apple store and the Google play store.
 click the iTunes or Google Play logos below to download the app today!