Local 512

Weekly Update

October 10, 2026

My fellow 512 family,

I’d like to thank our Local 512 Vice President, Mike Szwed, for stepping up and handling last week’s update.

Normally, even when I’m on vacation, I make time to write our update and keep our members informed about the issues and challenges affecting our station here at Chicago O’Hare.

However, Mike felt I needed to take a little extra time to rest and recharge, especially after being heavily involved in preparing for our upcoming 2027 contract negotiations. I appreciate him recognizing the importance of that time and stepping in to keep our members informed.

Leadership is about teamwork, supporting one another, and making sure the job gets done. Mike stepped up when needed, and I want to recognize him for his efforts and dedication to Local 512 and our membership.

As we move into this week’s update, I want to revisit a few important points from last week’s communication.

To our Crew Chiefs: If you find yourself in a situation where you have only two people assigned to your crew and management fails to provide the additional staffing needed to safely load or unload an aircraft, we continue to strongly encourage you to complete a Ground Safety Action Report (GSAP) documenting the situation.

Please document these safety concerns accurately, including the staffing shortage, the specific task involved, and any safety concerns or requests for additional assistance. This documentation helps establish a record of recurring issues and supports our efforts to bring these concerns to the appropriate parties, including the FAA when applicable.

Let us not make a two-person crew the norm; safety comes first. Let’s keep standing together, speaking up, and fighting for the working conditions our members deserve.

After several members reached out to our Local 512 Safety Team with concerns about the yellow seat bars on the push-out tractors, we are pleased to report that the GSE department has resolved the issue. So far, 11 push-out tractors have been modified, and the yellow seat bars have been removed.

I encourage all members to continue reporting any safety concerns or other issues you encounter on the ramp. Whether it involves equipment, working conditions, or operational safety concerns, please contact our Local 512 safety team. Your voice matters, and your safety matters.

Reminder: Monday, October 12, 2026, is a federal holiday. However, Columbus Day, also officially recognized in many places as Indigenous People Day, is not included among the ten (10) contractual holidays recognized under our TWU/IAM agreement.

Please keep this in mind when reviewing your schedule and holiday pay expectations.

Open enrollment for supplemental insurance benefits for the TWU/IAM will take place October 12-16 at Chicago O’Hare (ORD).

If you are interested in obtaining additional insurance coverage, a counselor from NGP will be available to assist you with enrollment and answer your questions.

To schedule an appointment, please call the Local 512 field office at 773-894-0077.

Please remember to bring a voided check or your checking account information when enrolling.

A reminder to all our members: American Airlines Benefits open enrollment begins October 26 and runs through November 13. Please take the time to review your benefits and make any necessary changes for the upcoming year.

Health Savings and Spending Accounts

If you participate in an eligible health savings or spending account, remember that you generally must make a new contribution election each year during open enrollment. Review your account and re-elect the amount you want to contribute for the upcoming year.

401(K) Retirement Savings – Don’t Leave Money on the Table!

We also want to highlight a few important numbers regarding our members’ 401(k) participation:

• 24% of our members are currently enrolled in the 401(k) Auto Increase Program.
• 85% of our members are meeting the American Airlines employer match.
• 15% of our members are not contributing enough to receive the full employer match.

We strongly encourage those 15% of our members who are not receiving the full company match to review their contributions and consider increasing them, if financially possible, to qualify for the full match available under the plan.

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!