American Airlines Mechanics To Get Large Raises Under Interim Deal

The union representing the mechanics who work for American Airlines says it's reached an interim deal with the company that includes an average 22 percent raise for each member.

Under the agreement the raises will take effect in November, making the new wages the highest in the industry. 

The deal calls for the pay of Mechanic and Related workers to be three percent above similarly classified workers at Delta Air Lines. Even though the new deal doesn't go into effect until November, it calls for the mechanics to get lump sum payments now that are equal to the amount of the raises.

The TWU-IAM Association is a partnership between the Transport Workers Union, which represents mechanics at American, and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, which represents US Airways mechanics.

The two unions formed the association in 2013 following the merger of American Airlines and US Airways. The Association opened negotiations to bargain single contracts for approximately 30,000 ground workers at American Airlines in December, 2015.

The workers represented by the TWU and the IAM were the last unionized group to get a new contract with the post-merger company. 

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The Association says the negotiating committee will continue working to get a permanent contract with the company.