Local 512

February 7, 2026

My fellow 512 family,

Many of you have been asking what it would mean for American Airlines if CEO Robert Isom were to resign or be removed by the Board, and more importantly, what it would mean for us union workers. Let’s take a look at how we got here.

When US Airways merged with American Airlines, Doug Parker made very clear promises. He spoke openly about changing the culture of the airlines, moving away from fear-based management, improving labor relations, and building a company that respected the frontline employees who actually make the operation work.

Many years later, it’s fair to say those promises have not been fulfilled. Instead, many of our members continue to experience Chronic staffing shortages, broken or insufficient equipment, heavy-handed discipline, and a truly chronic disconnect between corporate leadership and frontline realities.

If the Board removes or accepts a CEO's resignation, it sends a strong message: leadership has failed to deliver, financially, operationally, and culturally. Culture is not a buzzword; it shows up in staffing decisions, discipline, safety, training, and whether workers are treated as professionals or problems.

When workgroups, across different crafts and contracts, are united in their frustration, that is not a coincidence. That is a sign of systemic leadership failure. However, it creates leverage for labor to push long-standing issues that have been ignored or dismissed for years. There is always a risk that the company simply changes faces while keeping the same philosophy. That is why unity, pressure, and accountability remain essential.

American Airlines fails without the people who make it run every day. Our union will continue to advocate for the dignity, safety, and respect our members deserve.

We want to make you aware that some members may have received an email from Bankcorp. This email was sent to members who currently receive their union benefits via direct deposit. This email is legitimate and is specifically related to members who may have an overpayment that needs to be corrected or an underpayment that requires an adjustment. 

If you have any questions, concerns, or are unsure how to proceed, do not guess. Please stop by or contact the Local 512 field office at 773-894-0077 for assistance. We are here to help and ensure everything is handled correctly.

Safety Update for our Crew Chiefs, as part of our ongoing safety focus, you are reminded to carefully review all loading and offloading sheets and identify any issues that may require contacting your CSM. Verify all instructions for loading and offloading before executing them. Remembering to scan all gate bags by the veyor.

As an additional update, we did not hold our regularly scheduled meeting with local management this past week.

An efficiency meeting was held and attended by our Vice President, Mike Szwed. These meetings required full attention and were focused on broader operational and efficiency issues impacting our members. Mike Szwed presented several of these issues directly to the Vice President of Operations in Chicago.

I did not participate in this efficiency meeting because I was in International Executive Board meetings this past week.

We will resume our regular weekly meetings and continue addressing outstanding issues on behalf of our membership. Any updates or developments will be communicated as they become available.

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.
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