Local 512

March 28, 2026

My fellow 512 family,

Let’s talk about where things stand right now with American Airlines here in Chicago, because what’s going on around us matters—not just for the company, but for every one of us on the floor.

Right now, Chicago O’Hare has become one of the biggest battlegrounds in the entire airline industry. American and United are going head-to-head for gates, flights, and market share. And the reality is—United has the upper hand right now. They’re running more flights, holding more gates, and making stronger profits here in Chicago, while American has been trying to catch up. 

At the same time, both airlines are adding more flights to an already crowded airport. The FAA is now stepping in and talking about cutting flight volumes because the system is getting overloaded—too many flights, not enough infrastructure, not enough staffing. 

And who feels that pressure first?
It’s not the executives.
It’s us.

It’s the ramp, the gates, the crews trying to make it work when the operation gets stretched too thin.

Now let’s be real about how we got here.

A lot of what we’re dealing with today didn’t just happen overnight. It goes back to decisions made years ago under former CEO Doug Parker.

During that time, the company made some major strategic moves that still affect us today:

• American gave up strength in key markets like New York, including trades involving LaGuardia that reduced its competitive position there. 
• The airline lost ground in critical hubs like Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles—not just because of competition, but because of internal decisions and priorities that didn’t pan out. 
• Routes were cut, international flying out of Chicago was reduced, and long-term investment in this hub wasn’t where it needed to be. 

So, what we’re seeing today is the result of those choices. Now current leadership, under Robert Isom, is trying to rebuild Chicago and grow it again—but they’re doing it while playing catch-up.

And that creates pressure.

Pressure to run more flights.
Pressure to compete with United.
Pressure to show profits.

But here’s the problem—we cannot allow that pressure to be pushed onto our backs.

We’ve already seen what happens when the operation isn’t prepared. Weather events, scheduling issues, and a lack of coordination expose cracks quickly, and workers are the ones left to deal with the fallout. 

That’s why our role as a union is critical right now.

We’re not here to stop growth. We all want this airline to succeed.
But we are here to make sure:

• Growth doesn’t come at the expense of safety.
• Staffing levels are respected.
• Communication improves across the operation.
• And the company is held accountable for the decisions they make.

Because at the end of the day, this airline runs because of the people in this station—not because of decisions made in corporate offices years ago.

Chicago is too important. This hub is too important. And our members are too important.

We’re going to keep pushing, keep holding the line, and make sure that as this company tries to rebuild, they do it the right way—with us, not on top of us.

We continue to see a serious lack of communication on the ramp, particularly among gate crews, line CSMs, control, and Managers on Duty (MODs). These are the very individuals who should be actively monitoring the radio and ensuring that concerns raised by Crew Chiefs and gate personnel are being addressed in a timely manner.

This breakdown in communication is unacceptable and cannot continue. When crews call for assistance, clarification, or support, there must be accountability and a response from management leadership.

We urge all members to continue reporting communication failures and, when possible, documenting the times, channels, and individuals involved. Bring these issues forward to the union leadership.

Clear communication is critical for safety, efficiency, and the protection of our members on the job. We will continue to address this with the company, but your documentation and reports are key in holding them accountable.

During our recent meeting with senior management in Chicago, we addressed the ongoing issue of breaks being assigned within the first thirty minutes of a gate crew’s shift. The Managing Director acknowledged our concerns and agreed that this practice should not be happening. She also reinforced this position with her Level five leadership team during the meeting.

Sincerely and fraternally,

Juan Elvira

President – TWU Local 512

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