AMR unions to cooperate
American Airlines unions representing pilots, flight attendants and mechanics said they will work together to win contracts and criticized management at the world’s largest carrier for a “lack of integrity.”
The Allied Pilots Association, Association of Professional Flight Attendants and Transport Workers Union said in a statement that they’re developing joint plans for “public activities and communications” to restore $1.6 billion in wage and other concessions made in 2003 to help American parent AMR Corp. avoid bankruptcy.
The unions’ plan to coordinate on negotiations adds a hurdle to American’s efforts to hold down costs in new contracts with the three labor groups. The Fort Worth, Texas-based carrier is cutting about 6,840 jobs as it parks 103 planes to help counter a 58 percent climb in jet fuel during the past year.
