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First Officer Tom Hoban
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Captain Sam Mayer
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Gregg Overman
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ALLIED PILOTS ASSOCIATION, FELLOW FRONT-LINE EMPLOYEES STAGE “NO CONFIDENCE” RALLIES IN NEW YORK AND FORT WORTH
Fort Worth, Texas (May 11, 2012)—The Allied Pilots Association (APA), certified collective bargaining agent for the 10,000 pilots of American Airlines (AMR), staged rallies in New York and Fort Worth this morning to highlight a sentiment of “no confidence” in the current management team’s stand-alone business plan and ability to successfully restructure the airline.
“It’s time for a meaningful change of direction at American Airlines,” said APA President Captain Dave Bates. “Our message is clear: we do not support AMR management’s stand-alone business plan. Likewise, we do not believe that the executives who steered American Airlines into bankruptcy are the ones who are best qualified to lead us out.”
The rallies took place at APA’s Fort Worth, TX headquarters and in front of the bankruptcy court where the AMR case is being heard at One Bowling Green in lower Manhattan.
“Almost 7,500 American Airlines pilots have added their names to a petition of no confidence in AMR management,” Bates said. “By an overwhelming majority, our pilots have indicated their preference for a new plan and new management.”
Bates noted that all three unions at American Airlines have reached conditional labor and plan of reorganization agreements with US Airways management that, if implemented, would boost productivity and reduce costs.
“US Airways management’s plans for merging the two carriers call for preserving and enhancing the American Airlines brand, retaining our Fort Worth home and saving thousands of jobs that will be eliminated under AMR management’s stand-alone plan,” he said. “We are firmly convinced that their alternative plan of reorganization provides a more promising path for our airline’s future and reiterate our call for the AMR Board of Directors to engage in immediate discussions with US Airways management.”
Founded in 1963, the Allied Pilots Association—the largest independent pilot union in the United States—is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. APA represents the 10,000 pilots of American Airlines, including 649 pilots not yet offered recall from furlough. The furloughs began shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. Also, several hundred American Airlines pilots are on full-time military leave of absence serving in the armed forces. The union’s Web site address is www.alliedpilots.org. American Airlines is the nation’s largest international passenger carrier and fifth-largest cargo carrier.