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Gregg Overman
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ALLIED PILOTS ASSOCIATION ON POTENTIAL CONTRACT REJECTION: “WILL NOT FOSTER LONG-TERM SUCCESS”
Fort Worth, Texas (March 27, 2012)—The Allied Pilots Association (APA), certified collective bargaining agent for the 10,000 pilots of American Airlines, issued the following statement today in response to the filing of an 1113(c) motion with the bankruptcy court by airline management:
“The 10,000 pilots of American Airlines remain absolutely committed to our airline’s successful restructuring, and to reaching a consensual agreement with management,” said APA President Captain Dave Bates. “We are well aware that a financially healthy company is a prerequisite to enjoying full, rewarding careers.
“However, we’re extremely concerned that despite giving lip-service to the importance of reaching a consensual agreement with APA, American Airlines management appears intent on having the bankruptcy court reject our contract,” he said. “If the court decides to grant management’s 1113(c) motion, management would then be able to impose new terms of employment on our pilots. Taking this step—one that could be fairly described as running roughshod over our contract—will not foster long-term success for American Airlines.
“In recent bargaining sessions with APA, management has repeatedly stated that a consensual agreement will be ‘impossible’ if we continue making proposals designed to keep our working conditions at or near industry-standard levels. Just saying no to everything the APA leadership has proposed at the negotiating table does not constitute good-faith bargaining. It also does not bode well for our ability to work collaboratively to address the many other challenges confronting American Airlines.
“We therefore urge management to rethink their strategy and join us in committing to good-faith bargaining, with the goal of reaching a consensual agreement at the earliest possible opportunity,” Bates said. “The alternative course—rejection of our contract by the bankruptcy court—is not in the best interests of American Airlines’ stakeholders.
“As we await management’s response, we will be making our case to the bankruptcy court that management’s 1113(c) motion is premature. We do not believe that management has fulfilled the statutory requirements that must be met prior to filing an 1113(c) motion,” he said.
That is the full text of APA’s statement.
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.