Labor Tension Rising at American Airlines, As Bankruptcy Judge OKs Union Busting (10,000 workers) [View all]

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.inthesetimes.com/working/entry/13786/labor_tension_rising_at_american_airlines_as_bankruptcy_judge_oks_union_bus/

Thursday Sep 6, 2012 9:35 am

By Bruce Vail



American Airlines has used the threat of bankruptcy to force concessions from their unionized workers. (Photo by: Cliff1066/Flickr/Creative Commons)

With the stroke of a pen, federal Judge Sean L. Lane this week stripped away the contract rights of about 10,000 men and women who work as unionized pilots for American Airlines.

Judge Lane acted against the pilots' union on September 4--just hours after the end of the Labor Day holiday--as part of the bankruptcy proceeding of AMR Corp., the parent company of American Airlines and American Eagle. Fort Worth, Texas-based AMR filed for bankruptcy in November last year, saying it needed $1.25 billion in concessions from its 88,000 employees, most of whom are union members.

Since then, AMR executives have used the threat of the bankruptcy code’s notorious Section 1113, which allows a company to unilaterally cancel union contracts, to force concessions from other unions representing the flight attendants, mechanics and baggage handlers. A similar agreement had also been negotiated with the pilots' union, but members turned down the pact in a rank-and-file ratification vote last month.

Keith Wilson, president of the 10,000-member Allied Pilots Association (APA), reacted to the news with restraint.

FULL story at link.