APA Responds to Flight Attendants' Approval of Tentative Agreement

The Allied Pilots Association (APA), collective bargaining agent for the 13,500 pilots of American Airlines, released the following statement (presented in full) late Wednesday regarding the Association of Professional Flight Attendants' ratification of their agreement with American Airlines management:

"It is clear that all of the unionized employees of American Airlines have had to make some extraordinarily difficult decisions during the past couple of weeks. The members of all three unions are now facing the reality of significant personal sacrifices in light of the large pay cuts and additional furloughs we have each voted to approve as part of our respective agreements with American Airlines management.

"That noted, it was clear that the bankruptcy process would prove even more onerous. For that reason we are grateful to be avoiding, at least for now, the additional expense and uncertainty that bankruptcy would bring.

"The membership of the Allied Pilots Association met the cost-savings targets that management established at the onset of these negotiations, as did our coworkers at the Transport Workers Union and Association of Professional Flight Attendants. As we go about our daily duties, we will continue to do our part to help ensure the survival and viability of this great airline. It is our hope that management will now make the most of the valuable reprieve that the unionized employees of American Airlines have collectively provided with our sacrifices." Founded in 1963, APA is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas.

FMI: http://www.alliedpilots.org