All Labor Groups Now Under Supervised Contract Talks

When it comes woeful relationships between labor and management, few companies can compare to the current situation at American Airlines... where across the board, union contract talks are either heading for mediation, or already in it.

The Dallas Morning News reports the Transport Workers Union, which represents mechanics and technical specialists at the Fort Worth-based airline, asked for help from the National Mediation Board following 15 months of unproductive negotiations with management.

The call for mediation for around 12,000 technical workers comes after TWU asked for similar help last month in contract talks for about 14,000 ground workers at American, as ANN reported.

The mechanics "have tried to avoid bringing a third party into our business," said TWU local president Steve Gilroy, but added American "has been unreasonable" and failed to bargain "in good faith."

The latest request for mediation marks a dubious milestone for American, as federal mediators will soon oversee all contract talks with unionized workers at the airline.

In addition to mediated talks for ground workers, the NMB recently began overseeing talks between management and the Association of Professional Flight Attendants. Mediated contract talks with the Allied Pilots Association have been underway since April 2008.

All three unions say the time has come for American to pay back some of the concessions labor groups accepted in 2003, in order to keep the airline out of bankruptcy. The airline counters it can't give much more, given the dour state of the global economy.

Regarding the mechanics, American spokeswoman Tami McClellan says while both sides "have continued to make progress, the company agrees guidance by the National Mediation Board would be beneficial."

FMI: www.aa.com, www.twu.com