But Asserts Union Will Fight Tough For New Contract

In a recent interview with the Dallas Morning News, new Allied Pilots Association president Lloyd Hill said he fully intends to battle management at American Airlines for a more favorable contract for its pilots... though he also stepped back ever-so-slightly from the fiery rhetoric expressed in his September letter to American CEO Gerard Arpey.

As ANN reported, union executives followed up their letter to Arpey with a contract proposal calling for an over-50 percent increase in pilot pay.

Hill says he has no intention of hurting the airline... and it's not his job to determine whether or not American can afford to pay what APA proposes,though he maintains the airline could easily afford its most recent proposal.

"My responsibility is to negotiate on behalf of the people I represent to the best of my ability," Hill said. "I don't have any obligation, and under typical circumstances have very little opportunity or even desire, to look at the company books. The company management runs the company. That's their job."

Hill also concedes it may not be possible for the union to exert its influence, without causing harm to American's day-to-day operations.

"In the course of contract negotiations, there are things that might have to be done that have ancillary impact or unintended impact to get management's attention so we can get them to the bargaining table," he said, adding "I'm telling you that it's not something we go out and try to do."

As for the September 18 letter he, vice president Tom Westbrook and secretary-treasurer Bill Haug sent to Arpey -- which included the statement "Enjoy your blood money and your union-busting meetings. We'll see you in court, in the newspapers, and on the picket line" -- Hill says he did not intend for the letter to become public, out of concern for accusations the union was "grandstanding."

That said... he is "absolutely not" unhappy the letter went public, adding American never did respond to it. "If they're not going to listen to it, maybe we have a broader audience that'll listen to it," Hill said.

As for Arpey -- whom Hill compared, unfavorably, to not-exactly-loved former AMR CEO Bob Crandall in the letter -- the union president says he thinks Arpey is an overall nice guy. Really.

"I happen to think he's a nice man," Hill said. "He's soft-spoken, a relatively quiet man, from what I can remember. We've had a few words, and he seemed nice enough. But this is business, and I represent my constituents, and I'm going to get what they want to the best of my ability. 

"I would really like to get the hammer down, get an agreement and not do that kind of stuff. Am I comfortable with doing whatever it takes to get this agreement? The answer would be yes," Hill continues. "It would be unpleasant, but for those that may have portrayed me as a radical, that side of me may get seen if we take this thing further than anybody wants it to go."

Despite his bluster, Hill said he believes the two sides will "come to an agreement"... though he doesn't "hold out a lot of hope" it will come "with a lot less confrontation."

FMI: www.alliedpilots.org, www.aa.com