Labor talks resume between American Airlines and flight attendants
By David Koenig, APMonday, January 11, 2010
Talks resume between AA, flight attendants
DALLAS — American Airlines and its flight attendants are back at the bargaining table, with the union raising a strike threat if the two sides can’t agree on economic issues within two weeks.
The president of the Association of Professional Flight Attendants said in a message to members Monday that the union won’t ask members to vote on a concessionary contract.
Laura Glading says that instead, union leaders would ask members for authority to call a strike. But she says a strike would be the “absolute last resort.”
American officials say they spend more than any other airline on hourly pay and benefits for flight attendants, and they need to reduce labor costs.
Parent AMR Corp. has lost $3.2 billion since the beginning of 2008.
