Representatives of American Airlines and its unionized pilots, flight attendants and mechanics will meet in Fort Worth on Wednesday to begin discussions of changes to labor agreements the company proposes in bankruptcy, officials said.
Negotiators for the company, the Allied Pilots Association, the Association of Professional Flight Attendants and the Transport Workers Union will convene at American's Flagship University, just south of Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, company executives said.
"The AA group will meet at 10 a.m. and the purpose of this meeting is to initiate the process for changes to our collective bargaining agreements pursuant to Section 1113 of the bankruptcy code," TWU Local 514 in Tulsa informed its members Friday. "At this meeting, the company's Chief Restructuring Officer Beverly Goulet will make a presentation on the company's restructuring business plan and provide supporting information relating to the plan.
"Following that presentation, (American Senior Vice President of Human Resources) Jeff Brundage will discuss proposed changes that affect all unions. Then, company negotiators will meet separately with each of the unions to present specific proposals and supporting information."
TWU Local 514 represents 6,000 mechanics and related work groups who work at American's Maintenance & Engineering Center at Tulsa International Airport, the company's largest maintenance base.
Local 514 officials couldn't be reached for comment.
Greg Overman, spokesman for the Allied Pilots Association, said the outcome of the meetings will depend on the willingness of the parties to forge a cooperative relationship.
"We're hoping the restructuring process leads to a more positive corporate culture," Overman said. "When you look at the airline industry or any industry in general, all the best companies have one element in common: an engaged work force."
The three unions have been working on contracts that became amendable in 2008. Negotiations on new contracts have stalled during the past few years as
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