American Air, TWU begin contract talks

Fort Worth, Texas -- American Airlines Inc. and its largest labor group, U.S. mechanics and other ground workers, began contract talks Wednesday that could last a year or more.

The world's largest airline in terms of total passengers-miles transported and fleet size met with the Transport Workers Union of America to negotiate six of seven contracts, the (Fort Worth, Texas) Star-Telegram reported.

The union, which represents nearly 27,000 American employees, and the airline, a unit of AMR Corp., started separate talks last year on the seventh contract, which covers dispatchers.

The airline also began talks with the Allied Pilots Association last year. Negotiations with the Association of Professional Flight Attendants begin in March.

American and the TWU had tried to work out a quick contract extension in September, but ended informal discussions without a deal Oct. 3, The Dallas Morning News reported.

The various contracts become open to changes in May because they were ratified by all three unions in May 2003.

Those contracts included substantial pay cuts for employees, concessions that enabled American to stay out of bankruptcy, the Morning News said.

Union officials, noting American has returned to profitability, said they were eager to see employees regain wages and benefits they lost in 2003.

They note top managers and executives have seen substantial pay increases and stock bonuses in recent years.

© 2007 United Press International.