A few days ago, the Transport Workers Union of America filed for release from mediation for 28,000 members at American Airlines and American Eagle. In other words, we asked the federal government for permission to go on strike. Under the Railroad Labor Act, strikes for workers employed by airlines and railroads are not guaranteed as they are for most other private-sector workers, who fall under a different set of labor laws.
Some people must think we're out of our minds. Why would anyone go on strike now? Why would anyone risk job security? The nation is suffering from a terrible economic downturn and high unemployment, and the aviation industry has been in a tailspin since even before the recession. What are union members thinking?
What are we thinking? Let's start by saying that going on strike certainly wasn't our first or second thought. Our first choice was to partner with the company, to improve it and make it more competitive.
We worked hard at being a full partner. Together, the union and AMR Corp., parent of American, developed hundreds of millions of dollars in productivity gains and brought in new revenue from outside maintenance work.
Read more: Click here
