Press Releases

February 15, 2012

FORT WORTH – The Transport Workers Union presented plans to American Airlines management today that provide a blueprint for voluntary early out/separation as a way to avoid draconian, involuntary layoffs, while saving money for the company.

On February 1, 2012, AMR management announced that it planned to reduce the company’s workforce by 9,000 from TWU-represented work groups.

January 19, 2012

Washington -- The Transport Workers Union (TWU) announced today that the union has retained Gordian Group, LLC to provide investment-banking services during the bankruptcy reorganization proceedings at AMR Corporation, parent company of American Eagle and American Airlines.

“We’ve said from day one that we’re going to fight like hell for our members,” said TWU International Union President James C. Little. “That means having the best available talent in our corner, so we can level the playing field and advocate effectively for our members.” TWU represents more than 26,000 workers at American and American Eagle as well as thousands of retirees. 

January 12, 2012

DALLAS – Representatives of the Transport Workers Union (TWU) and executives from AMR subsidiary American Eagle were notified Wednesday evening that the National Mediation Board (NMB) remains committed to helping unions at American Airlines and American Eagle reach labor agreements with parent company AMR – despite the company’s November bankruptcy filing.  TWU represents ground workers, dispatchers, ground school instructors and mechanics at American Eagle.

Harry Hoglander, Member of the National Mediation Board (NMB), joined by Larry Gibbons, Director of Mediation Services for the agency, told union and company representatives at a Dallas meeting that the agency “intends to be engaged and active throughout the process.” “Further, that the bankruptcy filing does not immediately impact the NMB’s function or status of cases.” A similar meeting has been scheduled by the NMB for today where representatives from American Airlines and TWU will be joined by union leaders from American’s other unions, The Allied Pilots Association and the Association of Professional Flight Attendants. Today’s meeting will be at American Airlines’ headquarters in Fort Worth.

December 05, 2011

Statement by TWU International President James C. Little
The U.S. Bankruptcy Trustee made the right call.   Thirty thousand TWU members are critical to the current and future operations of American Airlines and American Eagle.  AMR, the parent company of both airlines, has substantial short-term and long-term obligations to TWU members.  We have earned a seat on the creditors’ committee as the company goes through a Chapter 11 restructuring.
 
While we strongly believe that a company with $4 billion dollars in the bank had other options besides a bankruptcy filing, we’re going to deal with the facts on the ground.  We’re going to do our job as a union, to fight like hell so that front line workers don’t pay an unfair price for management’s failings.

November 29, 2011

We are very disappointed by today’s action by AMR. The Transport Workers Union will do everything possible to protect our members at both American Airlines and American Eagle. Work at both airlines will continue through the Chapter 11 reorganization.

Our union had tried to work with AMR managers to make the company more cost competitive and more efficient. In the past month we had reached tentative agreements for both flight dispatchers and fleet service workers. Fleet service is American’s largest bargaining unit. Other TWU units at both American and Eagle had previously inked agreements. Our aircraft mechanics and maintenance workers, represented by TWU, have saved the company several hundred million dollars over the past decade through boosted productivity and by bringing in work from other airlines.

This site is not meant to constitute a legal opinion or legal advice, and does not replace independent consultation with your own attorney as each employer and employee's situation is unique.