Allied Pilots Association Files Complaint for Declaratory Judgment: "We Are Committed to Using Legal Methods for Mitigating Pilot Furloughs"

Business Wire, August 1, 2008

FORT WORTH, Texas -- The Allied Pilots Association, certified collective bargaining agent for the 12,000 pilots of American Airlines (NYSE: AMR), filed a complaint today in district court in Washington, D.C. for approval to advise its pilots of their right to forego voluntary overtime in order to mitigate furloughs.

The carrier's management announced on July 15 that up to 200 pilot furloughs may commence in October. American Airlines already has 1,970 pilots on furlough.

"We are committed to using legal methods for mitigating pilot furloughs," said APA President Captain Lloyd Hill. "Accordingly, we are seeking the court's permission to inform our pilots of their right to forego voluntary overtime flying, which would reduce the need for any additional furloughs."

Hill noted that the airline's most junior pilots who would be subject to furlough were only recalled from furlough within the past several months.

"Being furloughed twice in such a short period of time, especially when it's so easily avoidable, would be a tremendous hardship for these pilots and their families," he said.

In APA's court filing, the union's attorneys emphasize that advising pilots of their right to forego voluntary overtime is a well-established past practice by APA and part of the status quo as defined by the Railway Labor Act, which governs all airline industry labor negotiations.

Hill pointed out that former AMR Chief Executive Officer Donald Carty, in an August 1998 message to employees relating to a series of flight cancellations, described it as "their own" decision when pilots choose not to fly "open time" flights.

"Even senior management at our airline has previously acknowledged that our pilots have the ability to decide for themselves whether to perform voluntary overtime flying," Hill said.

According to Hill, APA is also preparing to present airline management with a furlough mitigation counter-proposal at the bargaining table in response to management's July 15 "furlough mitigation severance proposal." APA will likely present its counter-proposal to management at a negotiating session scheduled for August 5.

Founded in 1963, the Allied Pilots Association--the largest independent pilot union in the U.S.--is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. APA represents the 12,000 pilots of American Airlines, including 1,970 pilots on furlough. The furloughs began shortly after the September 11, 2001 attacks. Also, several hundred American Airlines pilots are on full-time military leave of absence serving in the armed forces. The union's Web site address is www.alliedpilots.org. American Airlines is the nation's largest passenger carrier and fifth-largest cargo carrier.