American Airlines Inc. and its flight attendants union Wednesday began arbitration hearings that will decide a joint contract covering flight attendants from American and merger partner US Airways.
The hearings are the fallout from the Association of Professional Flight Attendants’ rejection of a tentative agreement that would have set the terms for a new contract.
A 2012 agreement between the union’s leadership and US Airways set out the process for getting to a new contract. That protocol said that remaining issues would go to binding arbitration if APFA members rejected a tentative agreement.
The hearings, set in Washington, D.C., are to conclude Dec. 30. After that, both sides can submit written documents, with a decision expected in early 2015.
Meanwhile, about three dozen American Airlines flight attendants staged a protest Wednesday morning in front of American’s Fort Worth headquarters to express their unhappiness over their contract and press for consideration of profit sharing for flight attendants.
“We are here to let American Airlines management know that the tentative agreement that was rejected was not good enough,” Miami-based flight attendant Trice Johnson said. “And based on the unprecedented profits we’re seeing in the marketplace, we want our fair share. Sharing is caring.”
Johnson suggested that the process doesn’t have to lead to a contract imposed on flight attendants by binding arbitration.
“As you know from the pilot situation, all negotiations are very fluid. Deadlines can be extended. Talks can be ongoing. There is provision in the current protocol agreement for mediation and talks. We’re hoping that talks can continue and an agreement can be reached, with facilitation, with the help of the arbitrator.”
American spokesman Paul Flaningan said airline officials “respect the rights of our unions and their members to voice their opinions. We continue to work through the process to reach joint labor contracts for all of our work groups, including our flight attendants, who will realize significant wage increases when the arbitration is complete.”
Follow Terry Maxon on Twitter at @tmaxon.
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