American Airlines Mechanics Reject Contract
Members of American Airlines mechanics union voted to reject a tentative agreement with the carrier and authorized union leaders to call a strike. According to the Transport Workers Union (TWU), the two American Airlines work groups represented by the union -- the mechanics and the stock clerks -- voted down a provisional pay deal by nearly 2-to-1 against the offer. A third bargaining unit -- the technical specialists -- approved their deal.
This “no confidence” vote by the union sends the issue of American's labor dispute back to the National Mediation Board, which must decide whether to keep the two sides talking, put the talks on hold indefinitely or allow the union to go on strike. Under the Railway Labor Act, which safeguards interstate commerce, airline unions must first ask the mediation board to declare an impasse between the two parties. If an impasse is declared, a 30-day cooling-off period must pass before any job action, such as a strike or lockout, can occur. The TWU unit at American Airlines has asked to be released from mediation by the National Mediation board. Missy Latham, American Airlinles labor spokesperson said in a statement, "While the Mechanic & Related and Stores agreements were not approved, we expect to continue working toward new agreements and will look to the National Mediation Board for guidance on next steps with these work groups." Missy Latham, American Airlines labour spokesperson, said in a statement.
Source: Airwise