Thu, Nov 30, 2006
Pilots Want Changes To Work Rules
American Airlines is
one of four airlines bidding for new routes coming available
between the US and China. The Fort Worth, TX-based carrier is in
competition with Continental, Northwest and United for the
routes.
The problem for American is its pilots; they aren't happy
about the changes those routes would make to work rules. The Allied
Pilots Association, the union body representing American's pilots,
is demanding an immediate negotiation of those rules. At issue is
the duty day limits and pay for cancelled flights.
The airline wants pilots to accept longer duty-days because the
flights to China are 16 hours. The union says it's willing to
accept the longer day, but they want assurances from the airline
that pilots will still get paid if the day is cut short because of
a flight cancellation.
The airline said no to that proposal, claiming it's unrelated to
the China route. A spokeswoman for the airline said pay guarantees
for cancelled flights would have a ripple effect on other
operations.
Union spokesman Denis Breslin told the Houston Chronicle, "They
cherry-picked some of the good things we were offering and gave us
nothing of value in return."
No matter how the current dispute shakes out it's clear
something must happen before the airline can accept the China
routes. The flight times for them would exceed limits set in its
current contract with the union.
The airline and union
reached an agreement in a similar situation last year when the
airline started service to New Delhi.
The airline has asked the union to add negotiations for the
China routes to regular contract negotiations which are just
starting.
The union, however, seems intent on holding the airline's
figurative feet to the fire. And it might just work -- getting the
pilots on board could be critical for the airline's bid.
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