Sun, Sep 20, 2009
More Aero-Labor Unrest
American Eagle pilots, represented
by ALPA, have demanded that AMR Corporation halt any plans to
outsource Chicago-based flying currently performed by its
subsidiary, American Eagle. AMR’s announcement to shift
certain Chicago flights to American Connection is
“unacceptable” and violates the Eagle pilots’
current collective bargaining agreement.
AMR recently announced schedule changes for the Spring of 2010,
including moving American Connection airplanes and flight crews
from St. Louis to Chicago. American Connection is the brand for
flights operated by Chautauqua Airlines, an independent contractor
of regional flying.
“Outsourcing our flying is not only a contract violation,
but is an insult to every American Eagle pilot and every American
Eagle employee who has personally sacrificed for AMR,” said
Capt. Tony Gutierrez, chairman of the American Eagle unit of
ALPA.
Since AMR’s acquisition of TWA, Chautauqua Airlines has
been providing regional feed to American Airlines on a limited
basis in the St. Louis market. AMR decided to drastically reduce
service in and out of St. Louis and to transfer some of American
Eagle’s flying to Chautauqua.
“Management always said that American Connection contract
flying was simply a byproduct of the TWA acquisition,” said
Gutierrez. “Now, instead of doing the right thing and exiting
these contracts, AMR is promoting a third-party airline at the
expense of its own employees. We will do everything in our power to
stop AMR from giving away our jobs.”
American Eagle pilots maintain that
its wholly owned relationship with American Airlines makes it a
seamless operation for customers travelling on American Airlines.
“The average traveler doesn’t know that American Eagle
is one of the few remaining ‘wholly owned’ regional
airlines,” said ALPA Vice Chairman Dave Ryter.
“American Eagle’s relationship with American has
definite advantages for the traveling public, not the least of
which is the cumulative experience of our pilots,” said
Ryter.
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