Published 20 Apr, 2012
Jobs, Jobs, Jobs
Hundreds of Workers to March and Rally to Save Jobs
at American Airlines and American Eagle as Hearings
to Void Labor Contracts Begin at U.S. Bankruptcy Court Morning of April 23 in Lower Manhattan
New York – Workers from American Airlines and American Eagle will march and rally from New York City’s Battery Park to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court on Bowling Green on Monday, April 23rd.
Backed by the New York City Central Labor Council and Jobs with Justice, workers will rally to protect thousands of American jobs that are at risk, as part of AMR Corp.’s demand to tear up labor contracts at American Airlines and American Eagle.
Who: American Airlines and American Eagle workers from the Transport Workers Union, (TWU), the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (AFPA) and supporters of keeping jobs in America
What: March and Rally to Save American Jobs
Where: NE Corner of Battery Park, near Broadway and State Street
When: Monday, April 23
9:00 am, Assembly
9:15 am, Rally and speeches
9:45 (approximate) March to U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Bowling Green
AMR Corp declared bankruptcy on November 29. Now, AMR is demanding that the U.S. Bankruptcy Court tear up labor contracts with workers at American Airlines and American Eagle, cutting wages, pensions and health care and eliminating 14,000 jobs.
Hearings on AMR Corp’s motion to tear up its labor contracts, under section 1113 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, will begin before Judge Sean Lane in U.S. Bankruptcy Court at 10 a.m. on April 23.
“This is bad for American and bad for America,” said TWU President James C. Little. “It’s crazy that a company wants permission to tear up its labor contracts and send thousands of jobs overseas. We’ve looked at the numbers, and we know this company can keep jobs here and at the same time create a sustainable business plan. There’s a better way.”
Added AFPA President Laura Glading, “The demands management has made regarding the contracts, salaries, and benefits for flight attendants and other workers at American are at best unreasonable and in many cases impossible. Worse, they have unconditionally rejected each of our offers to mitigate job losses while providing long-term financial stability for this company.”
The TWU labor agreements which are subject to termination at today’s hearing have been in place for more than 60 years. APFA labor agreements have been in place for more than 30 years.
Transport Workers Union of America (TWU) represents 200,000 workers and retirees, primarily in commercial aviation, public transportation and passenger railroads. TWU represents 26,000 workers at American Airlines. The union is an affiliate of the AFL-CIO.
Founded in 1977, the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) represents more than 16,000 flight attendants at American Airlines.