Pilots' union urges American Airlines pilots to accept deal
BY Wire Reports
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
11/21/12 at 2:39 AM
The head of the pilots' union is making an emotional pitch to approve a tentative contract with American Airlines, saying rejecting the deal would set pilots on "a path of self-destruction."
Allied Pilots Association president Keith Wilson said Tuesday that the contract would eventually boost pay to industry standards.
Wilson says some opponents of the contract are intent on punishing airline management and not helping American emerge from bankruptcy protection as a successful company.
Voting ends Dec. 7. In August, pilots rejected another offer from American by a 61 percent to 39 percent margin. American responded by cutting pay and benefits.
American, owned by AMR Corp., is trying to use the bankruptcy process to cut annual labor costs by about $1 billion.
