Leaders of the three big unions at American Airlines said Monday that they support a possible bid by US Airways because they believe the bankrupt Fort Worth-based airline should be run differently.
In a meeting with the Star-Telegram's Editorial Board, they said their desire for new management at American should not be seen as a personal attack on AMR Corp. CEO Tom Horton. Instead, they said they've concluded that the business plan put forward by US Airways, which would merge the airlines to create a bigger competitor, offers a better chance to compete against rivals United Continental and Delta than does American's stand-alone restructuring plan."It can't be business as usual," said Jim Little, president of the Transport Workers Union, which represents mechanics, ground crew workers and flight dispatchers. "It's not saying management is bad and that Tom Horton is a bad guy and he can't run the company. It's just saying there is a better way of doing it, and if we don't seek this opportunity now, I don't think American will recover."The unions have announced their support for a US Airways bid and reached tentative agreements on contract terms, even as they continued negotiating with American. American has asked the U.S. Bankruptcy Court to allow the company to reject existing labor contracts under the court's Section 1113 process. Judge Sean Lane is expected to rule on American's request by Friday.Doug Parker, CEO of US Airways, also attended the meeting and declined to say when his company would make a formal bid for American as part of the bankruptcy process. But he said he's confident that its proposal will prove more substantive than other restructuring proposals."We believe we have an idea here that can create a stronger airline, take care of all of the employees and also take care of the creditors of American Airlines than a stand-alone airline can," Parker said. "The two networks are so complimentary, we will need all the airplanes of both companies. We need all the employees of both companies. We need all the hubs of both airlines."A merger, however, would not save American's Alliance Airport maintenance facility, which was initially scheduled to close by the end of the year under American's restructuring proposal. With American planning to renovate its older Boeing 777 and 767 interiors, Alliance may stay open longer, Little said, although he was unclear how long that may be.While Parker said his deal with the unions would be require concessions, he stressed that it would not require as many employee-related cuts as American is seeking. But even if American reduces its cost-cutting demands on the unions, they say they would still support a merger with US Airways."If American Airlines came up to me tomorrow and offered me the same package as US Air, even a sweeter deal, I would still be for this merger," said Laura Glading, president of the Association of Professional Flight Attendants. "It's not really so much what's in the contract as it is having a future, getting back that feeling that we had 30, 40 years ago when we first put the uniform on, getting the best airline possible. I firmly believe this opportunity will get us there."The board of the Allied Pilots Association met Monday to discuss American's "best and final" contract offer received last week and whether it will send the proposal to members for a vote. If the board agrees to the proposal before members, the union and American will ask the bankruptcy judge to stay his Section 1113 ruling on the pilots contract until after the vote.Scott Shankland, a national officer with the union, said he did not know how the board will proceed but reiterated his union's support for US Airways."We're committed to this plan; we've signed agreements," Shankland said. "We're doing what we can to support that plan and help it come to fruition."Andrea Ahles, 817-390-7631Twitter: @Sky_Talk