FORT WORTH -- American Airlines said Friday that negotiations with its pilots are going well and that it hopes to have a contract ready for a ratification vote by Nov. 1.
"I believe good progress has been made and we are approaching a deal that we hope the APA Board of Directors will soon agree to put out for a ratification vote," American's senior vice president of people, Denise Lynn, wrote in a letter to pilots.On Sunday, the Allied Pilots Association told members that American's management has made "encouraging changes" in its positions.In a statement released Friday, the union said its board will meet at Wednesday. The union also said it will conduct informational picketing at Dallas/Fort Worth Airport, Terminal D, that morning.Meanwhile, an American Eagle union on Friday approved a contract with the regional carrier and another rejected one.The Transport Workers Union said 82 percent of Eagle mechanics voted for the agreement, which will provide 1.5 percent salary increases in 2015 and 2016. The union represents about 1,300 mechanics at American Eagle."Today's ratification demonstrates the willingness of the company and the TWU to negotiate new contracts that achieve the cost savings necessary for our successful restructuring," company spokeswoman Andrea Huguely said.But dispatchers rejected an agreement with 90 percent voting against, the union said.Huguely said Eagle will now proceed with a Section 1113 process in bankruptcy court, to ask the judge to let it reject its current contract with the dispatchers and impose work rules.In American's proposal to pilots, it said, it's offering a 14 percent defined contribution to a retirement plan.The carrier is also delaying the implementation of some contract changes including the elimination of night pay and limits to international premium pay, that were supposed to go into effect on Nov. 1. American said it is deferring these items as negotiations continue with the pilots.Andrea Ahles,817-390-7631Twitter: @Sky_TalkHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
