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Media Advisory: Allied Pilots Association Announces Informational Picketing at DOT on Oct. 14

Dépèche transmise le 13 octobre 2009 par Business Wire

Media Advisory: Allied Pilots Association Announces Informational Picketing at DOT on Oct. 14

--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Allied Pilots Association:

WHO: Allied Pilots Association (APA), collective bargaining agent for the 11,500 pilots of American Airlines (NYSE: AMR), the nation’s second-largest passenger carrier.

WHAT: Informational picketing professional pilots in uniform from American Airlines and other carriers. The purpose is to highlight opposition to U.S. job outsourcing resulting from international airline alliances. American Airlines is currently seeking to broaden the scope of its alliance by securing worldwide antitrust immunity with fellow oneworld Alliance members British Airways and Iberia.

WHERE: Department of Transportation (DOT) headquarters offices, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE, Washington, D.C. 20590.

WHEN: Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009 beginning at 11 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time.

WHY:

• The DOT is expected to rule very soon on whether to grant American Airlines’ application for antitrust immunity.
• Antitrust immunity is inherently anti-competitive, harming consumer interests.
• Antitrust immunity is also anti-worker—job outsourcing is a by-product of alliances. American Airlines management has refused to provide even industry-standard job protections for the pilots and other employees as part of its plans.
• The European Commission (EC) announced earlier this month that American Airlines’ plans may violate rules governing restrictive business practices. The EC is investigating the oneworld Alliance and the Star Alliance for possible illegal conduct.
• If permitted to expand their scope, immunized airline alliances may lead to increased foreign control of U.S. airline operations, including maintenance practices and crew training.
• Antitrust immunity has implications for national security—U.S. carriers must remain ready to be deployed as needed for Civil Reserve Air Fleet duty. That readiness could be compromised by the type of virtual merger with foreign carriers that American Airlines is seeking.

Founded in 1963, the Allied Pilots Association—the largest independent pilot union in the U.S.—is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. APA represents the 11,500 pilots of American Airlines, including 1,889 pilots on furlough. The furloughs began shortly after the September 11, 2001 attacks. Also, several hundred American Airlines pilots are on full-time military leave of absence serving in the armed forces. The union’s Web site address is www.alliedpilots.org. American Airlines is the nation’s second-largest passenger carrier and fifth-largest cargo carrier.