• Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
Live and Let's Fly
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
Home » American Airlines » Meanwhile, Disaster Awaits American Airlines
American AirlinesLaw In Travel

Meanwhile, Disaster Awaits American Airlines

Matthew Klint Posted onMay 24, 2019 10 Comments

AA Mechanics Slowdown

American Airlines faces an imminent storm if it cannot reach an agreement with its mechanics. Why? The union has promised it.

American Airlines and TWU-IAM, the union representing AA mechanics, are locked in a bitter battle. American has filed a lawsuit against the union, seeking an injunction for what it describes as “illegally gain[ed] leverage in contract negotiations by directing a coordinated and deliberate illegal slowdown focused on the maintenance operation.” Put simply, AA accuses its mechanics of sabotaging flights by delaying or cancelling them to due to minor, non-critical issues.

The union posted the video below, an eye-opening exchange between John Samuelsen, the TWU President, and AA President Robert Isom:

I stand here to tell you that you’re not going to get what you want. If this erupts into the bloodiest, ugliest battle that the United States labor movement ever saw, that’s what’s going to happen. You’re already profitable enough.

…

If we ever get to a point where there’s self help, we are going to engage in absolutely vicious strike action against American Airlines to the likes of which you’ve never seen, not organized by airline people, but organized by a guy that came out of the New York City subway system that’s well inclined to strike power and who understands that the only way to challenge power is to aggressively take it to them…We’re going to shut this place down.

Those are fighting words.

Whatever your views on executive compensation and the plight of American workers, the mechanics appear to be breaking the law at this point. Federal law prohibits airline workers from legally striking until a mediator declares an impasse in negotiations. This has not occurred yet. Yet the “slowdown” by mechanics has led to delays and cancellations at such high numbers it is statistically improbable to argue the actions are not deliberate.

Summer Disaster?

As the busy summer travel season approaches, I expect the “slowdown” to speed up. Look for more mechanical delays and flight cancellations. After all, the union has promised the “bloodiest, ugliest battle” to secure job security and increases in pay and benefits.

While I am truly sympathetic to many of the union demands/concerns, I am not sympathetic to the slowdown, which AA had every right to sue to stop. That said, how can a court force workers to “compromise safety” when these workers claim they are working as fast as they can? Even a court injunction won’t fix this problem.

CONCLUSION

What a sticky situation. As much as I would like to see it happen, I don’t expect a smooth resolution. Quite the contrary, I expect negotiations to deteriorate and may culminating in an actual strike this summer which will cripple travelers and quickly break Doug Parker’s promise of eternal profits…

> Read More – Doug “Nostradamus” Parker: AA will Never Lose Money Again

(H/T: View from the Wing)

Get Daily Updates

Join our mailing list for a daily summary of posts! We never sell your info.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Previous Article Hilarious: Man “Forgets” He Cannot Smoke On Spirit Flight
Next Article The Queen Visits British Airways

About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

Related Posts

  • an airplane with seats and a person standing in the back

    Missing: Premium American Airlines Aadvantage Awards To Asia

    May 4, 2025
  • Airline Stocks

    Mixed Financial Results Paint Murky Travel Picture In 2025

    May 4, 2025
  • united credit card

    United’s Answer To Failing Credit Cards Is Coupons, Fees

    March 30, 2025

10 Comments

  1. Daniel Reply
    May 24, 2019 at 9:53 am

    Unions gonna union.

    Each side has levers to make the other side unhappy.

  2. Stuart Reply
    May 24, 2019 at 10:17 am

    American is a hot mess under Parker and may never recover from these past few years and the lack of employee morale, the systemic customer hatred, and operational nightmares. As an Exec Plat for over 20 years I have quietly shifted a great deal of flying to United…not a great alternative but certainly better – and they are at least making efforts.

    This union battle is going to get nasty real fast for American. You just don’t find aircraft mechanics outside waiting at your local Home Depot looking for work.

  3. z o Reply
    May 24, 2019 at 10:25 am

    More power to the unions. The airline, through one excuse or another, through bankruptcy or pleas to solidarity post-9/11, has encumbered the Unions all whilst enriching upper management and impoverishing the traveler. Parker and Isom need to learn that any for any business to succeed it needs to treat both customer AND employee with respect

  4. MeanMeosh Reply
    May 24, 2019 at 11:19 am

    “Quite the contrary, I expect negotiations to deteriorate and may culminating in an actual strike this summer which will cripple travelers and quickly break Doug Parker’s promise of eternal profits…”

    I consider an actual strike highly unlikely, because a) you don’t exactly have a labor friendly NLRB in place right now, and b) the precedent was set during the Clinton administration for government intervention to stop airline strikes. There’s no way the feds are going to permit a “too big to fail” airline like AA to endure a work stoppage.

    That being said, I’d say the most likely parallel is what you saw happen to Southwest earlier this year, though magnified further because it’s peak season. It’s not going to be pleasant.

  5. mallthus Reply
    May 24, 2019 at 11:39 am

    Given the current NLRB and a likely anti-union response to any formal work stoppage from the current administration, the kinds of things the union is doing (typically called “work to rule”) is really their only and best option right now.

    If workers are filing false maintenance tags, etc, then AA might have a leg to stand on, but if they’re just methodically ensuring every “i” is dotted and every “t” crossed, as well as working not one minute past their shift, that’s not something AA can win a claim against in a court that’s not been bought off.

  6. Roddie Reply
    May 24, 2019 at 9:38 pm

    More power to the union. Screw this miserable airline that treats everyone with utter contempt – customers, employees, members of their “loyalty” program. Karma, baby.

  7. Jesse Salazar Reply
    May 25, 2019 at 2:59 am

    As a former UAW-148 member & part of the negotiating team I’m surprised to hear a union leader talk of bloody battles. We all went through ‘ concession contracts ‘ & it isn’t nice. But airline mechanics have one of the few decent & good jobs remaining in the USA. Both parties should try very hard to keep American Airlines in the air. I had the pleasure of help building 146 MD-80 jets while at Long Beach before Boeing bought it. I took the early retirement because so many younger people under 30 were always complaining. Don’t lose your jobs forever. Work is what built America.

    • Ivan Reply
      June 4, 2019 at 1:32 pm

      I agree, both parties should be working hard at making American better. The problem is that management never wants to make any concessions. It does not occur to them that a happy employee will in turn boost profits. Management at most airlines is completely incompetent and when that incompetence comes to light, they blame employees for not overcoming the poor management. Since quality management is not currently employed at very many airlines, it would be smart to make the workers happy so that they overcome the terrible management in place.

      • Tom Reply
        June 10, 2019 at 9:13 am

        The hardest part of these negotiations is getting American Airlines to the bargaining table.

        Both Doug Parker and Robert Isom have did they will meet anytime anywhere… but those are just words and empty promises

  8. Jesse Salazar Reply
    May 25, 2019 at 3:18 am

    I’m a low tech grandpa now & may need some help

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Search

Hot Deals for May

Note: Please see my Advertiser Disclosure

Capital One Venture X Business Card
Earn 150,000 Miles Sign Up Bonus
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Earn 100,000 Points
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Earn 75,000 Miles!
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Earn 75,000 Miles
Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Earn $750 Cash Back
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Earn 120,000 Membership Reward® Points

Recent Posts

  • a inside of a plane with lights
    Review: Korean Air 747-8 First Class May 27, 2025
  • a screen on a plane
    My Highly Productive Daytime Flight To London On JetBlue May 27, 2025
  • Southwest Airlines Checked Bags
    Suicide: Southwest Airlines Eliminates Free Checked Baggage May 27, 2025
  • Spring Break JetBlue SAS
    Booked! A Transatlantic Getaway On JetBlue + SAS May 26, 2025

Categories

Popular Posts

  • United Airlines Polaris Lounge Chicago Review
    Review: United Polaris Lounge Chicago (ORD) May 1, 2025
  • United Airlines Refresh Polaris Lounge Chicago
    First Look: United Airlines Reopens Renovated Polaris Lounge In Chicago (ORD) April 29, 2025
  • a hand holding a blue card
    Chase Sapphire Preferred 100K Bonus Offer Ending Soon May 2, 2025
  • Aegean Airlines Feast
    A Feast Fit For A King On Aegean Airlines May 23, 2025

Archives

May 2025
M T W T F S S
 1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031  
« Apr    

As seen on:

facebook twitter instagram rss
Privacy Policy © Live and Let's Fly All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Live and Let's Fly with appropriate and specific directions to the original content.