Protesting pilots accuse American of cutting corners

DALLAS – Hundreds of American Airlines pilots stood silently outside the buildings of the airline’s biggest customers and investors Tuesday to protest what they claim is penny-pinching management that is undermining the nation’s largest carrier.

The protests, from London to San Francisco, marked the latest move by the pilots union to highlight differences with management over pay – in the union’s view not enough for pilots, too much for executives.

The union and company appear deadlocked in the early stages of negotiations for a new contract with pilots, who agreed to wage concessions in 2003 but now want those cuts – and more – restored. Company officials say they can’t afford the 52 percent pay raise the union proposed last fall.

The protests also occurred against the backdrop of stock bonuses American is expected to give to several hundred management employees this week. Union officials estimate the stock to be worth $40 million.

The union planned the event before American scrubbed nearly 3,300 flights last week – disrupting travel plans for more than 300,000 passengers – because of planes that failed a safety check. Pilots said the cancellations gave their argument new currency.

Rick Finlayson, a 10-year American veteran, said the airline is mismanaged, and customers are finally noticing. He said he could tell as he greeted passengers getting off a flight last week at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.

“They usually say, ‘Nice landing,’ something like that,” Finlayson said. “This time they were saying, ‘Tell management to do something about the quality of the product.’ It’s embarrassing to walk through a terminal filled with frustrated passengers.”

Finlayson was one of about 150 pilots, dressed in their navy blue uniforms and caps, who stood in V-formation outside the real estate company office of Roger Staubach, the former football star who sits on the board of American’s parent, AMR Corp.

They carried signs saying things such as “AA ranked worst in canceled flights.” Other pilots handed out leaflets at the airport and the training camp of the Dallas Cowboys, one of the airline’s customers.

Jeffrey J. Brundage, American’s lead labor negotiator, said the company respected the rights of its unions to demonstrate.

“However, it is very disappointing that the Allied Pilots Association would engage in negative tactics such as picketing on the doorstep of a valued customer in a direct attempt to harm American – a company that provides meaningful careers to thousands of employees and valued air service to communities across the world,” Brundage said.

He apologized “for any inconvenience to our customers and their employees.”

American has about 9,500 pilots, about one-third of whom fly on any given day. The airline said the protests weren’t expected to disrupt flights.