DALLAS – Representatives of the Transport Workers Union (TWU) and executives from AMR subsidiary American Eagle were notified Wednesday evening that the National Mediation Board (NMB) remains committed to helping unions at American Airlines and American Eagle reach labor agreements with parent company AMR – despite the company’s November bankruptcy filing. TWU represents ground workers, dispatchers, ground school instructors and mechanics at American Eagle.
Harry Hoglander, Member of the National Mediation Board (NMB), joined by Larry Gibbons, Director of Mediation Services for the agency, told union and company representatives at a Dallas meeting that the agency “intends to be engaged and active throughout the process.” “Further, that the bankruptcy filing does not immediately impact the NMB’s function or status of cases.” A similar meeting has been scheduled by the NMB for today where representatives from American Airlines and TWU will be joined by union leaders from American’s other unions, The Allied Pilots Association and the Association of Professional Flight Attendants. Today’s meeting will be at American Airlines’ headquarters in Fort Worth.
The National Mediation Board’s role under the Railway Labor Act is to mediate and assist labor and management at railroads and airlines reach agreements and settle disputes.
Transport Workers Union of America (TWU) represents 200,000 workers and retirees, primarily in commercial aviation, public transportation and passenger railroads, including 22,000 workers at AMR. TWU represents more workers at AMR than any other labor organization. The union is an affiliate of the AFL-CIO.