DALLAS (AP) -- American Airlines' pilot union, held in contempt over a February sickout that canceled thousands of flights and cost millions of dollars, was due back in court Monday as a judge considers the amount of the union's fine.
U.S. District Judge Joe Kendall ordered the Allied Pilots Association to make a $10 million down payment, about 25 percent of the union's worth, toward a fine levied for the three days pilots defied his back-to-work order in February.The dispute between the union and the air carrier reached a fever point over American's decision late last year to buy Reno Air. The union contends that Reno pilots should be integrated into American from the Dec. 23 purchase, raising salaries for those effected from that date. The airline says it will pay the higher rates as the pilots are retrained to American standards.
Their inability to reach an agreement led to a massive sickout of about 2,500 pilots over 10 days, resulting in the cancellation of nearly 6,700 flights.
American's parent company, Fort Worth, Texas-based AMR Corp., estimates the work stoppage cost more than $50 million. The APA contends that the sickout was within the union's rights, saying the company had violated the contract.
The union and company met last week with a federal mediator in hopes of resolving the disagreement, but no settlement was announced.
As the union contends with the dispute with its company, as well as the contempt fine before the court, APA also is dealing with several civil lawsuits. Several passengers have filed lawsuits against the union because their flights were disrupted by the sickout.
The lawsuits, which have all been moved to federal court in Dallas, seek damages of more than $200 million. Attorneys expect the complaints will be consolidated into a single class-action lawsuit before U.S. District Judge Jorge Solis.
Even while the pilots brawled with the company over the Reno Air purchase, flight attendants were able to reach agreement with the company.
The Association of Professional Flight Attendants and AMR reached a settlement last week on how to absorb the low-cost carrier. They did not disclose details. AMR also has announced it has reached agreement with the Transport Workers Union, which represents American's 28,000 aviation maintenance technicians and fleet workers.
In June, American will begin training Reno airport and reservations agents to join the airline. The integration is expected to be completed by August.