Posted on Wed, Jun. 09, 2004
Furloughed AA pilots can take Eagle jobs
By Trebor Banstetter
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
FORT WORTH - Nearly 400 furloughed American Airlines pilots will be allowed to take jobs at regional affiliate American Eagle, an arbitrator ruled Tuesday.
The decision -- which is likely to mean layoffs for some pilots at Eagle -- stems from a dispute between the unions at both airlines over which Eagle jobs will be available to furloughed American pilots.
Fort Worth-based AMR Corp. owns American and Eagle but operates them separately. Their pilots are represented by different unions.
Under contracts with pilots from both carriers, Eagle pilots were allowed to take jobs at American during times of growth, and furloughed American pilots could take jobs at Eagle when the airline was shrinking and laying off employees.
But the status of American pilots who were laid off from May to August 2003 was unclear, because of grievances that had been filed over which pilots had the right to jobs on new regional jets that were being added to Eagle's fleet.
In his ruling Tuesday, federal arbitrator Richard Bloch stated that 384 American pilots who had been furloughed during that time are eligible to take jobs at Eagle.
"It's very good news for a lot of pilots," said John Darrah, president of the Allied Pilots Association.
Officials with the Air Line Pilots Association, which represents Eagle pilots, said they hoped that the effect would be minimal.
"These [American] pilots have been on furlough for a year, and a lot of them have already found other jobs and may not be interested in coming to Eagle," said David Ryter, vice chairman of the ALPA's Eagle chapter. He predicted that fewer than 100 pilots would actually take Eagle slots.
Gregg Overman, a spokesman for the Allied Pilots, said it was "way too early" to know how many pilots would take advantage of the decision.
Eagle pilots won a decision last year that guaranteed that captain positions on new regional jets would go to ALPA members, not furloughed American pilots -- a point that Bloch affirmed in his ruling Tuesday.
Furloughed AA pilots can take Eagle jobs
By Trebor Banstetter
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
FORT WORTH - Nearly 400 furloughed American Airlines pilots will be allowed to take jobs at regional affiliate American Eagle, an arbitrator ruled Tuesday.
The decision -- which is likely to mean layoffs for some pilots at Eagle -- stems from a dispute between the unions at both airlines over which Eagle jobs will be available to furloughed American pilots.
Fort Worth-based AMR Corp. owns American and Eagle but operates them separately. Their pilots are represented by different unions.
Under contracts with pilots from both carriers, Eagle pilots were allowed to take jobs at American during times of growth, and furloughed American pilots could take jobs at Eagle when the airline was shrinking and laying off employees.
But the status of American pilots who were laid off from May to August 2003 was unclear, because of grievances that had been filed over which pilots had the right to jobs on new regional jets that were being added to Eagle's fleet.
In his ruling Tuesday, federal arbitrator Richard Bloch stated that 384 American pilots who had been furloughed during that time are eligible to take jobs at Eagle.
"It's very good news for a lot of pilots," said John Darrah, president of the Allied Pilots Association.
Officials with the Air Line Pilots Association, which represents Eagle pilots, said they hoped that the effect would be minimal.
"These [American] pilots have been on furlough for a year, and a lot of them have already found other jobs and may not be interested in coming to Eagle," said David Ryter, vice chairman of the ALPA's Eagle chapter. He predicted that fewer than 100 pilots would actually take Eagle slots.
Gregg Overman, a spokesman for the Allied Pilots, said it was "way too early" to know how many pilots would take advantage of the decision.
Eagle pilots won a decision last year that guaranteed that captain positions on new regional jets would go to ALPA members, not furloughed American pilots -- a point that Bloch affirmed in his ruling Tuesday.
