Report: American Airlines contract concessions running into resistance

Tuesday, April 8th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Dallas-AP) -- Union leaders representing American Airlines pilots, flight attendants and ground workers reportedly are meeting resistance over concessions contained in a tentative deal with the airline.

American has more than 9,000 employees at a Tulsa maintenance facility and about 100 in Oklahoma City.

The concessions are geared toward helping keep the Texas-based airline out of bankruptcy.

The Wall Street Journal reports that union leaders are going back to management to ask for changes. The newspaper says the complaints center on the six-year length of the contracts and the minimal pay raises of one-and-a-half percent that would begin next year.

Under the tentative agreements, about 2,500 pilots, 2,400 flight attendants and 1,100 to 1,400 ground workers likely would lose their jobs. Remaining employees would work longer hours and get less vacation.