BY JANET POST
MIAMI - Pilots at American Airlines who are members of the Allied Pilots Association (APA) began informational picketing at several airports throughout the United States January 28. The pilots are garnering support for their contract demands and are in a 30-day "cooling off" period after the APA rejected binding arbitration January 15. At 12:01 a.m. February 15, the pilots could decide to strike. The company and the 9,300 pilots represented by the APA have been in negotiations since 1994.

At the Miami International Airport, one of American's largest hubs, pilots and airline workers walked the picket line for three hours on the first day of picketing and will continue for several days. "One of the biggest issues is the outsourcing of jobs," Bob Ward, a pilot with 20 years' seniority and a local association spokesperson, told the Militant.

"American wants to have non-APA pilots fly American Eagle jets. Right now they say 62 jets, but that's just the tip of the iceberg - someday it could be thousands of planes," he said. "This is an issue for the flight attendants and ramp workers as well. It's not just a question of money, but having all of the pilots in the same union."

American Eagle is American's commuter affiliate. It currently uses pilots from four different companies with four different pilots' associations, according to Ward.

Jody Hill, a Miami pilot and local association representative, said the pilots were also fighting against their two-tiered pay structure. "We've been fighting this for a decade," he said. Ward added, "The company doesn't want to pay reasonable wages for newer pilots."

Ward asserted that the Merrill Lynch financial consultant firm has estimated that American will lose "$35 to $65 million a day if the pilots strike." The last strike at American was in November 1993 when the flight attendants successfully struck during the Thanksgiving holidays. Pickets carried signs reading "18 Days Before Strike," "This Employee Supports American Airline Pilots," and "American Airlines Passengers Need to Rebook Future Flights."

Janet Post works at United Airlines in Miami and is a member of International Association of Machinists Local 368.  
 
 
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