American Airlines pilots reject contract

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FORT WORTH, Texas, Aug. 8 (UPI) -- The American Pilots Association, representing Texas-based American Airlines, voted down a tentative contract offer Wednesday.

The vote was 2,935 pilots approving the agreement and 4,500 pilots rejecting it, APA said on its Web site.

Before the vote, APA officials told members that Chapter 11 bankruptcy restructuring of American Airlines "was a distinct possibility."

"Based on the recent experiences of other pilot groups, we were well aware that Chapter 11 is not a labor-friendly process," association officials said in a letter posted on the APA Web site.

Separately, American Airlines mechanics approved a new contract offer after rejecting an earlier offer in May, The Wall Street Journal reported. The Transport Workers Union's vote, which squeaked by with just 50.25 percent, means the workers won't face the possibility that the bankruptcy judge would grant motion to rescind the mechanics' current contract and let the company impose more austere terms.

American in a statement said the TWU ratifications are "an important step forward in our restructuring." The company said it was "disappointed" by the pilot vote and would wait for ruling by Judge Sean Lean that will allow the airline's parent company, Fort Worth, Texas-based AMR Corp., to implement changes required for its restructuring.

AMR filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in November.