American Airlines seeks order against mechanics

In this story: No decision yet Union says it doesn't back slowdown RELATED STORIES, SITES

NEW YORK (CNN) -- American Airlines asked Thursday for an injunction to prevent mechanics and other union members from conducting what it called "illegal job actions" that would affect the airline's operations.

The request for a temporary restraining order was filed a day after union mechanics were accused of participating in a slowdown at John F. Kennedy International Airport that forced American to cancel 75 percent of its flights there.

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The Transport Workers Union, which is in contract negotiations with American, denied any involvement and said any such slowdown "is not supported or condoned." The action, it said, was the work of "unauthorized individual employees, whose actions we strongly condemn."

American filed for the temporary restraining order in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

No decision yet

The order seeks to prevent union leaders from "calling, permitting, instigating, authorizing, encouraging, participating in, (or) approving of" actions to disrupt operations. The court hasn't issued a decision.

The airline said union members violated the Railway Labor Act, the federal labor law governing airlines that prohibits labor disruptions except in specific circumstances.

"We apologize to our customers who were inconvenienced and to the many American employees whose jobs were disrupted and complicated by this illegal job action," the company said. "We hope the court will step in to prevent such future actions."

Union spokesman Jim Gannon said that if the airline wins the restraining order, "we will comply with it." He added that the union has denied instigating, planning or participating in the job action at JFK airport.

Union says it doesn't back slowdown

On Monday, American offered its mechanics what it called a "comprehensive contract offer" -- a proposal the union said fell "extremely short."

"We are disappointed and quite frankly dumbfounded that the company's initial good faith offer has led to these actions," American wrote to the union.

Robert Gless, the president of the local union representing JFK airport employees, responded in a letter of his own: "Please be advised that any such action is not supported or condoned by either the Transport Workers Union nor Local 562. ...

"We strongly believe that unauthorized and unlawful job actions can only harm our cause at the bargaining table, unnecessarily expose all of us to court orders and fines, and play into the hands of those who may want to undermine your union."

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American Airlines
Transport Workers Union
JFK Airport

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