Pilots stage picket at D/FW

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Star-Telegram

By TREBOR BANSTETTER

Hundreds of American Airlines pilots picketed at Dallas/Fort Worth Airport on Friday, carrying signs and telling customers that the airline's service has suffered because of mismanagement.

About 300 pilots, most based in North Texas, attended the march, according to officials with the Allied Pilots Association, which represents pilots at Fort Worth-based American. Some pilots from other carriers, including United Airlines, also marched in solidarity.

Pilots complained that American's service record, particularly its on-time performance, has suffered this year because of poor sche- duling and understaffing. They also criticized executive stock bonuses at the airline, which they argued aren't justified, pointing out that rank-and-file employees are still working under wages that were slashed substantially in 2003.


STAR-TELEGRAM/STEWART F. HOUSE
Captain Gary Bell of Irving, front, and about 300 other American Airlines pilots stage an informational picket at Dallas/Fort Worth Airport's Terminal C on Friday. The pilots say American's service record has suffered this year because of poor scheduling and understaffing.


"The management has pared our airline down to almost nothing, and the employees are making extreme sacrifices just to keep American operating," said protester Rick Sanders, a captain based at D/FW.

Read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/business/story/335160.html

[CarlWoodward]

1. It's hard NOT to support the pilots

I can't imagine how anyone can NOT support the airline employees. Service has gotten so bad, particularly on American, thanks to massive cost cutting in the name of pleasing Wall Street.