American Airlines Pilots Plan to Picket at Several Airports Next Month

The union representing pilots at American Airlines announced plans to picket the carrier next month at its hometown airport, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, as well as at Miami International Airport and several others.

The pilots will protest what they have termed untenable and unreliable working conditions on October 19. It will consist of “informational picketing,” as it is illegal for pilots to go on strike in the United States.

According to the union, the airline regularly books accommodations on an improper basis , reassigns pilots in high numbers, and requires pilots to work on their days off.  The union further said that management doesn’t always provide its members with adequate meals and meal breaks.

“Unfortunately, management has repeatedly demonstrated its inability to run a reliable airline,” the union stated in an email to members viewed by Frequent Business Traveler.

“While attempting to recover from weather-related disruption (and sometimes even on clear-sky days), management often resorts to making up its own rules, generating brand-damaging headlines and jeopardizing passenger loyalty and precious revenue,” the email said.

The concept of “informational picketing” by pilots is a time-honored tradition.  American’s pilots held similar protests at airports in January 2020 and Southwest’s did so in January 2016.

(Photo: Accura Media Group)