AA ground workers reject concession request FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) =97 Union leaders who represent ground workers at=20 American Airlines rejected a plan for $620 million in concessions, saying=20 the carrier is in financial trouble but didn't prove it needs that much=20 from the employees. The decision late Tuesday by the Transport Workers Union deals a blow to=20 the Fort Worth-based carrier's effort to win $1.8 billion in employee=20 givebacks by restructuring labor agreements with several unions. American=20 said the TWU's rejection was just one step in the process, adding that the= =20 two sides are still negotiating and the proposal wasn't a=20 'take-it-or-leave-it' matter. "It expressed our view as to the sorts of modifications necessary to avoid= =20 bankruptcy," said American spokesman Bruce Hicks. "The union has stated it= =20 was prepared to work with us in good faith to accomplish this objective."=20 American had asked the group to give up $620 million a year in pay and=20 benefits that would make the airline more efficient and less costly.=20 However, the union said its analysts did not come to the same conclusion. "The company asserted in their proposal that our advisers and consultants=20 have concluded that the company requires the $620 million relief," said Jim= =20 Little, the union's international vice president, in a recorded message to= =20 members. "Our consultants and advisers have concluded that the company does= =20 need relief, but have not yet confirmed the specific amount." Three unions,= =20 representing more than two-thirds of American's 100,000 employees,=20 acknowledge that some cuts are necessary to save American and have=20 expressed willingness to discuss concessions with the carrier. TWU leaders= =20 were the first of the three unions to set up negotiations with American.=20 Some analysts thought TWU was the most likely to swiftly bring a concession= =20 package to a vote by its members. The union, which has a contract in place= =20 until 2004, is under no obligation to change its terms. But it has said it= =20 believes that some sacrifice is necessary if the airline is to avoid=20 bankruptcy. Meanwhile, American continues to talk with its pilots' union,=20 represented by the Allied Pilots Association, in attempts to win $660=20 million in concessions. It has yet to schedule one-on-one talks with the=20 Association of Professional Flight Attendants. The airline's parent AMR=20 lost $5.2 billion over the past two years as it struggled with a downturn=20 in business travel and competition from low-fare rivals like Southwest=20 Airlines, and is expected to lose $800 million more during the first=20 quarter of 2003. *************************************************** The owner of Roger's Trinbago Site/TnTisland.com Roj (Roger James) escape email mailto:ejames@escape.ca Trinbago site: www.tntisland.com Carib Brass Ctn site www.tntisland.com/caribbeanbrassconnection/ Steel Expressions www.mts.net/~ejames/se/ Site of the Week: http://www.dbombo.net/muddyangels/ TnT Webdirectory: http://search.co.tt *********************************************************