Contact: Ernest Blazar 202-224-7627 Shana Stribling 224-0309
Friday, September 28, 2001

WASHINGTON - Senator Kit Bond today confirmed that he is seeking federal legislation that will require third-party arbitration to settle fairly seniority issues between American Airlines and TWA workers. As airlines predict more reductions in the future, it is imperative that all employees are treated fairly.

“Third-party arbitration is a fair way to finalize seniority integration talks between AA and TWA workers,” said Bond. “This is especially true in the wake of the September 11th terrorist attacks and the industry and economic troubles that followed.”

Bond released today a letter to the chairman and ranking Republican member of the Senate Commerce Committee, the panel that has oversight of the U.S. domestic airline industry. The letter requests that the committee take up this issue itself or be ready for Bond to do so. It is expected that the committee will shortly take up consideration of a bill to improve airline security and Bond believes this may be the correct legislative vehicle for an amendment to protect TWA workers.

“Any airline security bill ought to include some security for former TWA workers,” said Bond. “The seniority issue must be settled if further lay-offs are to be handled fairly.”

American Airlines announced on September 22, that it would lay off at least 20,000 employees. The seniority integration process of TWA and American Airlines is not complete. This presents a major concern for TWA employees who face the possibility of unfair treatment.

Bond urged Commerce Committee Chairman Senator Ernest Hollings (D-SC) and Ranking Republican Member Senator John McCain (R-AZ) to include the seniority integration procedures imposed by the former Civil Aeronautics Board in the Allegheny-Mohawk merger with respect to the employees of the air carriers who are involved in this transaction as they consider related legislation in the immediate future. This would ensure a fair and unbiased third-party resolution to this issue that all parties can agree upon.