American Flight Attendants Urge Boycott as Strike Threat Heats Up

American Airlines flight attendants Wednesday launched a campaign for the boycott of the nation’s second-largest carrier, with uniformed union members walking informational picket lines at Los Angeles International and other airports across the country.

Meanwhile, the Dallas-based airline offered to sign the contract it implemented after negotiations with the Assn. of Professional Flight Attendants broke off. But the union rejected the airline’s most recent offer.

The union says it will strike by Nov. 22 and possibly sooner if the two sides fail to agree on new contract terms. American says it plans to keep operating if the flight attendants walk.

At Los Angeles International and John Wayne airports, attendants held signs that read “Don’t fly American” and handed out brochures urging passengers to cancel their reservations and switch to other carriers.

Union member Sherri Capello said flight attendants will begin calling travel agents today and asking them to divert customers from American to other carriers.

But the threat of a strike seems to have made little difference so far to most of American’s customers. However, some travelers are making other arrangements, travel agents said.

“Some customers are asking us to book them on alternate carriers because they are concerned about their flights,” said Thomas C. Nulty, president of Santa Ana-based Associated Travel Management. “But for the most part, I’ve been rather amazed at how loyal American Airlines travelers are remaining to American. There has not been the kind of impact we have seen when other carriers have been threatened by strikes.”

Talks between American and the union broke off Saturday. American was then allowed by federal law to implement a new contract and adopt an average 7.8% pay raise and other terms of its latest offer.

The airline did not impose some provisions most opposed by the union, but the union says American intends to implement them later.

Jane Allen, American’s vice president for employee relations, sent a letter Tuesday to union President Denise Hedges saying the company is prepared to sign the contract it has implemented, without changes the carrier sought in the way flight attendants bid for trips or are paid for their vacations.