Union asks politicians to keep quiet on

Washington American Airlines union leaders called on politicians to withhold comments that the carrier would be better off if it emerged from bankruptcy on its own. The unions' joint statement late Saturday followed comments by Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison and Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin. US Airways Group has acknowledged it's assessing a possible bid for AMR's American, and Delta Air Lines also is studying takeover options, people familiar with the matter have said. American is working to cut annual spending by $2 billion (Dh7.34 billion), including $1.25 billion from labour costs, as it reorganises under court protection. The labour reductions include eliminating more than 13,000 jobs. American has said it wants to remain independent until after emerging from bankruptcy. "We respectfully request that all stakeholders of American Airlines — including lawmakers and everyone else with a vested interest in the outcome of the restructuring — withhold judgment about any industry consolidation that could involve our airline until all of the facts become known," the unions said in the statement. Allied Pilots Association President David Bates, Association of Professional Flight Attendants President Laura Glading and Jim Little, international president of the Transport Workers Union, said they were willing to brief Hutchison and Fallin on their efforts "to mitigate or avoid" job cuts proposed by the carrier. The unions must "examine every possibility" when it comes to protecting the livelihoods and retirement funds of workers, according to the statement.