ANALYSIS: Amid AA Furloughs, Unions May Reroute Bargaining Goals

The unions representing passenger service and reservation workers at American Airlines have an unenviable distinction: They’re the first to renegotiate an airline contract since federal Covid-19-related aid for the industry ran out. As such, they’re likely bargaining for their jobs more than for pay raises or benefit improvements.

U.S. air carriers have announced the furlough of at least 38,000 workers since Sept. 30, when the first payroll support program expired without a new stimulus plan in place to help airlines and some other hard-hit industries continue paying their workers. About half of that total — some 19,000 workers — have ...