American Airlines pilots plan to picket airports in protest over work conditions claiming they have been left too tired to fly safely

 The labor union representing American Airlines pilots plans to stage protests at the carrier's major hubs over their work schedules and fatigue.

The Allied Pilots Association will picket at Miami International Airport, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, and other locations, with the first protest set to take place on October 19, it said in an emailed statement to Reuters.

'As pilots, our job is to transport our passengers as safely and reliably as possible, while American Airlines management’s job is to support those efforts,' the union stated. 'Unfortunately, management has repeatedly demonstrated its inability to run a reliable airline, and has failed to give us the tools we need to do our jobs.'

The picketing is not expected to disrupt air travel because federal law prohibits pilots from walking off the job.  

+3

American Airlines pilots are planning to stage protests over fatigue and work schedules (pilots are pictured during a rally for a new contract in January 2020) 

+3

The pilots' labor union has accused American Airlines of forcing pilots to work on their scheduled days off and denying them sufficient time to eat

The APA, which represents all 13,400 American Airlines pilots, accused the carrier of forcing pilots to work on their scheduled days off, not providing them with adequate accommodations, and denying them sufficient time to eat during their shifts, reported The Hill. 

'Our airline needs scheduling practices that support the safety margin, respect pilots' and passengers' needs, and de-risk American Airlines to protect and improve revenue,' the union said. 

APA spokesman Dennis Tajer has said to Dallas Morning News that the airline does not have enough pilots to operate all the scheduled flights after letting nearly 1,000 of them resign at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has crippled the travel industry.  

American Airlines did not address the union's specific claims, but instead referred DailyMail.com to a memo that was sent to the pilots by American Airlines Vice President of Flight Operations Chip Long on Friday. 

In his letter, Long partially blamed scheduling problems on bad weather during the month of June, but argued that progress was being made.

+3

One of the planned protests will take place at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport

'We had a challenging stretch in June due to weather, vendor staffing and temporary pilot training challenges that may have touched you or your schedule,' Long wrote in the memo. 'We’ve taken steps to ensure we can support the operation and get our customers where they want to go, when they want to go. 

'At the same time, we continue to make important progress internally, managing and adapting in a way that provides tangible improvements for each of you.' 

In August, a union representing Southwest Airlines pilots filed a lawsuit challenging forced time off and other changes to working conditions imposed by the airline during the COVID-19 pandemic.