Negotiations between American Airlines and its flight attendants are far from coming to a close. Sources indicate that they are more than $500 million apart, with both parties still divided over issues such as pay raises, profit sharing, retirement and medical benefits, scheduling and crew rests. The flight attendants had threatened to strike on Saturday until President Bush stepped in earlier this week to halt such a move, but the imposition of a Presidential Emergency Board may only delay the strike to a later date.
See "Airline labor talks hit turbulence", John Schmeltzer, Chicago Tribune, June 28, 2001