American Airlines has asked a bankruptcy judge to break its contracts with workers. The company wants the court to impose terms of the workers that would save the company money. The airline plans to cut 13,000 jobs and reduce wages and benefits. Unions who represent American's workers say that the company did not try hard to reach agreements with them outside of court, and that the move is a pressure tactic. The pilots' union is suing the company, and claims that laws governing the airline industry prohibit the use of bankruptcy proceedings to break union contracts.
See "American Airlines asks bankruptcy judge to break union contracts, impose cuts on workers", The Associated Press, The Washington Post, March 27, 2012