American Airlines' pilots, flight attendants, mechanics and baggage handlers have asked that mediators join negotiations between the workers and the company. The airline is seeking huge cuts in labor costs, including thousands of layoffs. The airline has said that it wants to negotiate with the unions rather than asking a judge to overrule the contracts. The unions have asked the National Mediation Board for binding arbitration.
See "American Airlines Unions Seek U.S. Arbitrator in Bankruptcy-Giveback Talks", Mary Schlangenstein, Bloomberg News, March 8, 2012