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01/01/2011 American Airlines Passenger Service Agents (PSAs) began the card collection process to form a union.
11/29/2011 American Airlines filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection.
12/07/2011 American Airlines PSAs filed a petition for lawful representation by the Communication Workers of America with over 35% of PSAs signing cards expressing their interest to form a union. Exceeding the legal threshold required to trigger an election for union representation.
02/14/2012 Congress reauthorized the Federal Aviation Administration, which concurrently increased the percentage of signed cards, expressing interest to form a union, from 35% to 50%. At the time of passage, Senate authors of the legislation made clear the increase in required percentage to trigger an election was not intended to be retroactive.
04/20/2012 The National Mediation Board (NMB) ordered the election period of May 17 -June 19, 2012 which required American Airlines to provide a list of mailing addresses for eligible voters and allowed American Airlines PSAs to vote for lawful representation.
04/23/2012 American Airlines petitioned the NMB to reconsider its decision to call an election.
04/26/2012 American Airlines, in violation of the NMB order, failed to provide the required mailing list for eligible voters and requests an extension to May 2, 2012.
04/27/2012 NMB granted American Airlines election delay extension to May 2, 2012.
05/02/2012 Again, American Airlines failed to provide the required mailing list for eligible voters as requested by NMB.
05/02/2012 In an effort to delay the upcoming union election, American Airlines filed a lawsuit against the NMB over its decision to hold the upcoming election for the Communications Workers of America to represent 9,600 PSAs.
05/10/2012 Communications Workers of America petitioned the bankruptcy judge to restrain from imposing drastic wage & benefit cuts as well as work rule changes pending the outcome of the union representation election. Due to the uncertainty of the timing of the union election caused by the American Airlines lawsuit in the Federal District Court of Texas, the 9,600 PSAs are subject to any and all unilateral decisions made by American Airlines until an election is held.
05/15/2012 American Airlines PSAs delivered the union compiled mailing labels to NMB.
06/06/2012 NMB orders the election to be held using the mailing labels provided by CWA, the election is scheduled to be conducted from June 21 – August 2.
06/11/2012 American Airlines files a motion in the US District Court for a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) and preliminary injunction to halt the NMB ordered election, based on the discredited claim the FAA Reauthorization should be applied retroactively.
06/13/2012 Judge Means grants American Airlines' request for a TRO, halting the election, and orders an injunction hearing for 6/21/12.
06/22/2012 Despite clear congressional intent, Judge Means rules that the 50% showing of interest standard should apply retroactively.
07/10/2012 Department of Justice (DOJ) appeals to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals that the new 50% standard should NOT be applied to pending elections.
07/18/2012 AMR, American Airlines parent corporation, reports $6.5 billion in quarterly revenue, the highest in company history, before any cuts or outsourcing happens.
07/19/2012 The day after posting record revenues American Airlines sends WARN letters to hundreds of employees notifying them of layoffs over the next few months.
07/23/2012 121 Members of Congress write to CEO Tom Horton telling him to let the election proceed and allow the PSAs to exercise their basic democratic rights.
08/24/2012 American Airlines closes SWRO call center in Phoenix, impacting over 700 workers; begins nationwide cuts to pay and benefits.
10/01/2012 Over the past year American Airlines spent $2,000,000 on legal fees for firms hired to delay or deny agents right to vote.
100/3/2012 Court of Appeals issues a unanimous ruling to vacate the District Court in its entirety due to lack of jurisdiction, allowing the NMB to hold an election.
10/29/2012 American Airlines issues second round of layoff notices to employees nationwide.
10/30/2012 The full Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously rejects American Airlines request to rehear the case and further delay the election and issues a mandate for the NMB to proceed with scheduling an election.
10/31/2012 In yet another attempt to deny agents an election American Airlines announced to employees they would for appeal to the United States Supreme Court.