FORT WORTH (1080 KRLD) - American Airlines has filed a federal lawsuit against two unions that represent about 10,000 mechanics.
American filed the lawsuits against the Transport Workers Union and International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers in federal court in Fort Worth.
American has been negotiating contracts with the unions since 2015. The lawsuit says the unions are urging members to take an unusually long time to make repairs and refuse to work overtime.
The lawsuit says the unions are orchestrating an "illegal work slowdown" to gain leverage in negotiations.
In the lawsuit, American says it has had to cancel 644 flights since February and delay 1,500 flights. American says the delays and cancellations have affected 125,000 passengers.
If delays continue into summer travel season, American says 3,400 customers could be affected daily.
The Transport Workers Union says negotiations stalled over pay, health care and job security. The union's president says American wants to push maintenance work overseas, which could threaten 6,000 jobs.
“American Airlines is trying to punish us for doing exactly what we are supposed to do, which is ensure that there are safe aircraft in the air,” John Samuelsen said.
American and the mechanics' unions went before a mediator in April. Airline workers are not allowed to strike unless a mediator declares an impasse in negotiations.