The Machinists (IAM) and the Transport Workers (TWU) have reached a partnership to jointly represent nearly 30,000 ground workers at the “new” American Airlines following the merger of American Airlines and US Airways.

The announcement of the proposed merger between American Airlines—now in bankruptcy proceedings—and US Airways has drawn mixed reactions from the AFL-CIO unions, which represent workers at both airlines.

The vote for union representation among passenger service agents at American Airlines fell 150 votes short of the required majority of voting agents, but the Communications Workers of America will continue to work with agents for a voice on the job and in their future. The National Mediation Board announced the vote Tuesday.

This is a cross-post from the Communications Workers of America (CWA).

Since the nearly 10,000 passenger service agents at American Airlines said in 2011 they wanted to vote on joining the Communications Workers of America (CWA), the airline has battled every step of the way. Now it says it is going to the U.S. Supreme Court to block the workers’ right to vote.

A federal judge’s ruling permanently blocking 10,000 passenger service agents at American Airlines from voting on joining a union is a “disgrace and a travesty of justice,” says the Communications Workers of America (CWA). CWA Organizing Director Sandy Rusher says:   

Here in America, we're taught to respect democracy and our right to vote. Sadly, the court's decision today is an attack on the rights of these average Americans, agents who just want the opportunity to participate in a democratic election.

A federal judge in Texas today blocked an election by 10,000 American Airlines passenger service agents that the National Mediation Board (NMB) last week ordered to begin June 21. Last month, American filed suit against the NMB’s decision to allow the workers to vote on joining the Communications Workers of America (CWA). In a statement this afternoon CWA said:

Clearly the airline is afraid of workers having their democratic vote and has been fighting hard to stop it.

The National Mediation Board (NMB) decided last night to move forward with a union election at American Airlines among nearly 10,000 passenger service agents and the Communications Workers of America (CWA), and AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department President Ed Wytkind writes that the NMB did the right thing.

As I wrote in May, American has stonewalled a union election long enough through its illegal refusal to hand over an employee list to the NMB. It was time for American to comply with the law or for the NMB to move forward with an election. Unfortunately, American refused to comply with a legal NMB order for an election in May leaving the agency with no other choice but to conduct the election using an employee list submitted by passenger service agents and the CWA. The NMB has done the right thing here.

This is a cross-post by AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department President Edward Wytkind on Huffington Post. 

Lawbreaker. That is exactly what we need to start calling American Airlines for its blatant refusal to proceed with a union election among its 9,600 passenger service agents that was legally and properly ordered by the National Mediation Board (NMB).

Workers took to the street yesterday as American Airlines’ bankruptcy hearings began in New York City. Members of the Transport Workers (TWU), which represents American Airlines’ mechanics and fleet service employees, rallied with other union and community activists to demand that the court protect American jobs and collective bargaining rights and respect the value of work during the bankruptcy proceedings. Take a look at TWU’s video.

What's the reward for hard work, creativity, teamwork and loyalty? The Transport Workers (TWU) say it may be pay cuts and givebacks for you and record bonuses for the CEO.