As attorneys for American Airlines argued before a federal bankruptcy judge that its union contracts need to be changed, American employees protested Monday at airports across the U.S.
Members of the flight attendants' union who protested at Miami International Airport said the airline is too focused on cutting costs and cutting jobs.
At this point, workers said they would rather merge with another airline than see a restructuring plan pass during the bankruptcy hearings this week.
"They're trying to wipe out 30-50 years of negotiations, and we're here to say it has to stop," said Todd McJunkin, an AA flight crew member. "I think it can be fixed if the right people come in and take over. That's why we are here to say that we're also in support of, perhaps, a merger with another airline."
American Airlines released a statement Monday, saying, in part, "Our goal is to reach consensual agreements with all of our unions."
"Prolonged delay and distractions are not only counterproductive, but risk jobs and livelihoods of thousands of employees," the statement continued.