American Airlines Pilots Picket over Cuts

Bankruptcies: How do they work?

American Airlines pilots picketed at O'Hare International Airport Thursday, protesting the recent imposition of pay and benefits cuts while supporting a merger with US Airways.

The demonstration occurred as American canceled hundreds of flights this week, saying pilots are partly to blame. The pilots deny that.

"American pilots want to work for an airline that is vibrant and growing, and American's standalone plan is just not working," said Dennis Tajer, spokesman for the Allied Pilots Association, which supports a combination with US Airways. American's parent AMR Corp., in bankruptcy reorganization, is in talks with US Airways. "The act of throwing our contract into the trash can is a motivating issue here."