The info came from a AMR captain in the van yesterday. He said he is a LEC rep. I asked what if any progress they have made. He said we have made no progress and the mediator has suspended talks with us to work on other mediations where he feels progress can be made. He went on to say they have not hired a professional team the hope can move things on the DC end. Any guess who they hired?

A quick google search turned this up. Looks like this info dated 7 Oct has come to pass.

Allied Pilots Association president Dave Bates is cautioning American Airlines pilots that the National Mediation Board may set aside the APA-AA case for a while.

The talks between the union and American just passed their four-year anniversary. Although the pace has picked up this year with a number of agreements on sections of the contract, the two sides haven't gotten to most of the substantive issues.

In a negotiations update to members Thursday, Bates wrote:

"I also want to make you aware that the National Mediation Board (NMB) has indicated it may place our mediated talks in 'recess' for an indefinite period of time due to the lack of progress in our negotiations.

"While this may or may not affect negotiations for the short term, without the NMB's involvement, there can be no release to self-help. That's the law and that's the system we have to live with.

"While we will not allow this to pressure us into accepting an inferior deal, we must also acknowledge that without the legal capability to park the jets, much of our potential ability to achieve significant contractual gains or to protect scope is lost."