American cuts tentative deal with ground workers

DALLAS (AP) - American Airlines said Friday it has reached a tentative contract agreement with about 10,600 ground workers.

Terms of the settlement weren't immediately disclosed.

The deal faces a ratification vote by the fleet service employees, who are represented by the Transport Workers Union.

American has tentative deals with other groups of ground workers. It is still negotiating with flight attendants and pilots. The attendants have asked federal mediators to give them permission to strike after a 30-day cooling-off period, but the officials haven't granted the union's request.

American Airlines, a unit of AMR Corp., has more than 50,000 unionized employees.