The Transport Workers Union said Wednesday it will ask federal mediators to let the employees walk away from contract talks if there is no deal by March 8.
If federal mediators agree, it could start the countdown toward a strike this spring. The president or Congress can block strikes, which have become very rare in the airline industry.
American Airlines spokeswoman Missy Latham said talk of ending mediation was premature, and that a ruling freeing workers to strike “is also not up to the union.”
The union represents 28,000 workers at American Airlines and American Eagle, including mechanics and bag handlers. One of the union’s smaller groups has been negotiating since 2006 and the rest since 2007.