Union head lobbies for pilots' contract with AA

(AP) The head of the pilots' union is making an emotional pitch to approve a tentative contract with American Airlines, saying rejecting the deal would set pilots on a path of self-destruction.

Allied Pilots Association president Keith Wilson said Tuesday that the contract would eventually boost pay to industry standards.

Wilson says some opponents of the contract are intent on punishing airline management and not helping American emerge from bankruptcy protection as a successful company.

Voting ends Dec. 7. In August pilots rejected another offer from American by a 61-to-39-percent margin. American responded by cutting pay and benefits.

American, owned by AMR Corp., is trying to use the bankruptcy process to cut annual labor costs by about $1 billion.