Union calls contract offer dead, seeks to move closer toward American Airlines strike

FORT WORTH, Texas — A union representing ground workers at American Airlines says a contract offer that was once headed for a ratification vote is now dead, and it’s seeking to move closer toward a possible strike.

The Transport Workers Union said Monday it asked the National Mediation Board to declare a stalemate.

If the board goes along, it could end mediated talks between the two sides and eventually begin a 30-day cooling-off period, after which workers could legally strike.

The airline thought it had a tentative deal in May, but the union’s president reversed a decision by negotiators and declined to send the company’s last contract offer to members for a vote. American, part of AMR Corp., said it included raises.