A. Lee Graham Reporter Several unions have expressed support for American Airlines and US Airways’ request for a Nov. 12, 2013 trial date in connection with the U.S. Department of Justice’s lawsuit surrounding the ongoing airline merger issue. Unions representing 70,000 American Airlines and US Airways employees in supporting that request are the Allied Pilots Association, the U.S. Airline Pilots Association, the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, Transport Workers Union and the Communications Workers of America. Those groups represent pilots, flight attendants, mechanics, technicians, aircraft dispatchers, call center representatives and others employees. “We urge the U.S. District Court and the Department of Justice to begin the trial on November 12, 2013 in order to get to a speedy resolution to this exciting merger,” reads part of the statement. “Our message to consumers everywhere is simple: ‘Let us compete for your business’ starting as soon as possible.” The statement goes on to express wanting “a fair shot” at competing in the airline marketplace. “Delaying a trial puts our families and our customers at further risk. For American and its employees, the uncertainty of the last two years in bankruptcy has already exacted a heavy toll,” the statement said. “The livelihoods of hard-working aviation professionals at American and US Airways hang in the balance. Jobs are at stake if this merger does not go through. For our members, job security that comes with truly competitive airlines is on hold as we wait for trial. “This merger makes sense for competition, customers, and the members we represent who want nothing more than to compete aggressively on a level playing field to serve those customers.” The Allied Pilots Association, based in Fort Worth, represents the 10,000 pilots of American Airlines. The U.S. Airline Pilots Association, based in Charlotte, N.C., represents the more than 5,000 mainline pilots who fly for US Airways. The Association of Professional Flight Attendants, based in Euless, is the nation’s largest independent flight attendant union. It represents the 17,000 flight attendants at American Airlines. The Association of Flight Attendants, based in Washington, D.C., is the world’s largest flight attendant union. The Transport Workers Union of America, based in Washington, D.C., represents 200,000 workers and retirees, primarily in commercial aviation, public transportation and passenger railroads. Communications Workers of America, based in Washington, D.C., is the largest telecommunications union in the world, represents more than 700,000 men and women in both private and public sectors. lgraham@bizpress.net