American Airlines in union bind

American Airlines pilots, flight attendants, mechanics and baggage handlers have asked U.S. mediators to intervene in talks with management as the carrier seeks $1.25 billion in labor concessions, including 13,000 job cuts. The unions’ requests late Friday added new complexity to American Airlines’ efforts to win givebacks in union bargaining instead of asking a judge for authority to scrap existing contracts and impose new terms. American said last week that time is running out for consensual accords. An agreement between the two sides looks further away than ever.