This is interesting, and something we haven’t seen too much of in the industry of late. Over the last couple of years, it seems we’ve seen more of a “fight your own battle” attitude with many union groups — for the exception of Mesaba, where all three major union groups shared resources and information in their negotiations with management.

Today the TWU, which represents the flight attendants at Southwest Airlines, issued a release that is basically a call to arms to support their fellow flight attendants at American Airlines in their protests against AMR management. The flight attendants at AMR are represented by an independent union, APFA.

“The Southwest union plans to blanket American’s executives with protest emails, it will encourage its members to sign an online petition opposing corporate greed and it will ask Southwest flight attendants to walk on informational picket lines organized by the American Airlines flight attendants’ union, the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA).

“Our members are stunned and angered by the size of the stock give-aways to American’s executives,” said TWU Local 556 President Thom McDaniel. “Southwest Airlines has remained profitable throughout the very worst times in the airline industry through shared sacrifice and commitment from management and labor. The result has been growth for the airline and job security for all employees. Our executives are paid fairly and employees share in the profits of the company.

The union is asking its members to sign an online petition (the petition can be found at http://go.care2.com/9425295) and send protest emails to the top executives at American. Southwest flight attendants also are being asked to send a note to their Congressional representative urging them to support HR 1257, a bill that would provide shareholders with an advisory vote on executive compensation. The bill, sponsored by Massachusetts Rep. Barney Frank is scheduled to be debated on the floor of the House of Representatives this week.

Members of TWU Local 556 will also join airport demonstrations in cities such as St. Louis, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles and Phoenix in support of picketing members of the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA).”

Ticker: (LUV:NYSE), (AMR:NYSE)