Or they're malingering strikers. Either way, American Airlines is canceling 300 flights this week due to pilots calling in sick. There's also been a sharp increase in flight crews filing maintenance paper work, which has caused further flight cancelations. It seems as though the pilots are striking because of an unfavorable deal their union, the Allied Pilots Association, reached with American Airlines management. The new deal calls for more flying hours while rejecting equity or pension contributions for the pilots. But union officials deny any sort of organized action.

Tom Hoban, an American pilot and chairman of the union's communications team, denied that there is any increase in the number of pilots calling in sick compared to historical norms for the airline. He said any pilots calling in sick or filing maintenance reports are doing so on their own.

"This isn't being organized, supported or sanctioned by the union, period," he said.

Could be true, I suppose. Either way, it's important to support unions, pilots, and people who fake sick. So support the strike and fly Delta, where instead of cancelations and "sick pilots" you'll get massive delays and needle sandwiches.

[Image via AP]