By TERRY MAXON / The Dallas Morning News
tmaxon@dallasnews.com

In a vote that's pivotal for American Airlines Inc., nearly 13,000 employees are set to begin voting this week on new contracts covering the carrier's mechanics and other work groups.

The American Arbitration Association mailed ballots Monday to Transport Workers Union members covered by the three tentative agreements reached in early May.

The ballots are due back by 9 a.m. Aug. 24, with results out later that day.

Nobody will be paying closer attention than Fort Worth-based American, caught between unhappy employees and Wall Street analysts wary about losses.

The deals include pay increases and other incentives offset by concessions and productivity improvements.