News

USAirways: December 2013 Bargaining Update

26 Dec, 2013

Our bargaining committee met with US Airways management in Washington, DC, on December 18th and 19th, and then briefed the presidents of our seven local unions during a conference call on December 23rd.

The bargaining committee reported that the company countered our wage proposal with their own proposal to end profit sharing, which the committee said was a non-starter.

“We will not give up our profit sharing,” said bargaining committee member Millicent Burnett. “We’ve worked hard and sacrificed to help bring this company back from the brink, and now we should be sharing in the benefits of this merger.”

The two sides reached no agreement on the union proposal that there be a guarantee that vendors will not do our work. The bargaining committee expressed members’ opposition to vendors, even if so-called “seamless service” is compromised.

“We understand that American Airlines has long been dependent on vendors in many stations,” said bargaining committee member Dan Skerl. “But we are fighting for an agreement that guarantees the elimination of vendors as quickly as possible. We believe that’s the best way to guarantee seamless service.”

No more meetings with management have been scheduled. In the meantime, employees at the former American Airlines continue to organize. Our union expects the combined work groups to vote in a new representation election in 2014. Our local presidents and the bargaining committee agreed that the next step is to launch a renewed mobilization effort in 2014.

“We must show the company that we are united and willing to fight for a fair contract for every passenger service employee at the new airline,” said bargaining committee member Vickey Hoots. “We’ll be announcing plans for mobilization activities in January. Every member must stay informed and get involved,” she continued. “The stakes could not be higher; this is about the future of our union.”