Piedmont Agents Ratify First Contract by Nearly Unanimous Vote

Washington, D.C. -- Members of the Communications Workers of America, who are fleet and passenger service agents at Piedmont Airlines, overwhelmingly ratified their first contract by a 94 percent vote.

The four and one half year (54 month) contract covers 3,700 agents at 79 stations and provides raises and bonuses of up to 38 percent over contract term. 

Long and tough negotiations, with the involvement of the National Mediation Board, finally produced this first agreement that includes real improvements in pay, job security and health care benefits, as well an effective grievance and arbitration process.

Among the provisions:

• A lump sum signing bonus of 6-8 percent of salary in 2012.
• A new pay system with guaranteed 4 percent raises and additional increases.
• A first-ever grievance and arbitration process.
• Longevity bonuses each year for good attendance.
• Equity for part-time workers for holiday pay.
• Job security improvements.

"Piedmont workers stood together and mobilized for more than a year to win economic justice, and they did. This agreement provides real improvements in pay and working conditions that will benefit agents and their families. They were determined to prevail, and they did," said Jimmy Tarlau, assistant to CWA's District 2-13 vice president.

Piedmont agents overwhelmingly voted for CWA representation in November 2010 despite a tough anti-union campaign by management. They hung on for more than a year of bargaining and mobilized across the airline's 79 stations to keep solidarity strong.

More information at www.PiedmontAgent.org

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Contact: Chuck Porcari or Liz Schilling, CWA Communications, 202-434-1168, cporcari@cwa-union.org and eschiling@cwa-union.org