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Agents Bargain at US Airways Despite Bankrupcy Filing
CWA is continuing to negotiate with US Airways in the wake of the carrier’s bankruptcy filing and restructuring.
Since May, CWA’s bargaining team has been developing, presenting and countering proposals in meetings with management over the airline’s concession demands.
Discussions have continued since the airline’s Aug. 11 announcement that it is seeking federal bankruptcy protection.
Under the bankruptcy process, US Airways management can seek the court’s approval to impose contract terms on employees if the union and airline don’t reach agreement. At the same hearing, CWA would make its case on behalf of the agents.
For several months, US Airways management has been demanding extreme salary and benefit cuts from agents while refusing to acknowledge the economic sacrifices agents made over the past decade, CWA said.
The company demanded even greater cuts in one post-bankruptcy negotiating session, but CWA bargainers are firm in their resolve to get the best settlement possible. If a tentative settlement is reached it will be presented to the membership for a ratification vote.
Agents already endured a 10-year wage freeze, from 1989 to 1999, as well as the loss of their defined benefit pension plan in the period before they won CWA representation. Pilots, mechanics and flight attendants retain the pension benefit along with supplemental medical and prescription drug coverage, another benefit not available to agents.
Management’s demand that agents shoulder the burden for the pension shortfall and other costs are unjust, because agents were stripped of these benefits years ago, CWA said.
Since May, CWA’s bargaining team has been developing, presenting and countering proposals in meetings with management over the airline’s concession demands.
Discussions have continued since the airline’s Aug. 11 announcement that it is seeking federal bankruptcy protection.
Under the bankruptcy process, US Airways management can seek the court’s approval to impose contract terms on employees if the union and airline don’t reach agreement. At the same hearing, CWA would make its case on behalf of the agents.
For several months, US Airways management has been demanding extreme salary and benefit cuts from agents while refusing to acknowledge the economic sacrifices agents made over the past decade, CWA said.
The company demanded even greater cuts in one post-bankruptcy negotiating session, but CWA bargainers are firm in their resolve to get the best settlement possible. If a tentative settlement is reached it will be presented to the membership for a ratification vote.
Agents already endured a 10-year wage freeze, from 1989 to 1999, as well as the loss of their defined benefit pension plan in the period before they won CWA representation. Pilots, mechanics and flight attendants retain the pension benefit along with supplemental medical and prescription drug coverage, another benefit not available to agents.
Management’s demand that agents shoulder the burden for the pension shortfall and other costs are unjust, because agents were stripped of these benefits years ago, CWA said.