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Building the Union at US Airways
Passenger service employees at US Airways, who overwhelmingly ratified their pace-setting first contract with a 75 percent "yes" vote, now are building their union by establishing locals and participating in expanded training for stewards and officers.
Some 600 union stewards - who already have been helping employees settle workplace issues and problems - will receive training beginning this month in contract interpretation, grievance procedures, setting up safety committees and other areas.
US Airways employees also are working with CWA staff in the process of determining their local union structures. In District 4 and District 2, US Airways workers will organize district-wide locals; other workgroups may join existing CWA locals.
CWA President Morton Bahr credited the hard work and determination of the passenger service group in winning their contract, one that leads the industry in compensation, benefits, job security and opportunity.
"This first contract makes tremendous gains for US Airways employees, whether they work in the city ticket offices, the res centers, at US Airways Clubs, in providing special service and support to passengers or at airport gates and ticket counters," he said. The contract became effective Dec. 13.
The five-year contract, covering some 10,600 agents, includes a pay parity formula that keeps US Airways employees averaged at the top with other major airlines; top hourly wages are slated to exceed $20.90 by next June. The new wage rates also include new customer contact premiums and other wage increases for split shifts, reservations relief, reservations customer service desk, and other job categories.
Other improvements include a fully competitive retirement program, with US Airways contributions to employees'' retirement accounts to increase in the range of 4 percent to 10 percent of base pay, depending on age. This benefit is in addition to the existing 401(k) plan.
The contract also provides job security protections in the event of a sale or merger; ensures that US Airways Regional Jet operations, work locations, Internet reservations and information calls will remain the work of passenger service employees; puts in place an arbitration and grievance procedure, including provisions for binding arbitration and a mediation procedure.
Part-time workers will benefit from a 50 percent company contribution toward family medical benefits; those premiums had exceeded $300 a month.
The vote was 2,958 in favor of the agreement and 910 opposed. Counting the ballots was a team of US Airways employees: Cathy Bumgarner, Winston-Salem Reservations; Glen Johnson, Tampa; Vicki Sheffey, Pittsburgh Reservations; Colleen Wolinski, Buffalo; Maryanne Palen, San Diego Reservations; and Tom Kersey, Norfolk. Also overseeing the vote were members of the bargaining council and a mediator with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.
Some 600 union stewards - who already have been helping employees settle workplace issues and problems - will receive training beginning this month in contract interpretation, grievance procedures, setting up safety committees and other areas.
US Airways employees also are working with CWA staff in the process of determining their local union structures. In District 4 and District 2, US Airways workers will organize district-wide locals; other workgroups may join existing CWA locals.
CWA President Morton Bahr credited the hard work and determination of the passenger service group in winning their contract, one that leads the industry in compensation, benefits, job security and opportunity.
"This first contract makes tremendous gains for US Airways employees, whether they work in the city ticket offices, the res centers, at US Airways Clubs, in providing special service and support to passengers or at airport gates and ticket counters," he said. The contract became effective Dec. 13.
The five-year contract, covering some 10,600 agents, includes a pay parity formula that keeps US Airways employees averaged at the top with other major airlines; top hourly wages are slated to exceed $20.90 by next June. The new wage rates also include new customer contact premiums and other wage increases for split shifts, reservations relief, reservations customer service desk, and other job categories.
Other improvements include a fully competitive retirement program, with US Airways contributions to employees'' retirement accounts to increase in the range of 4 percent to 10 percent of base pay, depending on age. This benefit is in addition to the existing 401(k) plan.
The contract also provides job security protections in the event of a sale or merger; ensures that US Airways Regional Jet operations, work locations, Internet reservations and information calls will remain the work of passenger service employees; puts in place an arbitration and grievance procedure, including provisions for binding arbitration and a mediation procedure.
Part-time workers will benefit from a 50 percent company contribution toward family medical benefits; those premiums had exceeded $300 a month.
The vote was 2,958 in favor of the agreement and 910 opposed. Counting the ballots was a team of US Airways employees: Cathy Bumgarner, Winston-Salem Reservations; Glen Johnson, Tampa; Vicki Sheffey, Pittsburgh Reservations; Colleen Wolinski, Buffalo; Maryanne Palen, San Diego Reservations; and Tom Kersey, Norfolk. Also overseeing the vote were members of the bargaining council and a mediator with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.