Search News
For the Media
For media inquiries, call CWA Communications at 202-434-1168 or email comms@cwa-union.org. To read about CWA Members, Leadership or Industries, visit our About page.
CWA-IBT Alliance Reaches Agreement with US Airways
Washington, D.C. --The Communications Workers of America and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, representing passenger agents at the new US Airways through the joint Passenger Service Employees Association, have reached an agreement with US Airways management on the outstanding issues raised by the merger of US Airways and America West.
CWA said the agreement provides real gains for agents represented by the two unions and enables all parties to move forward in the transition process. CWA represents 6,000 US Airways agents and IBT represents 3,500 agents at America West.
At the more than two dozen stations where both US Airways and America West agents now work, the agreement provides for "seamless service" and the cross-utilization of all agents.
For CWA-represented agents at the former US Airways property, the agreement removes the current pay step freeze as of April 1, 2006. This will raise the top hourly rate for US Airways agents to $18 from $17 as of that date.
US Airways Mainline Express agents, also represented by CWA, will move to the Mainline pay scale beginning next April 1, and with incremental wage increases, will be paid at the same wage rate as Mainline agents as of the end of 2007. The agreement also reinstates additional bidding rights for agents regarding vacation.
IBT-represented agents at the former America West operation will receive wage increases beginning next April as their wage rates are moved to the CWA US Airways Mainline pay scale.
As of the end of 2007, America West agents will be paid at the same rate as US Airways Mainline agents.
The agreement also provides that America West agents will be covered by all provisions of the CWA US Airways passenger service contract as of June 1, 2006; any issues unresolved by that date will be sent to arbitration.
The presidents of the two unions will alternate in heading up the new passenger service employees association, with CWA President Larry Cohen initially serving as director for the first year and IBT President James Hoffa as vice director. In the future, under the unified contract, CWA will represent workers in the eastern part of the United States and IBT will represent workers in the western states.
###
CWA said the agreement provides real gains for agents represented by the two unions and enables all parties to move forward in the transition process. CWA represents 6,000 US Airways agents and IBT represents 3,500 agents at America West.
At the more than two dozen stations where both US Airways and America West agents now work, the agreement provides for "seamless service" and the cross-utilization of all agents.
For CWA-represented agents at the former US Airways property, the agreement removes the current pay step freeze as of April 1, 2006. This will raise the top hourly rate for US Airways agents to $18 from $17 as of that date.
US Airways Mainline Express agents, also represented by CWA, will move to the Mainline pay scale beginning next April 1, and with incremental wage increases, will be paid at the same wage rate as Mainline agents as of the end of 2007. The agreement also reinstates additional bidding rights for agents regarding vacation.
IBT-represented agents at the former America West operation will receive wage increases beginning next April as their wage rates are moved to the CWA US Airways Mainline pay scale.
As of the end of 2007, America West agents will be paid at the same rate as US Airways Mainline agents.
The agreement also provides that America West agents will be covered by all provisions of the CWA US Airways passenger service contract as of June 1, 2006; any issues unresolved by that date will be sent to arbitration.
The presidents of the two unions will alternate in heading up the new passenger service employees association, with CWA President Larry Cohen initially serving as director for the first year and IBT President James Hoffa as vice director. In the future, under the unified contract, CWA will represent workers in the eastern part of the United States and IBT will represent workers in the western states.
###