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 Reminds US Airways of Productivity, Service Edge
Meeting with US Airways' new chief executive, local CWA leaders along with President Morton Bahr and Executive Vice President Larry Cohen pointed out the high productivity of passenger service agents at the airline and reminded the company of the sacrifices union members have made to keep the carrier flying.
Airline officials have been meeting with all their union groups to review the company's financial situation and discuss restructuring.
Local CWA leaders told CEO Bruce Lakefield that passenger service workers had been hit hard by drastic cuts for more than 10 years, including the loss of a defined benefit pension.
"It's hard to see how much more passenger service could be asked to give," said Chris Fox, president of Local 13302.
CWA local officers and staff also discussed the impact on jobs and customer service of the airline's move to increase automation by adding card readers and more kiosks.
CWA also stressed the competitive advantage its agents bring over one of US Airways' main competitors, Southwest. On a per agent basis this year, annual salaries at Southwest are about $6,000 higher than for agents at US Airways.
But CWA members at US Airways continue to be hit hard by furloughs and the resulting understaffing that has made it difficult to satisfy customers. Management also has failed to fulfill its agreement to establish new passenger service jobs at MidAtlantic Air and is set to transfer MidAtlantic aircraft to other, unrepresented carriers.
To save jobs, CWA countered management's plan on automation by proposing that US Airways stop subcontracting security and skycap check-in and other passenger-related work at U.S. airports, institute an early retirement offer for long-term employees and offer a voluntary furlough package to employees affected by new technology.
The management plan to cut jobs and increase automation isn't just bad for workers, it's short-sighted from a business perspective, CWA said.
"Customers who have paid several hundred dollars for a product do not want to be herded, put on hold, told to use a machine when they want answers or face an endless line because a position is understaffed. There will come a day when airlines will again compete on quality and service, and US Airways will be way behind the curve," the local presidents warned executives in a joint statement.
Airline officials have been meeting with all their union groups to review the company's financial situation and discuss restructuring.
Local CWA leaders told CEO Bruce Lakefield that passenger service workers had been hit hard by drastic cuts for more than 10 years, including the loss of a defined benefit pension.
"It's hard to see how much more passenger service could be asked to give," said Chris Fox, president of Local 13302.
CWA local officers and staff also discussed the impact on jobs and customer service of the airline's move to increase automation by adding card readers and more kiosks.
CWA also stressed the competitive advantage its agents bring over one of US Airways' main competitors, Southwest. On a per agent basis this year, annual salaries at Southwest are about $6,000 higher than for agents at US Airways.
But CWA members at US Airways continue to be hit hard by furloughs and the resulting understaffing that has made it difficult to satisfy customers. Management also has failed to fulfill its agreement to establish new passenger service jobs at MidAtlantic Air and is set to transfer MidAtlantic aircraft to other, unrepresented carriers.
To save jobs, CWA countered management's plan on automation by proposing that US Airways stop subcontracting security and skycap check-in and other passenger-related work at U.S. airports, institute an early retirement offer for long-term employees and offer a voluntary furlough package to employees affected by new technology.
The management plan to cut jobs and increase automation isn't just bad for workers, it's short-sighted from a business perspective, CWA said.
"Customers who have paid several hundred dollars for a product do not want to be herded, put on hold, told to use a machine when they want answers or face an endless line because a position is understaffed. There will come a day when airlines will again compete on quality and service, and US Airways will be way behind the curve," the local presidents warned executives in a joint statement.