Joint Teamsters-CWA Association Reaches Agreement with US Airways

Contact: Jeff Miller or Candice Johnson, 202-434-1168,  jmiller@cwa-union.org and cjohnson@cwa-union.org. For Teamsters Union, Galen Munroe, 202-624-6904, gmunroe@teamster.org

Washington, D.C. --The Airline Customer Service Employee Association, IBT-CWA, representing members of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and the Communications Workers of America (CWA) at the new US Airways, has reached a settlement that brings all agents under one contract. The agreement provides that America West agents will be covered by the existing CWA US Airways passenger service contract.

Members of both unions approved the creation of the Association last October to provide representation and improve conditions for agents as US Airways and America West merged. The Association was certified as the bargaining representative for passenger service workers at the airline by the National Mediation Board in May.

The agreement, which becomes amendable beginning January 2012, provides real gains for agents represented by the two unions. CWA represents 3,200 US Airways agents and 3,500 agents at America West are represented by the Teamsters.

Among the highlights:

·  Wage rates for Teamster-represented agents at the former America West will move to the CWA US Airways Mainline pay scale. The top hourly rate for agents increases to $18. Raises for former America West agents no longer will be based on merit, but will follow a wage progression based on years of service.

·  CWA members working at US Airways Mainline Express will be paid at the same wage rate as Mainline agents as of the end of 2007. Previously, the top hourly rate for Mainline Express agents was $13, now the top hourly rate for these agents is $18.

·  America West part-time agents now are able to purchase family health care coverage. 

·  America West agents gained retirement security enhancements.

·  America West agents maintain their current vacation time and holiday leave policies until 2008.

"The Association is a great example of what workers can achieve. CWA and Teamster members, working together, have built a strong, united passenger service group that will continue to make advances for agents at US Airways," said CWA President Larry Cohen.

"We are pleased that through our partnership with the CWA we have succeeded in expediting what could be a very long process of negotiating a first collective bargaining agreement for our Passenger Service members at US Airways," said Jim Hoffa, Teamsters General President.

The presidents of the two unions will alternate in heading up the new customer service employee association, with CWA President Cohen initially serving as director for the first year and Teamsters General President Hoffa as vice director. In the future, under the unified contract, CWA will represent workers in the eastern part of the United States and the Teamsters will represent workers in the western states.