Piedmont Airlines Gate and Ramp Agents Seek CWA Representation

Following a strong inside campaign by unrepresented ramp and gate agents at Piedmont Airlines, CWA this week filed a union representation election petition on behalf of the group with the National Mediation Board, which governs labor relations in the airline and railroad industries. 

Well over a majority of the more than 2,100 agents signed union authorization cards to be represented by CWA.  After verification of the signatures, the board generally schedules a mail-ballot election to take place in about 45 days.

The agents are the only major work group at Piedmont or its parent company, US Airways, without a union.  Piedmont operates as a US Airways Express carrier. Currently CWA and AFA-CWA represent some 10,000 flight attendants and passenger service agents at Piedmont and US Airways.

Like all airline workers, the Piedmont agents have suffered through the industry's tough times, but they are not regaining ground that was lost during major cutbacks between 2001 and 2005. The disparity in their wages, benefits, and job conditions compared with union workers is stark. Piedmont agents earn $8 to $10 an hour less than US Airways' union workers doing the same jobs – often handling luggage at the other end of the same flight.

The workers fell short in an earlier drive to unionize in 2004 largely due to concerns over US Airways' bankruptcy and an aggressive anti-union campaign by management. CWA and AFA-CWA members at the airlines are assisting the Piedmont agents in the current campaign. Piedmont locations stretch from Maine to Florida and as far west as St. Louis.