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.
US Airways Agents Vote Big for CWA
US Airways passenger service professionals, having sent management an overwhelming message in the recent rerun election, now are working to wrap up negotiations on a first contract.
In the Aug. 20 vote, agents reaffirmed what they and management already knew: that US Airways passenger service employees wanted CWA representation and a contract. Of the 7,806 employees eligible to vote in this election, 5,254, or 67 percent, returned ballots for union representation, a huge margin under the restrictive Railway Labor Act rules.
"Agents sent management a clear message. Now it's time for management to listen." -CWA President Morton Bahr-
From Pittsburgh to Charlotte to San Diego, employees celebrated their victory.
Glenn R. Johnson, a customer service agent in Tampa, said, "I hope the company now understands that our group is informed, intelligent, organized and looking forward to having our work rules agreed to and signed by both parties."
Passenger service agents first voted for CWA representation two years ago, but legal maneuvering and an appeal by the airline of the National Mediation Board rules for that election resulted in the second rerun vote.
Since September 1997, agents have been building their union, electing a network of 600 stewards - trained and supported by CWA, to help handle workplace issues and address concerns about job safety - and a bargaining council.
After 18 months of bargaining, CWA had won agreement from management on about 90 percent of contract issues. Some, such as the seniority protections passenger service employees had long sought but were denied by management, took effect while negotiations continued.
Until negotiations were interrupted last May, passenger service bargainers had negotiated agreement with management on a new holiday/vacation/sick day plan, a new grievance and arbitration procedure, overtime provisions and many other issues.
But the company halted bargaining following a federal appeals court decision which questioned two of the five reasons cited by the NMB as cause for the first rerun election. The NMB then ordered an expedited rerun election.
On June 1, management unilaterally implemented many of the improvements it agreed to in bargaining, and increased the pay of
passenger service workers for the first time in nearly seven years. But this effort to stop the momentum for a union voice fell flat, and workers voted for CWA representation at a level 13 percent above their last "CWA yes" vote. Bargaining will build on the new wages and benefits that agents now have.
Negotiations will resume for two consecutive weeks beginning Oct. 11,
and the bargaining council plans to promptly resolve the outstanding issues, which include understaffing, retirement improvements, job security in the event of a merger or sale and premium wage issues, among others. Bargaining will be held at a neutral location, with the assistance of a federal mediator.
In the Aug. 20 vote, agents reaffirmed what they and management already knew: that US Airways passenger service employees wanted CWA representation and a contract. Of the 7,806 employees eligible to vote in this election, 5,254, or 67 percent, returned ballots for union representation, a huge margin under the restrictive Railway Labor Act rules.
"Agents sent management a clear message. Now it's time for management to listen." -CWA President Morton Bahr-
From Pittsburgh to Charlotte to San Diego, employees celebrated their victory.
Glenn R. Johnson, a customer service agent in Tampa, said, "I hope the company now understands that our group is informed, intelligent, organized and looking forward to having our work rules agreed to and signed by both parties."
Passenger service agents first voted for CWA representation two years ago, but legal maneuvering and an appeal by the airline of the National Mediation Board rules for that election resulted in the second rerun vote.
Since September 1997, agents have been building their union, electing a network of 600 stewards - trained and supported by CWA, to help handle workplace issues and address concerns about job safety - and a bargaining council.
After 18 months of bargaining, CWA had won agreement from management on about 90 percent of contract issues. Some, such as the seniority protections passenger service employees had long sought but were denied by management, took effect while negotiations continued.
Until negotiations were interrupted last May, passenger service bargainers had negotiated agreement with management on a new holiday/vacation/sick day plan, a new grievance and arbitration procedure, overtime provisions and many other issues.
But the company halted bargaining following a federal appeals court decision which questioned two of the five reasons cited by the NMB as cause for the first rerun election. The NMB then ordered an expedited rerun election.
On June 1, management unilaterally implemented many of the improvements it agreed to in bargaining, and increased the pay of
passenger service workers for the first time in nearly seven years. But this effort to stop the momentum for a union voice fell flat, and workers voted for CWA representation at a level 13 percent above their last "CWA yes" vote. Bargaining will build on the new wages and benefits that agents now have.
Negotiations will resume for two consecutive weeks beginning Oct. 11,
and the bargaining council plans to promptly resolve the outstanding issues, which include understaffing, retirement improvements, job security in the event of a merger or sale and premium wage issues, among others. Bargaining will be held at a neutral location, with the assistance of a federal mediator.