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US Airways Passenger Service Employees Vote Big for CWA Representation
US Airways passenger service professionals overwhelmingly endorsed representation by the Communications Workers of America, by voting for CWA by a huge margin.
Ballots in the rerun election were counted today at the National Mediation Board. The results: Of the 7,806 eligible to vote in this election, 5,254, or 67 percent, voted for union representation.
Passenger service agents first voted for CWA representation two years ago, but legal maneuvering and an appeal by the airline of the NMB rules for that election resulted in this rerun vote. For nearly two years, agents have been working to win a fair contract, and after 18 months of negotiations, CWA had won agreement from management on about 90 percent of contract issues. Some, such as seniority protections, took effect while negotiations continued. Negotiations were interrupted by the court action.
Eligible to vote in this election were those employees at US Airways as of April 1996; the bargaining unit today includes about 10,600 passenger service professionals.
CWA expects bargaining to resume shortly, with the federal mediator who had participated in earlier sessions. While many issues have been resolved in bargaining, agents have some remaining concerns to be addressed, including retirement improvements, family health care benefits, job security protections in the event of a merger or sale, wages and safety concerns.
"It was clear from the start that passenger service employees would again choose representation," said CWA President Morton Bahr. "Passenger service employees at US Airways are united in their bid for a real voice and CWA representation. They've been building their union for nearly two years, electing 600 union stewards to help resolve workplace issues and a bargaining council to represent them in negotiations," he said.
"Agents have sent management a clear message. They want representation and a contract. Now it's time for management to listen," Bahr added.
Despite enduring a seven-year pay freeze and inferior benefits, US Airways passenger service agents helped make US Airways one of the nation's leading airlines. Now, with CWA representation, agents enjoy the best wages and working conditions in the industry.
CWA represents some 630,000 workers in telecommunications, media, broadcast and cable television and other information age professions. The union also represents some 150,000 employees in the customer service industry and has won many important gains for workers in this industry, including protection against secret monitoring, education and development benefits, equity for part- time employees and more.
Ballots in the rerun election were counted today at the National Mediation Board. The results: Of the 7,806 eligible to vote in this election, 5,254, or 67 percent, voted for union representation.
Passenger service agents first voted for CWA representation two years ago, but legal maneuvering and an appeal by the airline of the NMB rules for that election resulted in this rerun vote. For nearly two years, agents have been working to win a fair contract, and after 18 months of negotiations, CWA had won agreement from management on about 90 percent of contract issues. Some, such as seniority protections, took effect while negotiations continued. Negotiations were interrupted by the court action.
Eligible to vote in this election were those employees at US Airways as of April 1996; the bargaining unit today includes about 10,600 passenger service professionals.
CWA expects bargaining to resume shortly, with the federal mediator who had participated in earlier sessions. While many issues have been resolved in bargaining, agents have some remaining concerns to be addressed, including retirement improvements, family health care benefits, job security protections in the event of a merger or sale, wages and safety concerns.
"It was clear from the start that passenger service employees would again choose representation," said CWA President Morton Bahr. "Passenger service employees at US Airways are united in their bid for a real voice and CWA representation. They've been building their union for nearly two years, electing 600 union stewards to help resolve workplace issues and a bargaining council to represent them in negotiations," he said.
"Agents have sent management a clear message. They want representation and a contract. Now it's time for management to listen," Bahr added.
Despite enduring a seven-year pay freeze and inferior benefits, US Airways passenger service agents helped make US Airways one of the nation's leading airlines. Now, with CWA representation, agents enjoy the best wages and working conditions in the industry.
CWA represents some 630,000 workers in telecommunications, media, broadcast and cable television and other information age professions. The union also represents some 150,000 employees in the customer service industry and has won many important gains for workers in this industry, including protection against secret monitoring, education and development benefits, equity for part- time employees and more.