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US Airways Passenger Service Employees Win Expedited Vote
Following is a statement by CWA President Morton Bahr on the announcement by the National Mediation Board of an expedited representation election for passenger service employees at US Airways:
The National Mediation Board's announcement today of an expedited election for US Airways passenger service employees is great news and a big victory for the thousands of employees who are determined to have representation and a contract guaranteeing wages, benefits, working conditions and job security. The NMB will mail ballots beginning July 16, with the vote to be counted on Aug. 20.
In setting the new election date, the NMB reaffirmed its earlier findings that US Airways interfered with the rights of employees to make a free and fair choice regarding representation.
Despite overwhelming evidence that employees want representation, US Airways management chose to follow a strategy of legal maneuvering that could only delay the inevitable: a big vote for representation by the Communications Workers of America and a return to the bargaining table to finalize the contract employees deserve.
Passenger service employees are united and stronger than ever. This rerun election will reaffirm what management already knows: overwhelmingly, passenger service employees want to be represented by CWA.
Passenger service employees voted to join CWA in September 1997, and contract talks began in December of that year. In late May 1999, despite the fact that negotiations had just about concluded, management chose to walk away from the bargaining table. An appeals court ruling challenged two of the five ground rules set by the NMB for the September 1997 election, but clearly, employees were entitled to a fair vote for representation, a vote that was denied them.
Rather than appeal the ruling, CWA thought the best course of action was to put the decision-making back in the hands of employees, where it belongs. That's why we called for an expedited election, and we're pleased that the NMB has taken quick action.
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The National Mediation Board's announcement today of an expedited election for US Airways passenger service employees is great news and a big victory for the thousands of employees who are determined to have representation and a contract guaranteeing wages, benefits, working conditions and job security. The NMB will mail ballots beginning July 16, with the vote to be counted on Aug. 20.
In setting the new election date, the NMB reaffirmed its earlier findings that US Airways interfered with the rights of employees to make a free and fair choice regarding representation.
Despite overwhelming evidence that employees want representation, US Airways management chose to follow a strategy of legal maneuvering that could only delay the inevitable: a big vote for representation by the Communications Workers of America and a return to the bargaining table to finalize the contract employees deserve.
Passenger service employees are united and stronger than ever. This rerun election will reaffirm what management already knows: overwhelmingly, passenger service employees want to be represented by CWA.
Passenger service employees voted to join CWA in September 1997, and contract talks began in December of that year. In late May 1999, despite the fact that negotiations had just about concluded, management chose to walk away from the bargaining table. An appeals court ruling challenged two of the five ground rules set by the NMB for the September 1997 election, but clearly, employees were entitled to a fair vote for representation, a vote that was denied them.
Rather than appeal the ruling, CWA thought the best course of action was to put the decision-making back in the hands of employees, where it belongs. That's why we called for an expedited election, and we're pleased that the NMB has taken quick action.
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