Union Leader Expects Golden Parachutes Will Be Approved

The nation's seventh-biggest air carrier goes to court Tuesday, expected to face a lot of union opposition to its plans for a merger with America West.

US Airways' flight attendants and pilots both object to the company's plan for what amounts to a $55-million golden parachute for its CEO, senior vice presidents and some 19-hundred managers. That's expected to be the number-one issue at Tuesday's bankruptcy hearing in Northern Virginia.

"What I'd like to happen is that the court hold the management of US Airways to the same standard management has held all the employees -- and not allow for multi-million dollar golden parachutes," AFA Charlotte President Mike Flore told ANN Tuesday morning. "But what I think will happen is that the court will likely approve their plan."

A US Airways spokesman told ANN last week that the company needs that executive severance fund so it can continue to attract managers. But workes are resentful that they had to give up huge pay cuts and even their pensions, just to watch the likes of airline chief Bruce Lakefield walk away with several times their annual pay as parting gifts.

US Airways is expected to ask the court to delay today's hearing for a month, though Flores said he wasn't aware of any attempt to delay Tuesday's hearing.

FMI: www.usairways.com