No Flight Attendant Agreement Reached After Recent Negotiations

The reality of a strike at US Airways Express carrier Piedmont Airlines appears to be drawing closer after what was described by the flight attendants' union as "continued stonewalling" by management throughout contract negotiations. Piedmont Airlines flight attendants, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), says it has been working to reach an agreement that is "beneficial to crewmembers and to the airline," but "management has presented unreasonable proposals and has frequently made regressive proposals in bargaining."

"Piedmont flight attendants are standing up for our share in the success of our airline. Our professional contributions have been instrumental for Piedmont and US Airways and we fully expect that those efforts be recognized," said Anita Jwanouskos, AFA Piedmont President. 

Piedmont flight attendants say they are determined to do whatever it takes to get a contract that reflects their contributions to the airline. They have made this clear with a 98 percent strike authorization. Piedmont flight attendants have been in mediation with management since August 2011 and have asked the National Mediation Board (NMB) to release the parties into a 30-day "cooling-off" period. The release could come at any time. At the end of the cooling-off period the flight attendants can begin CHAOS strike actions. CHAOS stands for Create Havoc Around Our System, and includes a series of targeted, unannounced strikes.

Piedmont, a wholly owned subsidiary of US Airways Group, Inc., is the only carrier in Salisbury, MD; Hilton Head, SC; Florence, SC; and New Haven, CT.

FMI: www.afacwa.org