Negotiations Showing Little Progress Since November 2005

The US Airline Pilots Association (USAPA) received notice last week US Airways has rejected the association's proposal to seek a National Mediation Board facilitator to assist the parties in reaching an agreement.

The association requested an NMB facilitator in February 2009 after 39 months of stalled contract negotiations. "We are convinced that the services of an NMB Facilitator will assist pilot and management negotiators in reaching agreement," said USAPA President Steve Bradford.

In a March 31 letter to USAPA, the airline's vice president for Labor Relations rejected the call for federal mediation.

"In the letter, Management informed us that they will support a facilitator 'should there come a time where outside assistance in reaching a single agreement does become appropriate.' Since negotiations were initiated in November of 2005, the US Airways pilots wonder when the right time might be, and we question Management's sincerity in desiring to reach any agreement," Bradford said. 

"We've been negotiating for a long time now. The pilots are very frustrated by a lack of progress. It's our preference to move that process along now," Bradford added.

According to The Associated Press, the airline states "there is a specific negotiated provision" in the transition agreement outlined at the time of the merger announcement, with the Air Line Pilots Association. As ANN reported, ALPA was ousted as the union represented pilots at the carrier in April 2008; no transition agreement has been arranged between the carrier and the new union.

USAPA represents over 5,000 US Airways pilots in seven domiciles across the United States.

FMI: www.usairlinepilots.org, www.usairways.com