CWA Members Approve New, Joint Association for Agents at Merged US Airways/America West

Members of the Communications Workers of America today approved the establishment of a new Airline Customer Service Employee Association -- a joint alliance with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters -- that will represent passenger service agents at the merged US Airways and America West.

CWA members approved the alliance by an 84-percent "yes" vote in a mail ballot. CWA ballots were counted today at CWA headquarters by a committee of local union presidents representing US Airways' agents. IBT members also are voting on the agreement.

CWA represents 6,000 passenger agents at US Airways and IBT represents 3,500 agents at America West. The employees work as reservations, ticket and gate agents, and also staff hospitality clubs at airports and assist handicapped passengers.

CWA's contract now in place at US Airways is amendable beginning January 2012. This agreement's conditions remain in effect by law at the newly merged airline. The IBT now is in bargaining for a first contract at America West, where employees unionized last year.

The goal of the new association -- the Airline Customer Service Employee Association -- IBT/CWA -- is to improve salaries and conditions for America West and US Airways employees, and the association will bargain in the future for such improvements.

For now, CWA will continue to represent the US Airways workers systemwide and the Teamsters will represent the America West workers systemwide. In the future, when a combined contract is bargained and ratified, CWA will represent workers in the eastern part of the United States and the IBT will represent workers in the western states.

The presidents of the two unions will alternate in heading up the association, with CWA President Larry Cohen initially serving as director for the first year and IBT President James Hoffa as vice director. CWA and IBT will each designate an equal number of representatives from their local unions to form a US Airways Representation Committee to meet at least four times a year on workplace issues and policies of the association. All policy questions must be jointly approved.

FMI: www.cwa-union.org