Want Management To Focus On Original Merger
Now that talk of a possible merger
with Delta has been put to rest, pilots for America West and US
Airways are demanding airline management turn their attention back
to settling issues still present nearly two years after the new US
Airways was created by the announced merger of the two
carriers.
The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) tells ANN pilots for
America West and US Airways have had about enough with what they
term management's lack of commitment to negotiating a fair, single
contract for both pilot groups. Pilots are showing their
frustration by picketing in front of US Airways corporate
headquarters.
ALPA states there are still major gaps between the corporate
promises made to employees at the time of the merger, and the
reality of how management behaves at the negotiating table. The
union points out the new US Airways is posting record quarterly and
full-year profits, yet management is determined to force
bankruptcy-era concessions onto the pilots.
Such an agreement is not acceptable to either pilot group,
according to ALPA.
Pilots say a single contract would be a significant step toward
completing the America West-US Airways merger and combining the two
airlines, and should have been completed long ago. Instead,
management at US Airways chose to focus its energy on pursuing yet
another merger... causing the pilots to seriously question
management's ability to effectively run two operations, let alone
three.
"There's no doubt that the quality of operations has
deteriorated due to management's lack of focus in combining the two
airlines," said Captain John McIlvenna, chairman of the America
West Master Executive Council. "The sacrifices of labor,
specifically the pilots of America West and US Airways, have
enabled the new airline to succeed and post a considerable profit
for 2006. Management has rewarded themselves with raises, bonuses
and stock options and pursued a billion-dollar deal at the expense
of the company, its employees, and our passengers."
"The US Airways and
America West pilots have committed billions through massive
concessions that were used to fund the recovery and renaissance of
our airline. Yet, we continue to be paid wages that are at the
bottom our industry while we participate in fruitless
negotiations," said Captain Jack Stephan, chairman of the US
Airways Master Executive Council. "It is unfortunate that our
passengers are also forced to deal with management's whitewashing
of the promise of a single carrier, and must endure the travel
frustrations created from operating two airlines under one
banner."
Joint negotiations with US Airways management for a single, fair
pilot contract have been ongoing for more than one year. Both pilot
groups remain focused on the issue of achieving a fair single
contract.
Founded in 1931, ALPA represents 60,000 pilots at 40 airlines in
the US and Canada.