International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers
January 12, 2004
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
Oral argument in US Airways’ appeal of Judge Cindrich’s injunction against the airline in the Airbus subcontracting dispute was heard today in Philadelphia by a panel of three judges from the Third Circuit Court of Appeals
.
The Machinists Union and US Airways each were allotted fifteen (15) minutes to argue our respective cases. IAM attorneys were present to support the injunction and defend our members’ rights under the Railway Labor Act. Our position remains simple and unchanged – this work must be performed by IAM members employed by US Airways in the carrier’s maintenance facilities, not in a cave in Alabama.
A decision from the Court of Appeals may take several weeks. Separately, CEO David Siegel last week publicly accused the unions at US Airways of refusing to discuss details of the company’s latest attempt at a business plan. The leadership of the Machinists Union has repeatedly notified US Airways’ management that we are committed to discussing plans to ensure the airline remains a viable
employer.
However, we will not participate in any discussions that would require changes to our collective bargaining agreements. The agreements in place today contain the concessions David Siegel told his employees, creditors and the bankruptcy court he needed to run a successful airline. The employees of US Airways have already provided David Siegel with all the tools he needs to build a competitive airline, and no further amount of employee sacrifice will reverse his failure.
Likewise, Siegel’s announcement that the carrier is looking to sell valuable assets, including the Shuttle operation and possibly a hub, is another example of his reaction to long-term problems with shortsighted solutions. This is certainly an extremely difficult time for all US Airways employees, but we believe that with talented leadership US Airways can survive and prosper.
We will continue to update the membership as events occur.
Sincerely and fraternally,
Scotty Ford
President/Directing General Chairman
IAM District Lodge 141M
Steve Ebert
General Chairman
IAM District Lodge 141M
William Freiberger
General Chairman
IAM District Lodge 141M
Anthony Giammarco
General Chairman
IAM District Lodge 141M
David Snyder
General Chairman
IAM District Lodge 141M
Tom Regan
Representative
IAM District Lodge 141M
January 12, 2004
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
Oral argument in US Airways’ appeal of Judge Cindrich’s injunction against the airline in the Airbus subcontracting dispute was heard today in Philadelphia by a panel of three judges from the Third Circuit Court of Appeals
.
The Machinists Union and US Airways each were allotted fifteen (15) minutes to argue our respective cases. IAM attorneys were present to support the injunction and defend our members’ rights under the Railway Labor Act. Our position remains simple and unchanged – this work must be performed by IAM members employed by US Airways in the carrier’s maintenance facilities, not in a cave in Alabama.
A decision from the Court of Appeals may take several weeks. Separately, CEO David Siegel last week publicly accused the unions at US Airways of refusing to discuss details of the company’s latest attempt at a business plan. The leadership of the Machinists Union has repeatedly notified US Airways’ management that we are committed to discussing plans to ensure the airline remains a viable
employer.
However, we will not participate in any discussions that would require changes to our collective bargaining agreements. The agreements in place today contain the concessions David Siegel told his employees, creditors and the bankruptcy court he needed to run a successful airline. The employees of US Airways have already provided David Siegel with all the tools he needs to build a competitive airline, and no further amount of employee sacrifice will reverse his failure.
Likewise, Siegel’s announcement that the carrier is looking to sell valuable assets, including the Shuttle operation and possibly a hub, is another example of his reaction to long-term problems with shortsighted solutions. This is certainly an extremely difficult time for all US Airways employees, but we believe that with talented leadership US Airways can survive and prosper.
We will continue to update the membership as events occur.
Sincerely and fraternally,
Scotty Ford
President/Directing General Chairman
IAM District Lodge 141M
Steve Ebert
General Chairman
IAM District Lodge 141M
William Freiberger
General Chairman
IAM District Lodge 141M
Anthony Giammarco
General Chairman
IAM District Lodge 141M
David Snyder
General Chairman
IAM District Lodge 141M
Tom Regan
Representative
IAM District Lodge 141M