AMERICA WEST FLIGHT ATTENDANTS
ASK FOR FEDERAL MEDIATION
Flight Attendants To Protest at Shareholder Meeting as Airline Stalls on Contract Negotiations
Tempe, AZ – America West Airlines flight attendants, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) filed today for federal mediation with the National Mediation Board (NMB) as current contract negotiations with America West management continue to stall. America West union leaders and negotiators claim that the company’s management is being uncooperative on important issues such as protections for America West flight attendants during the US Airways merger, scheduling, and proposed massive health care cost shifts.
“Management must agree to reasonable contract proposals or face labor turmoil during a time when their attention should be focused on making the merger a success,†said Mimi Rodriguez, AFA America West spokesperson.
Flight Attendants plan to protest the stalled contract talks at the company’s shareholder meeting on Tuesday, September 13 where shareholders are gathering at America West headquarters in order to vote on the proposed America West-US Airways merger plan.
“We will not allow merging with US Airways to be an excuse to erode our contract and our standard of living. Top management is awarding themselves significant stock options and pay bonuses while Flight Attendants continue to go without raises and face massive increases in health care costs,†said Rodriguez.
The NMB will assign a federal mediator who will attempt to guide both sides toward an agreement. Until negotiators reach a new agreement and flight attendants vote to accept the agreement, the current contract will remain in place.
Protest Information:
Where: America West Corporate Headquarters
111 West Rio Salado Parkway
Tempe, Arizona 85281
When: Tuesday, September 13, 2005
AFA News Conference 9:15 a.m.
ASK FOR FEDERAL MEDIATION
Flight Attendants To Protest at Shareholder Meeting as Airline Stalls on Contract Negotiations
Tempe, AZ – America West Airlines flight attendants, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) filed today for federal mediation with the National Mediation Board (NMB) as current contract negotiations with America West management continue to stall. America West union leaders and negotiators claim that the company’s management is being uncooperative on important issues such as protections for America West flight attendants during the US Airways merger, scheduling, and proposed massive health care cost shifts.
“Management must agree to reasonable contract proposals or face labor turmoil during a time when their attention should be focused on making the merger a success,†said Mimi Rodriguez, AFA America West spokesperson.
Flight Attendants plan to protest the stalled contract talks at the company’s shareholder meeting on Tuesday, September 13 where shareholders are gathering at America West headquarters in order to vote on the proposed America West-US Airways merger plan.
“We will not allow merging with US Airways to be an excuse to erode our contract and our standard of living. Top management is awarding themselves significant stock options and pay bonuses while Flight Attendants continue to go without raises and face massive increases in health care costs,†said Rodriguez.
The NMB will assign a federal mediator who will attempt to guide both sides toward an agreement. Until negotiators reach a new agreement and flight attendants vote to accept the agreement, the current contract will remain in place.
Protest Information:
Where: America West Corporate Headquarters
111 West Rio Salado Parkway
Tempe, Arizona 85281
When: Tuesday, September 13, 2005
AFA News Conference 9:15 a.m.
