- Aug 20, 2002
- 2,070
- 270
Posted on Sat, Mar. 06, 2004
Union, US Airways to talk
Fleet service workers, mechanics to pitch their cost-savings ideas
TED REED
Staff Writer
Leaders of US Airways and the International Association of Machinists agreed late Friday to meet next week to discuss union cost-savings ideas. Talks with the airline's pilots are also scheduled to continue next week.
Wednesday's planned meeting between the airline and the IAM, which represents about 9,500 mechanics and fleet service workers, was arranged after union members at four airports handed out leaflets saying that US Airways unfairly blames workers for its financial problems.
While Wednesday's agenda is limited to the union's cost-savings plan, the meeting signals a thaw in relations between the airline and the IAM, which declined to meet with airline Chief Executive Officer David Siegel last month.
Handing out leaflets at Charlotte/Douglas International Airport on Friday, Gerald Moore said the airline isn't doing anything with the wage concessions it has already secured. "Employee concessions have never saved a company," said Moore, a Greensboro fleet service worker.
Moore said concessions have cut his salary from $22 an hour to $19.64 and his vacation time from five weeks to four annually, with no apparent improvement in airline operations.
The nation's seventh-largest airline, which has its biggest hub in Charlotte, is seeking cost reductions of 25 percent after securing $1 billion worth of wage, benefit and work rule concessions from workers in 2002 and 2003. Pilots have said they will consider cost reductions, but other workers must share the burden.
Randy Canale, president of an IAM district that represents US Airways' 4,500 fleet service workers, said his union's cost-saving ideas can save $80 million to $100 million annually. The ideas include halting the outsourcing of parts maintenance, implementing a joint safety program to reduce injuries and having union workers assume certain management functions.
The union canceled the meeting with Siegel because the two sides could not agree on an agenda. Canale said Wednesday's agenda is focused solely on the cost-savings ideas, which could be implemented in a test program in Philadelphia.
"We want to assist the company, but their answer to saving funds has been to reach into our pockets," he told the Observer. "We're aware that the company is having financial problems, so we're going to have a two-way communication."
US Airways spokesman David Castelveter said the airline is "ready to listen to anything the IAM has to offer on efforts to reduce costs." He said the airline hopes to eventually discuss its full business plan with the IAM.
Meanwhile, pilot negotiators talked during the week about contract changes regarding compensation for regional jets. The airline wants to fly as many as 400 regional jets, up from 100 today. Pilot spokesman Jack Stephan said the talks will continue. "They're progressing, and we're not disappointed," he said.
Pilots have agreed to talk later about details of the new business plan that would allow for cost cuts as US Airways battles low-fare competitors. Low fare king Southwest Airlines will begin flying in US Airways' Philadelphia hub May 9, and investors are trying to raise capital to start low-fare competitors in both the Charlotte and Pittsburgh hubs.
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As i have stated before this would happen despite the naysayers.
Union, US Airways to talk
Fleet service workers, mechanics to pitch their cost-savings ideas
TED REED
Staff Writer
Leaders of US Airways and the International Association of Machinists agreed late Friday to meet next week to discuss union cost-savings ideas. Talks with the airline's pilots are also scheduled to continue next week.
Wednesday's planned meeting between the airline and the IAM, which represents about 9,500 mechanics and fleet service workers, was arranged after union members at four airports handed out leaflets saying that US Airways unfairly blames workers for its financial problems.
While Wednesday's agenda is limited to the union's cost-savings plan, the meeting signals a thaw in relations between the airline and the IAM, which declined to meet with airline Chief Executive Officer David Siegel last month.
Handing out leaflets at Charlotte/Douglas International Airport on Friday, Gerald Moore said the airline isn't doing anything with the wage concessions it has already secured. "Employee concessions have never saved a company," said Moore, a Greensboro fleet service worker.
Moore said concessions have cut his salary from $22 an hour to $19.64 and his vacation time from five weeks to four annually, with no apparent improvement in airline operations.
The nation's seventh-largest airline, which has its biggest hub in Charlotte, is seeking cost reductions of 25 percent after securing $1 billion worth of wage, benefit and work rule concessions from workers in 2002 and 2003. Pilots have said they will consider cost reductions, but other workers must share the burden.
Randy Canale, president of an IAM district that represents US Airways' 4,500 fleet service workers, said his union's cost-saving ideas can save $80 million to $100 million annually. The ideas include halting the outsourcing of parts maintenance, implementing a joint safety program to reduce injuries and having union workers assume certain management functions.
The union canceled the meeting with Siegel because the two sides could not agree on an agenda. Canale said Wednesday's agenda is focused solely on the cost-savings ideas, which could be implemented in a test program in Philadelphia.
"We want to assist the company, but their answer to saving funds has been to reach into our pockets," he told the Observer. "We're aware that the company is having financial problems, so we're going to have a two-way communication."
US Airways spokesman David Castelveter said the airline is "ready to listen to anything the IAM has to offer on efforts to reduce costs." He said the airline hopes to eventually discuss its full business plan with the IAM.
Meanwhile, pilot negotiators talked during the week about contract changes regarding compensation for regional jets. The airline wants to fly as many as 400 regional jets, up from 100 today. Pilot spokesman Jack Stephan said the talks will continue. "They're progressing, and we're not disappointed," he said.
Pilots have agreed to talk later about details of the new business plan that would allow for cost cuts as US Airways battles low-fare competitors. Low fare king Southwest Airlines will begin flying in US Airways' Philadelphia hub May 9, and investors are trying to raise capital to start low-fare competitors in both the Charlotte and Pittsburgh hubs.
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As i have stated before this would happen despite the naysayers.
