- Dec 2, 2005
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http://www.iam141.org/usairway.htm#usa.08.09.07
Updates
August 9, 2007
To All US Airways IAM Members
US Airways Transition Update – A Different Type of Negotiations
Dear Sisters and BrothersYour IAM Negotiating Committee has resumed discussions with US Airways this week in Washington, D.C. Progress in negotiations is being made and we are hopeful an agreement can be reached soon, but the nature of these negotiations makes it difficult to say with certainty.
The IAM and US Airways are not engaged in traditional negotiations. These transition negotiations were prompted by the US Airways-America West Airlines merger and the necessity to have everyone in a particular employee group working under a common agreement.
It is the IAM’s intention to do more than just bring former America West employees under the current IAM contract. The Machinist Union’s goals include increasing wages, providing pensions for everyone, improving job security and eliminating Class II pay scales, as the membership has requested. In spite of current profits it is very difficult to achieve these goals under the framework of the current bankruptcy agreement because of commitments the carrier has made in its business plan approved by lenders and the bankruptcy court.
Negotiating these improvements may require a contract that extends beyond the current December 31, 2009 amendable date. If we don’t extend the contract beyond the current amendable date we are likely to find ourselves restricted to relatively minor changes to the US Airways contract that would also cover former America West employees. We would then have to wait until the start of traditional negotiations in 2009 to seek substantial improvements.
Whether we can achieve our goal of universal contract improvements remains to be seen, but we are cautiously optimistic that with the assistance of the National Mediation Board’s facilitator we can present a favorable contract to the membership for consideration.
Thank you for your continued solidarity and support.
Sincerely and fraternally,
S. R. (Randy) Canale
President and Directing General Chairman
Updates
August 9, 2007
To All US Airways IAM Members
US Airways Transition Update – A Different Type of Negotiations
Dear Sisters and BrothersYour IAM Negotiating Committee has resumed discussions with US Airways this week in Washington, D.C. Progress in negotiations is being made and we are hopeful an agreement can be reached soon, but the nature of these negotiations makes it difficult to say with certainty.
The IAM and US Airways are not engaged in traditional negotiations. These transition negotiations were prompted by the US Airways-America West Airlines merger and the necessity to have everyone in a particular employee group working under a common agreement.
It is the IAM’s intention to do more than just bring former America West employees under the current IAM contract. The Machinist Union’s goals include increasing wages, providing pensions for everyone, improving job security and eliminating Class II pay scales, as the membership has requested. In spite of current profits it is very difficult to achieve these goals under the framework of the current bankruptcy agreement because of commitments the carrier has made in its business plan approved by lenders and the bankruptcy court.
Negotiating these improvements may require a contract that extends beyond the current December 31, 2009 amendable date. If we don’t extend the contract beyond the current amendable date we are likely to find ourselves restricted to relatively minor changes to the US Airways contract that would also cover former America West employees. We would then have to wait until the start of traditional negotiations in 2009 to seek substantial improvements.
Whether we can achieve our goal of universal contract improvements remains to be seen, but we are cautiously optimistic that with the assistance of the National Mediation Board’s facilitator we can present a favorable contract to the membership for consideration.
Thank you for your continued solidarity and support.
Sincerely and fraternally,
S. R. (Randy) Canale
President and Directing General Chairman
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