US Airways Watch - October 18, 2004
Flight attendants union president Perry Hayes said yesterday that any talk of a strike at US Airways is "reckless nonsense." Responding to rumors, Hayes warned of the danger of such speculation, saying that the flight attendants "cannot and should not strike under the current circumstance." The "mere talk of a strike maybe enough to tip the company into liquidation," he said, costing all flight attendants their jobs. "The talk of a strike adds nothing and risks everything." The rumors began after a bankruptcy judge imposed a temporary 21 percent pay cut on many workers Friday; local union representative Teddy Xidas circulated a letter saying that members should be ready to exercise "self help" as a last resort if long-term contract talks with the airline do not work. Xidas said the "self help" could be "picketing," "leafleting" or a "strike."
Leaders of the US Airways pilots union continue to trade barbs over the ratification of a five year, $300 million concessionary pact that would lower pilot pay by 18 percent, increase work hours, cut retirement and eliminate retiree medical care. Two Philadelphia representatives argued in a letter last Saturday that pilots might get a better deal from the bankruptcy judge, who modified the company's request for a six-month, 23 percent cut into a four-month, 21 percent cut. "The hysterical drama of those who campaigned against our chances in bankruptcy court must now certainly be quelled," they wrote, urging pilots to support a new set of negotiations with the company or the judge. But pilots union chairman Bill Pollock shot back in a letter to all pilots Sunday, saying that union leaders who advise pilots to turn the deal down are being "irresponsible." A "better deal" does not exist, he said. "Each proposal we have received from the company only got worse," he wrote. "There is absolutely nothing to suggest that this negative trend will now reverse."
Flight attendants union president Perry Hayes said yesterday that any talk of a strike at US Airways is "reckless nonsense." Responding to rumors, Hayes warned of the danger of such speculation, saying that the flight attendants "cannot and should not strike under the current circumstance." The "mere talk of a strike maybe enough to tip the company into liquidation," he said, costing all flight attendants their jobs. "The talk of a strike adds nothing and risks everything." The rumors began after a bankruptcy judge imposed a temporary 21 percent pay cut on many workers Friday; local union representative Teddy Xidas circulated a letter saying that members should be ready to exercise "self help" as a last resort if long-term contract talks with the airline do not work. Xidas said the "self help" could be "picketing," "leafleting" or a "strike."
Leaders of the US Airways pilots union continue to trade barbs over the ratification of a five year, $300 million concessionary pact that would lower pilot pay by 18 percent, increase work hours, cut retirement and eliminate retiree medical care. Two Philadelphia representatives argued in a letter last Saturday that pilots might get a better deal from the bankruptcy judge, who modified the company's request for a six-month, 23 percent cut into a four-month, 21 percent cut. "The hysterical drama of those who campaigned against our chances in bankruptcy court must now certainly be quelled," they wrote, urging pilots to support a new set of negotiations with the company or the judge. But pilots union chairman Bill Pollock shot back in a letter to all pilots Sunday, saying that union leaders who advise pilots to turn the deal down are being "irresponsible." A "better deal" does not exist, he said. "Each proposal we have received from the company only got worse," he wrote. "There is absolutely nothing to suggest that this negative trend will now reverse."
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