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US AIRWAYS, UNIONS MAKING PROGRESS TOWARD CONCESSIONS
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| by Stephanie Waite |
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| Senator Specter addresses a crowd after his meeting with US Airways and union officials.
Photo by: Pete Sabella |
Jun 18, 2002 - Beaver County Times - FINDLAY TWP. - US Airways' deadline for reaching cost-cutting agreements with its unions passed Saturday.
But politicians and union leaders met Monday at Pittsburgh International Airport to assure the public that negotiations are continuing and are productive.
According to Bill Pollock, vice chairman of the US Airways Master Executive Council for the Air Line Pilots Association, the airline and unions now expect to conclude negotiations sometime this week.
Time is becoming important as US Airways seeks concessions from its unions. The airline aims to present a viable business plan to the federal government by month's end, qualify for a $900 million loan and avoid a bankruptcy filing.
Pollock said the pilots and airline negotiated through the weekend, and expected to meet again Monday afternoon. The pilots, US Airways' most influential union, have agreed to concessions worth $400 million yearly over the life of the seven-year loan, Pollock said, but the airline is looking for nearly $600 million in cuts.
The pilots are offering noncash concessions that could help make up the difference, Pollock said.
Meanwhile, the Transport Workers Union of America seems to have had a relatively painless negotiation with US Airways. Details are still being worked out, but the union, which represents pilot trainers, dispatchers and those who maintain simulators, has agreed to cut $4.3 million to $4.6 million in costs, said Bill Gray, president of Local 547, which represents pilot instructors.
Though the amount of concessions requested varies from union to union, Gray said the employee groups are all working together. For example, the Communications Workers of America, which represents reservationists and others, has said it may not be able to accept any concessions. Gray said other unions understand that.
"We recognize that some employee groups have already given (concessions)," he said.
The unions also are happy with the leadership of new president and chief executive officer David Siegel, Gray said. Workers have described the current negotiations as much more open than in the past.
"We do have a very good management team, the best I''ve ever seen," he said.
The Transport Workers Union is also working to preserve training jobs in Pittsburgh.
Training for Boeing jets happens here, while Charlotte, N.C., hosts Airbus training. As US Airways adds Airbus planes, that translates into job loss for Pittsburgh,
Gray said the union is hoping that training for the new regional airline, slated to start up in September, will stay in Pittsburgh.
U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., convened Monday's meeting. Along with union leaders, Specter was flanked by Republican officeholders and officeseekers.
One of them, Beaver County Commissioner Charles Camp, who is running for state representative, said rank-and-file workers are most concerned that management share in the cuts.
But Siegel's "fresh face" has created optimism that an agreement will be reached, he said.
Pilots union spokesman Roy Fruendlich agreed.
"The atmosphere at the negotiations has been conducive to getting an agreement," he said.
US Airways is seeking concession agreements with five labor unions. They are:
Air Line Pilots Association
Association of Flight Attendants
International Association of Machinists (mechanics, fleet service workers)
Communications Workers of America (reservationists, ticket counter gate agents)
Transport Workers Union (pilot trainers, dispatchers, simulator maintenance)
Stephanie Waite can be reached online at swaite@timesonline.com.
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