Union: Workers at US Airways might walk out over wage cuts

[Judi Lynn]

Posted on Mon, Jan. 03, 2005


Union: Workers at US Airways might walk out over wage cuts

By Thomas Ginsberg
INQUIRER STAFF WRITER


The union representing baggage handlers and mechanics at US Airways said today that workers might walk out by Friday if a federal bankruptcy judge, as expected, abrogates their contract this week and imposes harsh wage cuts.

"If the judge wipes out our contract, what's the incentive to come to work on Friday?" said S.R. "Randy" Canale, a district president of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.

Canale, speaking in Philadelphia following a news conference about the airline's Christmas holiday breakdowns, emphasized that he was speculating about possible reactions by workers. He said there were no specific plans yet for a walk-out.

The union and the airline are currently engaged in last-minute contract talks, with a deadline of Thursday. That is the day U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Stephen Mitchell has said he will rule on a company request to abrogate current collective-bargaining contracts and impose severe long-term wage and benefit cuts on any unions that have not yet agreed consensually to long-term cuts to enable the airline to stay alive.

Until now, the unions have been working under their old contracts with short-term cuts imposed in October.
(snip/...)

http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/business/10557096.htm
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[donheld]

1. Consider US Airways a thing of the past

if this happens.

[Rainscents]

2. I am with US Airways!!!

I am a Union member... I will support them all the way!!! All the Unions and the members has to stand up fight the government and the corporate!!!

[Retired AF Dem]

3. Hard to work

once they go under.

[amazona]

6. but why work for nothing?

I don't know how a person can afford to work for US Airways as it is.

I read an article in USA Today about pilots having to take second jobs. Don't know about you but I want my pilots and support personnel well-rested.

I don't want someone in a state of exhaustion doing maintenance on my airplane.

These folks need to be paid a decent wage, and I just don't see how they can tolerate any more cuts.

[donheld]

4. In my opinion it's not just you Union people

we all need to strike against corporate america.


Welcome to DU :hi:

[amazona]

7. we're rooting for you rainscents

I don't think the workers should have to tolerate much more of these cuts.

[IStriker]

8. I don't think they will have to "tolerate" it much longer...

I think US Air will be selling off its assets in a matter of days, perhaps weeks at best. They are the largest employer in my area (or were) and we are on the hook to pay for a very expensive airport with less and less traffic in and out since US Air walked away from their gate contract and there is nobody, not even some fly-by-night airlines who want to rent them. (And that was to inject a little humor into this.) I don't blame anybody for this situation. I think 9/11 only made it worse, but the airlines may not only be going down the tubes to the point that thinning out is not the answer. The airlines may end up being a wholly owned subsidized gov't airline like mass transit.

[LincolnMcGrath]

5. They should walk.

Chapter 11 Bankruptcy court has become another way for corporate America to shirk it's obligations to stakeholders.

[mbossman2]

10. tough decision

walk out and the whole company could go down the tubes.

stick it out and some will lose their jobs and some won't.

I have seen unions take the stance it is better to not work than work for significantly less...and 3, 4, 5 years later they are still dues paying union members...without a job.

[LincolnMcGrath]

14. Better to go out with your head held high.

But of course corporate America would love it it if everyone caved in and excepted concession after concession.

[two gun sid]

18. Why not strike on the job?

Direct action gets the goods.

[SKKY]

9. I've got close to 100K frequent-flyer miles I'm planning on...

...using in February. I hope nothing happens until then.

[amazona]

11. you need to go ahead and book your award tickets

I would book them on another Star Alliance flight if possible.

If you already hold your tickets, and it is on another airline in the Alliance, I think there is a good chance you will be able to fly. So maybe go ahead and book your vacation in advance this year!

No one is advising that you hold onto US Airway frequent flyer miles.

United is in the Alliance and while they too are in economic difficulties, they will probably keep flying while it seems likely that US Airways is on the ropes.

[American Renaissance]

13. don't assume that,

When Ansett went down, some Star Alliance members refused to honor reward tickets leaving people stranded. And those who had booked tickets on Ansett with reward points were not refunded.

[American Renaissance]

12. US Airways has been a disaster from Day One,

Almost all the problems with US Airways are the result of incompetant management and that alone, recent labour problems have not helped, but they didn't cause this disaster, their a response to the disaster.

There are US Airways employees who barely make enough to pay for parking.

Every time US Air had to make a stratigic decision, they made the wrong one, and usually the worst one of all the possible alternitives.

Hmm... I know, lets buy the most powerful airline in California and then abandon California!

[chaumont58]

15. My be off topic, but how can the old iron airlines survive?

US Air? Delta? United? American? I don't know the nuts and bolts of airline biz, but I just don't think it would be a good investment to buy airline stock. The last time I flew, I went by Delta. Bad choice. From here on out, I will probably take only Southwest.

[Bark Bark Bark]

16. Income Tax Cuts Don't Mean Jack...

...if you don't have an income. And that's the other side of the Republiscum Shell Game.

(I'm a baggage handler for United. We're next. I've been a good citizen all my life, even done my military service. That's about to END. One more kick to the nest, and the hornets are going to come spilling out, stingers ready, unconcerned with dying.)

[Bake]

17. Sadly, the execs will surely come out smelling like a rose!

They don't care if labor DOES walk out, because they'll just sell off the assets and pop the cord on their golden parachutes. US Airways is screwed, either way. Management cannot expect labor to swallow concession after concession (they even wanted some to work FOR FRICKIN' FREE on the New Year weekend!) while they continue to cash big paychecks. You would THINK that management would realize that they cannot continue to function with no workers, but that is not the reality of the situation. They CAN function. They can sell off the assets.

They are bastards. Every last one of them. Management has killed US Airways just as surely as if they had put a gun to its head and pulled the trigger. I'm sure Delta or Continental will be waiting to buy the planes and gates. And then expect THEIR workers to take concessions to pay for them.

The biggest problem for the airlines (other than stupid management) is the cost of jet fuel. Wasn't that supposed to be one of the benefits of having an "oil man" in the White House? Cheaper oil? I'm just sayin' ...

Bake