US Airways Flight Attendants to Rally for Merged Agreement

PHOENIX, April 4, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- US Airways Flight Attendants, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), will rally at US Airways' annual Media Day on Wednesday, April 6, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm, to protest management's failure to negotiate a merged Flight Attendant contract. The rally is part of a series of public events planned by AFA.

The merger between America West Airlines (AMW) and US Airways (USA) remains incomplete after protracted contract negotiations for a Flight Attendant agreement.  US Airways management has shown little interest in address employee morale or operating a single airline.

Following the announcement of record profits, talks broke off last month after management proposed that Flight Attendants make concessions in areas such as health care, sick leave, and vacation. Additionally, management has tried to remove AFA's strong language that provides job protections during mergers.

"There comes a point when excuses run dry and delay tactics must end," said AFA MEC President Lisa LeCarre, representing the former America West Flight Attendants. "US Airways management needs to finish the business at hand and complete this airline merger by combining the two Flight Attendant groups through a merged contract."

Immediately after talks broke off, AFA took action to encourage the National Mediation Board (NMB) to assist in future negotiations. The NMB agreed with AFA's request and has now placed the merged talks in mediation which will allow the NMB to control the pace and timing of the negotiations.  The NMB plans to schedule meetings in May with both parties.

"US Airways management can no longer hide behind merged contract negotiations on their own terms. The NMB's decision means the playing field has been leveled and management will now have to negotiate in good faith and fairly," said AFA MEC President Mike Flores, representing US Airways Flight Attendants.

For over 60 years, the Association of Flight Attendants has been serving as the voice for Flight Attendants in the workplace, in the aviation industry, in the media and on Capitol Hill.  Nearly 50,000 Flight Attendants at 21 airlines come together to form AFA, the world's largest Flight Attendant union. AFA is part of the 700,000-member strong Communications Workers of America (CWA), AFL-CIO. Visit us at www.afacwa.org

US Airways Flight Attendant Picket

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Time: 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. MDT

Picketing: US Airways Headquarters

111 S. Rio Salado Drive

Tempe, AZ 85281

SOURCE Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO