Dépêches

US Airways Pilots Protest Slow Pace of Contract Talks

Dépèche transmise le 25 mai 2011 par Business Wire

US Airways Pilots Protest Slow Pace of Contract Talks

CHARLOTTE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The US Airline Pilots Association (USAPA), representing the pilots of US Airways, will picket today at the Philadelphia International Airport at 11:15 a.m. to bring attention to what it believes to be intentional efforts by US Airways to delay contract negotiations.

“We have always tried to work with US Airways management to seek joint solutions, and we are committed to doing so during these tense negotiations”

Today's demonstration is a continuation of the pilots' public display of frustration with what USAPA perceives to be US Airways' deliberate efforts to slow the pace of contract negotiations and take advantage of its pilots. Despite US Airways reporting the second-highest profit* in its history in 2010, its pilots remain the lowest-compensated pilot group among the major airlines.

"Our pilots made significant personal and financial sacrifices in our salaries, pensions and benefits to help US Airways during its times of need over the past decade," said Captain Mike Cleary, president of USAPA. "Those concessions have left our pilots the lowest paid in our industry. Our reward for investing in this airline and posting leading performance numbers is to remain the lowest-compensated pilots among our peers. By dragging negotiations out for nearly six years and perpetually backtracking on previously agreed-to contractual issues, US Airways is effectively extending those concessions indefinitely."

Today's picketing event is the second demonstration in Philadelphia of the pilots' solidarity and frustration with US Airways management's tactics. They previously picketed at Philadelphia International Airport in September 2010.

"We have always tried to work with US Airways management to seek joint solutions, and we are committed to doing so during these tense negotiations," Cleary continued. "However, after six years of Management's stalling tactics, we are losing our patience. Our negotiating positions are reasonable, and we think that our passengers understand our unwillingness to be taken advantage of. Everyone has their breaking point, and we are prepared to strike as soon as we are legally permitted to do so by the Railway Labor Act."

The picketing event will be held today from 11:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. at the Philadelphia International Airport in front of Terminal A.

Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., the US Airline Pilots Association (USAPA) represents the more than 5,000 mainline pilots who fly for US Airways. USAPA's mission is to ensure safe flights for airline passengers by guaranteeing that their lives are in the hands of only the most qualified, competent and well-equipped pilots. USAPA will fight against any practices that may jeopardize its pilots' training, equipment, workplace environment, compensation or work/life balance, or that compromise its pilots' ability to execute the optimal flight. Visit the USAPA Web site at www.USAirlinePilots.org.

* Reported profit excludes special items