HPTunco
Dec 1, 04, 10:15 pm
Hopefully the judge will rule AFTER the holidays since he's very likely to give US a favorable decision, which will trigger a strike.
Strike talk heats up as hearing on US Airways labor contracts approaches
Wednesday, December 01, 2004
By Jim McKay, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Talk of a strike against US Airways escalated yesterday as the troubled carrier continued negotiations with three unions over concessions in advance of tomorrow's bankruptcy court hearing on the airline's request to reject its labor contracts.
The Communications Workers of America (CWA) said its 19-member national executive board voted unanimously to authorize a strike by 6,000 passenger service agents against the airline in the event the court voids the carrier's union contracts.
The CWA's board basically ratifies earlier balloting by the union's members in which they voted by an 86 percent margin to authorize a strike if contract talks failed. A final decision to strike would be made by CWA President Mort Bahr in consultation with local union leaders.
"This sets it up," said CWA spokesman Jeff Miller.
The Association of Flight Attendants (AFA), which recently merged into the CWA, is also conducting strike balloting of its members. That voting is being conducted by telephone and over the Internet with polls to close Dec. 13.
U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Stephen Mitchell will hear arguments beginning tomorrow on the airline's request to abrogate its existing contracts with the CWA, the AFA and the International Association of Machinists. The hearings are scheduled to be held through Dec. 17.
If US Airways is successful in persuading the court to reject its contracts, it will be the first major airline to do so since Continental Airlines 21 years ago.
Bankruptcy law has changed since then and views on whether a strike would be legal differ between company and unions.
US Airways views any possible strike as an illegal action and in no one's best interest, said spokesman David Castelveter.
If the judge rules in its favor, the airline contends a strike would violate rules of the National Mediation Board, which oversees bargaining in the airline and railroad industries.
Miller, however, said the CWA's attorneys believe that abrogation of the contract would allow the union's members to strike or engage in other job actions.
Strike talk heats up as hearing on US Airways labor contracts approaches
Wednesday, December 01, 2004
By Jim McKay, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Talk of a strike against US Airways escalated yesterday as the troubled carrier continued negotiations with three unions over concessions in advance of tomorrow's bankruptcy court hearing on the airline's request to reject its labor contracts.
The Communications Workers of America (CWA) said its 19-member national executive board voted unanimously to authorize a strike by 6,000 passenger service agents against the airline in the event the court voids the carrier's union contracts.
The CWA's board basically ratifies earlier balloting by the union's members in which they voted by an 86 percent margin to authorize a strike if contract talks failed. A final decision to strike would be made by CWA President Mort Bahr in consultation with local union leaders.
"This sets it up," said CWA spokesman Jeff Miller.
The Association of Flight Attendants (AFA), which recently merged into the CWA, is also conducting strike balloting of its members. That voting is being conducted by telephone and over the Internet with polls to close Dec. 13.
U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Stephen Mitchell will hear arguments beginning tomorrow on the airline's request to abrogate its existing contracts with the CWA, the AFA and the International Association of Machinists. The hearings are scheduled to be held through Dec. 17.
If US Airways is successful in persuading the court to reject its contracts, it will be the first major airline to do so since Continental Airlines 21 years ago.
Bankruptcy law has changed since then and views on whether a strike would be legal differ between company and unions.
US Airways views any possible strike as an illegal action and in no one's best interest, said spokesman David Castelveter.
If the judge rules in its favor, the airline contends a strike would violate rules of the National Mediation Board, which oversees bargaining in the airline and railroad industries.
Miller, however, said the CWA's attorneys believe that abrogation of the contract would allow the union's members to strike or engage in other job actions.