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US Airways machinists begin voting on $269 million concession package
Tuesday, January 18, 2005
By Dan Fitzpatrick, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
After voting against a new contract that would slice his pay for the third time in less than three years, US Airways mechanic Ted Benko was in a foul mood yesterday, trying to describe the painful decision he just made.
"You've got a knife at your back and a gun at your head," said Benko, 44, of Hampton, speaking outside a Moon union hall.
He blames US Airways. "I hope they rot in hell," he said.
Benko and hundreds of other Pittsburgh-area mechanics, stock clerks, cleaners and technical workers faced a wrenching dilemma yesterday as they voted on a $269 million concessionary package that US Airways says is its final offer and crucial to its reemergence from bankruptcy.
The new contract, if ratified, would cut pay, reduce sick time, take back some holidays and result in thousands of job losses around the country for members of the International Association of Machinists. A successful ratification would complete a total of $1 billion in new labor cuts for US Airways, which yesterday announced systemwide fare cuts as it tries to survive both bankruptcy and a winter pricing war among the industry's largest airlines.
The airline's 8,800 machinists know that if they do not approve the proposed contract, US Airways has the authority to impose its own terms on union members, according to a Jan. 6 decision from U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Stephen Mitchell. They also know that voting for it means a guarantee of severance and added health benefits for as many as 2,500 workers who could lose their jobs to outsourcing.
But that doesn't make the choice any easier.
It is "an emotional thing," said Frank Schifano, president of IAM Lodge 1976 in Moon. Workers are "mad and upset. They don't know who to blame. They just want to get this over with."
Results will be released Friday on both the contract vote and a rank-and-file authorization to strike if the new terms are not ratified. About 4,200 baggage handlers began voting last Thursday, and about 4,600 mechanics, stock clerks, cleaners and other technical workers began voting yesterday in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Charlotte -- the carrier's three largest employee bases.
Most who left the IAM union hall yesterday were silent, refusing to disclose their votes as they filed out to their cars, vans and trucks. Among the few who agreed to be interviewed, most said they voted "no" for the cuts and "yes" to a possible strike.
One such worker was Paul Hartigan, a 44-year-old US Airways mechanic from Imperial who called the proposal an "absolute joke." Under it, Hartigan pointed out, while the top pay for a mechanic would drop by 8 percent, the company also is eliminating the extra pay to people who work late shifts or those who do specialized work, putting the actual cut much higher.
Another 'no' voter, US Airways mechanic Kevin Driscoll, said he is "fed up" with the multiple cuts sought by the company over the course of two bankruptcies and hoped his decision would send the message that "it's time to stop taking from employees."
Benko, the mechanic from Hampton, has taken on a second full-time job in case US Airways does not emerge from bankruptcy or he loses his job. He said no longer cares if the airline survives.
But two machinists leaving the union hall yesterday said they voted "yes" because they believe they will lose their jobs and they want the severance and extra health care provided by the agreement. Hartigan, who voted against the agreement, predicted it would pass because of such concerns.
"People want out," he said.
Is he afraid of losing his job? "Sure," Hartigan said. "But we'll move on."
Tuesday, January 18, 2005
By Dan Fitzpatrick, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
After voting against a new contract that would slice his pay for the third time in less than three years, US Airways mechanic Ted Benko was in a foul mood yesterday, trying to describe the painful decision he just made.
"You've got a knife at your back and a gun at your head," said Benko, 44, of Hampton, speaking outside a Moon union hall.
He blames US Airways. "I hope they rot in hell," he said.
Benko and hundreds of other Pittsburgh-area mechanics, stock clerks, cleaners and technical workers faced a wrenching dilemma yesterday as they voted on a $269 million concessionary package that US Airways says is its final offer and crucial to its reemergence from bankruptcy.
The new contract, if ratified, would cut pay, reduce sick time, take back some holidays and result in thousands of job losses around the country for members of the International Association of Machinists. A successful ratification would complete a total of $1 billion in new labor cuts for US Airways, which yesterday announced systemwide fare cuts as it tries to survive both bankruptcy and a winter pricing war among the industry's largest airlines.
The airline's 8,800 machinists know that if they do not approve the proposed contract, US Airways has the authority to impose its own terms on union members, according to a Jan. 6 decision from U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Stephen Mitchell. They also know that voting for it means a guarantee of severance and added health benefits for as many as 2,500 workers who could lose their jobs to outsourcing.
But that doesn't make the choice any easier.
It is "an emotional thing," said Frank Schifano, president of IAM Lodge 1976 in Moon. Workers are "mad and upset. They don't know who to blame. They just want to get this over with."
Results will be released Friday on both the contract vote and a rank-and-file authorization to strike if the new terms are not ratified. About 4,200 baggage handlers began voting last Thursday, and about 4,600 mechanics, stock clerks, cleaners and other technical workers began voting yesterday in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Charlotte -- the carrier's three largest employee bases.
Most who left the IAM union hall yesterday were silent, refusing to disclose their votes as they filed out to their cars, vans and trucks. Among the few who agreed to be interviewed, most said they voted "no" for the cuts and "yes" to a possible strike.
One such worker was Paul Hartigan, a 44-year-old US Airways mechanic from Imperial who called the proposal an "absolute joke." Under it, Hartigan pointed out, while the top pay for a mechanic would drop by 8 percent, the company also is eliminating the extra pay to people who work late shifts or those who do specialized work, putting the actual cut much higher.
Another 'no' voter, US Airways mechanic Kevin Driscoll, said he is "fed up" with the multiple cuts sought by the company over the course of two bankruptcies and hoped his decision would send the message that "it's time to stop taking from employees."
Benko, the mechanic from Hampton, has taken on a second full-time job in case US Airways does not emerge from bankruptcy or he loses his job. He said no longer cares if the airline survives.
But two machinists leaving the union hall yesterday said they voted "yes" because they believe they will lose their jobs and they want the severance and extra health care provided by the agreement. Hartigan, who voted against the agreement, predicted it would pass because of such concerns.
"People want out," he said.
Is he afraid of losing his job? "Sure," Hartigan said. "But we'll move on."
TC
