michael707767
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And Parker wanted to add Delta to the mix......
Pilots Union Sues US Airways
Wednesday February 28, 7:36 pm ET
By Chris Kahn, AP Business Writer Pilots Union Files Lawsuit Against US Airways
PHOENIX (AP) -- Frustrated with stagnant contract negotiations, US Airways and America West Airlines pilots filed a lawsuit Wednesday claiming that management is merging the carriers illegally.
The lawsuit was sparked by a US Airways Group Inc. decision to combine its reservation systems this weekend. The Air Line Pilots Association said this will effectively eliminate the America West name in violation of federal law and a previous agreement with the union.
"US Airways wants desperately for our pilots to look like, dress like, and act like they work for a merged airline," union chairman Jack Stephan said. "The only road to a real merged airline is through a single contract."
The federal Railway Labor Act requires a merged carrier to operate with a single pilot contract, and US Airways management had promised to keep the airlines separate until an agreement was reached, the union said.
Its lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Philadelphia.
US Airways spokeswoman Andrea Rader said the pilots union are overreacting. Even with a combined reservation system, Rader said, the acquisition is far from complete.
"The airplanes continue to be operated as America West or as US Airways," she said. "If you look at the tail number, (an America West plane) will continue to have an America West tail number. The crew flying it will continue to be an America West crew."
The Tempe, Ariz.-based carrier was formed when America West Airlines bid for the former US Airways in 2005.
Pilots from both carriers have been fighting for raises and better benefits ever since as the company works to combine operations. But US Airways chief Doug Parker has refused to do more than raise the generally lower-paid US Airways pilots to the current America West contract.
Rader said management plans to meet with pilots Thursday in Washington D.C. to work on a combined contract.
Air Line Pilots Association: http://www.alpa.org
US Airways: http://www.usairways.com
Pilots Union Sues US Airways
Wednesday February 28, 7:36 pm ET
By Chris Kahn, AP Business Writer Pilots Union Files Lawsuit Against US Airways
PHOENIX (AP) -- Frustrated with stagnant contract negotiations, US Airways and America West Airlines pilots filed a lawsuit Wednesday claiming that management is merging the carriers illegally.
The lawsuit was sparked by a US Airways Group Inc. decision to combine its reservation systems this weekend. The Air Line Pilots Association said this will effectively eliminate the America West name in violation of federal law and a previous agreement with the union.
"US Airways wants desperately for our pilots to look like, dress like, and act like they work for a merged airline," union chairman Jack Stephan said. "The only road to a real merged airline is through a single contract."
The federal Railway Labor Act requires a merged carrier to operate with a single pilot contract, and US Airways management had promised to keep the airlines separate until an agreement was reached, the union said.
Its lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Philadelphia.
US Airways spokeswoman Andrea Rader said the pilots union are overreacting. Even with a combined reservation system, Rader said, the acquisition is far from complete.
"The airplanes continue to be operated as America West or as US Airways," she said. "If you look at the tail number, (an America West plane) will continue to have an America West tail number. The crew flying it will continue to be an America West crew."
The Tempe, Ariz.-based carrier was formed when America West Airlines bid for the former US Airways in 2005.
Pilots from both carriers have been fighting for raises and better benefits ever since as the company works to combine operations. But US Airways chief Doug Parker has refused to do more than raise the generally lower-paid US Airways pilots to the current America West contract.
Rader said management plans to meet with pilots Thursday in Washington D.C. to work on a combined contract.
Air Line Pilots Association: http://www.alpa.org
US Airways: http://www.usairways.com
