Release #07.AWA4
October 25, 2007
US Airways Pilots Respond to Company Third Quarter Earnings Report
PHOENIX—As US Airways [NYSE:LCC] management today announced a $177 million profit for the third quarter 2007, US Airways pilots reaffirmed their commitment for a single, fair collective bargaining agreement that would enable US Airways to achieve millions of dollars in synergies created by the merger of the two airlines.
The America West and US Airways pilots, who are represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), provided their management teams with billions of dollars in cost savings to ensure the viability of their respective airlines. The contributions of both pilot groups, as well as those made by other employee groups, enabled the successful financial merger of America West and US Airways. But this merger is far from complete. Management has clearly failed to integrate labor and manage two diverse cultures.
As US Airways continues to post record profits, the pilots of US Airways and America West have been in negotiations with management for more than two years to attain a single collective bargaining agreement that recognizes the pilots’ contributions and the magnitude of their role in US Airways’ turnaround.
“During these negotiations, our pilots expect to increase our compensation, enhance our retirement and benefits, and improve our working conditions. Anything less is unacceptable,” said Captain John McIlvenna, chairman of the America West Master Executive Council. “The America West and US Airways pilots have each contributed decades of superior service, always supporting our respective companies through bad times, and we intend to share in the success of the new US Airways moving forward.”
ALPA is the collective bargaining agent for both the America West and US Airways pilot groups. Founded in 1931, ALPA is the world’s largest pilot union, representing more than 60,000 pilots at 42 airlines in the United States and Canada. Visit the ALPA website at www.alpa.org.
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ALPA Contacts: First Officer John
Spannagel, (602) 306-1208; (602) 502-4424
Lydia Jakub, (602) 794-2882; (480) 586-5873