Source: Dallas Morning News
Author: Terry Maxon

US Airways flight attendants have finally adopted a single contract that covers both pre-merger America West Airlines and US Airways flight attendants, nearly 7½ years after the two carriers merged in September 2005.

The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA announced Thursday that 80 percent of the members voting cast ballots in favor of the contract. Two previous tentative agreements were rejected in 2012, most recently in September.

“Today, we move forward as one,” said the two presidents of the two AFA units at US Airways, Roger Holmin and Deborah Volpe.

“US Airways flight attendants stood strong and secured strong economic improvements and job protections. Together, we are well positioned to advance as key partners in the merger with American Airlines and will continue our work to further improve wages, benefits and work rules for all Flight Attendants at the new American,” they said.

US Airways chairman and CEO Doug Parker thanks the union for passing the proposal.

“We are very pleased that our flight attendants have ratified this new contract. I want to recognize our AFA leadership team at US Airways, especially Roger Holmin and Deborah Volpe, for their hard work and perseverance on behalf of US Airways’ flight attendants,” Parker said.

“We would also like to express our appreciation to the National Mediation Board, Board member Linda Puchala and mediator Jim Mackenzie for their assistance in reaching this agreement,” Parker added.

The Association of Professional Flight Attendants, which represents American Airlines flight attendants, sent out a message offering “Congratulations to our future colleagues!”

“US Airways Flight Attendants’ new contract will go into effect shortly and remain in place until the merger is finalized and single carrier certification is granted by the National Mediation Board,” APFA told its members. “After that process, as per their new contract and our bridge agreement with US Airways, we will enter into negotiations for an industry-rate contract.”

The AFA announcement spelled out this process: “The contract requires four-party discussions with management from American and US Airways, along with American Airlines’ Flight Attendant representative, the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA). These discussions will develop a framework for integrating the two Flight Attendant groups, including contracts – and protections that would apply until integration takes place.”