Unions agree to bargain together with merged American Airlines
The International Association of Machinists (IAM) and the Transport Workers Union (TWU) announced they will jointly be the bargaining agent for nearly 30,000 mechanics and fleet service workers at the new American Airlines, after American and US Airways Group merge.
The International Association of Machinists (IAM) and the Transport Workers Union (TWU) announced they will jointly be the bargaining agent for nearly 30,000 mechanics and fleet service workers at the new American Airlines, after American and US Airways Group merge.
The agreement comes after the International Brotherhood of Teamsters recently filed a petition with the federal National Mediation Board seeking an election to represent US Airways' mechanics. The Teamsters said they also plan to file to represent ground workers at American.
The TWU currently represents mechanics and related employees at American, while the machinists represent the workers at US Airways. The unions blasted the Teamsters filing last week, calling the action "an unprincipled raid."
The new labor partnership, to be called the TWU/IAM Employee Association, will file with mediators to hold elections among the combined employees after the merger is completed. US Airways is the dominant airline serving Philadelphia International Airport. - Linda Loyd