Federal Mediator Convenes America West Flight Attendant Negotiations

WASHINGTON, June 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- America West Airlines flight attendants, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA), will resume contract negotiations that were occurring prior to the carrier's merger with US Airways. A federal mediator from the National Mediation Board (NMB) will meet with union and company negotiators on Monday, June 8, with joint talks planned for Tuesday, June 9, at the Tempe, Arizona headquarters of US Airways.

"America West flight attendants have not seen any wage increases in over seven years. We hope that by resuming our pre-merger negotiations, we can make some long overdue improvements for a vast number of flight attendants who have been left behind," said Lisa LeCarre, AFA-CWA America West President. "While we remain committed to continuing single contract negotiations, significant economic and scheduling issues remain unresolved. It is time for the company to focus on fairness to the America West flight attendants."

In 2004, negotiations for a new America West flight attendant contract began. However, once the merger with US Airways was approved in 2005, the NMB put America West negotiations into recess under the premise that negotiators would focus instead on reaching a single merged contract with management. In February 2009, single merged contract negotiations were stalling. The original America West contract is now 10 years old, making the pay scale and work rules agreed to in 1999 still applicable with no improvements or wage increases.

"Over half of the experienced and dedicated America West flight attendants have seen zero increases to their wages since 2002. And in some cases, America West flight attendants make 40 percent less in wages than their counterparts at US Airways. Flight attendants are experiencing wage erosion and each day they fall further and further behind. This is no way to treat employees. With no end in sight to single contract negotiations with US Airways management, it is our duty to protect America West flight attendants," said LeCarre.

For over 60 years, the Association of Flight Attendants has been serving as the voice for flight attendants in the workplace, in the aviation industry, in the media and on Capitol Hill. More than 50,000 flight attendants at 20 airlines come together to form AFA-CWA, the world's largest flight attendant union. AFA is part of the 700,000-member strong Communications Workers of America (CWA), AFL-CIO. Visit us at www.afanet.org.