US Airways (Phoenix) as we mentioned yesterday, it is still technically two separate airlines – East and West operating under the US Airways name with separate contracts, crews and assigned aircraft. As the US Airways management led by CEO Doug Parker gets ready to take over the “new” merged American Airlines (Dallas/Fort Worth), the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) has reminded US Airways management that not all is well in the current US Airways, let alone a new larger airline. The IAM today issued this statement:

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) today announced it declined management’s invitation to participate in the “new” American Airlines’ opening bell ceremony in New York City celebrating the carrier’s first day of stock trading on the NASDAQ.

“Make no mistake, this airline has ignored and disrespected IAM members at US Airways by its shameless refusal to settle a fair contract,” said IAM District 142 President Tom Higginbotham. “To stand there with American’s management and pretend there are no labor problems and celebrate ‘one airline’ would be an outright lie.”

IAM members at US Airways have been in contract negotiations for almost three years. The carrier’s management, headed by Doug Parker, who will assume the reins at the “new” American, has refused to settle new accords with IAM members at pre-merger US Airways. Earlier this year, the IAM requested a release from contract talks from the National Mediation Board (NMB), a federal agency, which, if granted, could lead to a strike.

“This is a merger in name only,” said IAM District 141 President Rich Delaney. “As long as this management team refuses to settle a fair contract, approximately 32,000 employees will remain separated and the merger’s synergies will not be realized.”

The IAM and Transport Workers Union (TWU) formed an alliance earlier this year, the TWU-IAM Employee Association, to jointly represent mechanic & related, fleet service and stockroom employees at the new airline. The agreement stipulates the TWU-IAM Association will request a single carrier determination from the NMB, a pre-requisite to integrating unionized workforces. This request will only occur once contracts are settled for IAM-represented workers at pre-merger US Airways. Workforce integration will be delayed for approximately 32,000 workers at the carrier, by far the largest percentage of the combined workforce, until the airline settles agreements with the IAM.

The IAM represents approximately 14,000 mechanic and related, fleet service, maintenance training specialist and stockroom employees at US Airways.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. US Airways’ Airbus A321-231 N552UW (msn 4957) with the “7000th Airbus” sticker by the L1 front door arrives at Los Angeles.

US Airways: 

American Airlines: