Tensions are near boiling point at US Airways (LCC) as a group of airline pilots walked out of contract negotiations over pay. The group of pilots want to talk about pay raises immediately and not after they talk about other benefits.
"We don't want to be talking about a joint contract until we're getting equal pay, right now, period," said union spokesman Arnie Gentile.
Right now the two groups of pilots, one from America West and the other from the old US Airways, are on different pay levels. This new contract would put all the pilots under one pay contract for the first time.
US Airways is currently offering US Airways pilots raises up to the America West pay scale, plus 3 percent. The unions have rejected that offer.
Another major sticking point seems to be the seniority system. East pilots (old US Airways pilots) would be placed below those younger pilots from America West.
“Our pilots would probably take less money until hell freezes over than implement that" seniority policy, Gentile said.
The combining of two companies, especially airlines, has never been an easy task. Just ask flight attendants who formerly worked at Trans World Airlines that just now are being called back to work for American Airlines some 5 years later.
Forbes
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