IAM District 141 and 142 representatives and Transportation Department officials met Tuesday and Wednesday with US Airways representatives with National Mediation Board (NMB) assistance in Washington D.C.
Due to progress in the fleet service, maintenance and related and maintenance training specialist negotiations, the NMB has directed both sides to continue negotiations as soon as possible. These talks, due to scheduling conflicts, will take place on Monday May 19, 2014 in Dallas, Texas.
“We’re making progress but we’re not there yet,” said IAM District 141 and 142 Presidents Rich Delaney and Tom Higginbotham in a joint statement. “We’re hopeful we can get these negotiations concluded soon. We thank IAM members for their support and patience during this process. It’s been invaluable.”
IAM Districts 141 and 142 have been in negotiations with US Airways for approximately three years, bargaining stand-alone contracts for the fleet service, maintenance and related and maintenance training specialist classifications.
“We’ve said all along that IAM members at US Airways must have fair contracts in place before any other merger related issues can be discussed,” continued Delaney and Higginbotham. “We’re almost done with the first step of this process, after which we will enter joint contract bargaining with our TWU sisters and brothers.”
The Machinists Union has demanded that IAM members achieve fair interim contracts at US Airways before merger related issues, such as filing for a determination of single carrier status at the “new” American or joint contract negotiations can take place.
As developments occur, the IAM membership will be updated.