Machinists, US Airways Reach Mechanic Accord

WASHINGTON, March 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) today announced it reached a tentative agreement with US Airways covering 3,300 Mechanic & Related employees.

"This agreement provides stability and security for our members at a time when the airline industry is in turmoil," said IAM General Vice President Robert Roach , Jr. "I thank our negotiating committee for a job well done under very difficult circumstances."

The tentative agreement would bring US Airways and former America West Mechanic & Related employees under the same contract and wage scale for the first time since the merger of the two airlines in September 2005 . The agreement, if ratified, will be effective through December 31, 2011 . Negotiations for IAM-represented Maintenance Training Specialists and Fleet Service personnel are continuing.

"Our members have waited too long to share in the benefits the US Airways-America West merger promised," said IAM District 142 President Tom Higginbotham . "This agreement provides annual wage increases, job security and new pension benefits for all our Mechanic & Related members."

Highlights of the agreement include base wage and license premium increases, improved overtime rates, new shift premiums and participation in the IAM National Pension Plan, a secure multi-employer pension plan.

The tentative agreement must be ratified by the membership. The District 142 negotiating committee is recommending ratification of the agreement, and a voting schedule is being prepared. Complete terms of the agreement will be available on the District 142 website, www.iamdl142.org, later today.

The Machinists Union is the largest Airline and Rail Union in North America , representing more than 170,000 Flight Attendants, Customer Service Agents, Reservation Agents, Ramp Service Personnel, Mechanics, Railroad Machinists and related transportation industry workers. Additional information about the Machinists Union is available at www.goiam.org/transportation.

SOURCE International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers