BY DEBORAH LIATOS
PHILADELPHIA - USAir fleet service workers turned out in large numbers for meetings here June 5-6 to declare their opposition to a concession contract proposal arrived at by the company and officials of the International Association of Machinists (IAM). The agreement is part of USAir's drive to slash labor costs by $2.5 billion over the next five years.
The proposed concession pact is the first negotiated agreement for fleet service at USAir since some 7,500 workers - baggage handlers and catering - gave a majority vote to the IAM in a contest with the Teamsters and United Steelworkers of America last year.
Some 8,000 mechanics, cleaners, and stock clerks are also facing a proposed takeaway pact. The company wants to amend their contract, which is not due to expire until the end of September. The maintenance package includes a 12.9 percent wage reduction across the board, elimination of the paid half-hour lunch, and provisions for up to 300 layoffs in place of an existing no-layoff clause for those hired after the 1992 contract. IAM officials and USAir management have been negotiating for more than a year on this proposed five-year contract.
Since the fleet service workers lost representation by the Teamsters union in a decertification election five years ago, the company has carried out unceasing attacks on their wages, holiday pay, vacations, sick leave, work rules, and seniority rights. Many full-time workers have been forced into part-time status.
The contract USAir is offering catering workers and baggage handlers includes split shifts for part-time workers - some workers would be scheduled for two hours in the morning, and have to return for another two hours in the evening; provisions for 10-hour workdays; the possibility of up to 300 layoffs; reducing the part-time ratio to 40 percent for the first three years of the contract (down from an estimated 60 percent today but higher than the industry average. Northwest Airlines and United Airlines have a 15 percent cap on part-time workers, TWA has a 10 percent cap).
Both fleet service and maintenance workers here are part of IAM Local 1776. At two informational meetings for fleet service workers June 5 and three meetings for mechanics, cleaners, and stock clerks June 6, IAM officials threw their support behind the concession agreements, citing an ailing airline industry and a company that needs givebacks to remain viable.
The meetings for maintenance workers were sparsely attended. But mechanics in particular expressed concern about the possibility that hundreds may be laid off.
Some 300 fleet service workers attended meetings to discuss the contract proposal. They were outraged at the company's offer and demanded to know how the union could bring such a proposal to them after many months of negotiations.
"Not one of the demands we put forward is in this proposal," one worker said.
Committeeman Bill Chandlee spoke on behalf of fleet service workers at the informational meetings. In a prepared statement made available to the Militant, he explained, "During the organizing campaign one year ago, the fleet service agents were told, promised, and guaranteed by the IAM organizers - from local officials to international officers - verbally and by written handouts that fleet service agents, after being raped by the company for four years, would be restored all benefits and work rules that had been taken away by the company."
Chandler stressed the unionists who come under the fleet service contract would be open to discussing some concessions. But, he said, the IAM organizing campaign "solicited our support with slogans: one airline, one union; strength in numbers; IAM for fairness; and promises of parity, industry standards, restoration not deterioration, and a level playing field."
Continuing, Chandlee said, "The IAM exists to serve its membership. We will not stand to be treated as third-class citizens in this union." Chandlee concluded by proposing a, "return to the negotiating table and obtain the fair and equitable contract that was promised." His remarks were greeted by a standing ovation of the workers present at both meetings.
Many workers peppered union officials with questions and statements, proposing they go back to the negotiating table and emphasizing the need to make the slogan, "one airline, one union," a reality.
Chandlee told the Militant that he and another committeeman will attend meetings to discuss the contract in Pittsburgh June 14-16, which is the first time that representatives chosen by the workers themselves will be involved in formal discussions about the contract.
Discussions and debate among IAM members about both concession proposals have stepped up on the job. Word of the response by fleet service workers in Philadelphia has spread to other USAir stations.
IAM officials said written contracts will be available for members to study before they are voted on by the membership.
Deborah Liatos and Nancy Cole are cleaners at USAir in Philadelphia and members of IAM Local 1776.