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Vol.63/No.33       September 27, 1999  
 
 
US Airways workers discuss possible strike  
  
 
BY NANCY COLE 
PHILADELPHIA — Midway through a "30-day cooling- off period," negotiations resumed September 13 for three days between US Airways and the International Association of Machinists (IAM), representing 7,000 mechanics and cleaners. These IAM members have been working under an expired contract for four years. Having rejected a contract offer in July, the US Airways workers are legally free to strike if no tentative agreement is reached by September 26.

The last time maintenance workers struck the company, for four days in 1992, fleet service workers (the ramp and catering jobs) were nonunion, and flight attendants were served with a court order to cross the picket lines.

This time is a different situation. Fleet service workers are now members of the IAM and approved their first contract this year, which specifically grants them the right to honor any strike picket line at the airline. In Philadelphia, a letter from two shop stewards from the ramp distributed to maintenance workers as well as to fleet service workers, pledges "the full, unwavering support of Fleet Service Agents across the country," if there is a strike.

"Our support for these workers will be invaluable to their efforts, and will contribute to a swift conclusion of this fight," the letter continues. It concludes, "This will require sacrifice on our part, but it will make us a stronger union, and show the company that when a war is on, we know who our allies are, and who the enemy is."

The Association of Flight Attendants (AFA) at US Airways reports on its website that after they were ordered to cross the IAM picket lines in 1992, the issue of whether their contract permitted such a "sympathy strike" was taken to arbitration. Long after the strike ended, an arbiter ruled their contract does not prohibit them from honoring picket lines of other union groups at US Airways, as the company had argued.

The AFA poses the question, "Why would we strike in sympathy with the IAM?" and answers, "The IAM is seeking a fair contract, just like we are."

A strike may be the only way, the flight attendants' union argues. "For IAM's strike to be effective, the company needs to see that the workforce stands united in our fight for a better working life." The AFA has scheduled membership meetings in seven cities as the IAM strike deadline nears, to discuss whether they will vote to honor the picket lines.

Nancy Cole is a member of IAM Local 1776 at US Airways in Philadelphia.  
 
 
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