US Airways inks union deal

A tentative three-year agreement has been reached between US Airways and its 40 maintenance training instructors belonging to the International Association of Machinists union. The deal, which is subject to ratification, sets down better wages for workers, among other improvements to the former contract. The deal will be valid until December 31st 2011, pending the ratification vote.

Chairman and chief executive officer of US Airways Doug Parker says, “An important goal for our airline is to move all represented employees to single labor contracts, and we are extremely pleased that we have completed this third agreement with the IAM. We appreciate the work of the IAM negotiators, and our company negotiating committee led by VP-Labor Relations Al Hemenway, in achieving this tentative agreement.”

The airline has been in negotiations with many groups of employees, not only the instructors. Deals with mechanics and ramp and baggage employees were also announced recently.