AA announced their intent to begin integrating some company policies an applying them to US Airways employees before a new contract or single carrier decision is reached. The first announced policy change effects pleasure pass travel. The company's intent is to abandon the current practice and policy of US Airways and adopt the legacy AA policy. That policy establishes boarding priority as time of check in and ignores any seniority based system.
District 141 is opposed to this policy change and will vigorously defend the current requirement that IAM members board departures based on company seniority. Not only is this the historic practice of USAir it is also a contractual requirement under the current Fleet Service Agreement. This provision of our contract is unique in that it specifically identifies boarding priority as a seniority right. It has been challenged in previous merger situations and has been upheld. If the company is looking to change a long established practice that is protected by contract language there is only one place to discuss it - the bargaining table. The first thing that must happen is that negotiations resume for a full and complete agreement.
