USA320Pilot
Veteran
- May 18, 2003
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US Airways Watch - January 12, 2005
PITTSBURGH (Post-Gazette) - US Airways tried to sweeten its cost-cutting offer to the 8,800-member International Association of Machinists, the last holdout in the company's pursuit of $1 billion in labor cuts. The offer still seeks to save $268 million annually and shrink the number of mechanics, baggage handlers, stock clerks and cleaners from about 4,600 to 2,603. But a new provision would ensure that any employees furloughed from outsourcing will have access to an additional three months of health-care benefits beyond the seven months they get and allow furloughed employees to cash out accrued sick time up to $5,000, get lifetime travel privileges for workers with more than 15 years of service and receive professional job-searching assistance. Airplane cleaners, the group standing to lose the most jobs, also will be offered full- or part- time positions as Philadelphia baggage handlers if they worked there previously. The company will delay any outsourcing until March 1 in hopes of vacancies resulting from early retirements. Employees who retire before March 1 will pay less for health coverage and be covered until they are 65.
US Airways is recalling furloughed baggage handlers from the Pittsburgh area and sending them to Philadelphia, where the company is short 150 to 200 positions.
The federal Air Transportation Stabilization Board expects to extend US Airways' use of more than $700 million in bankruptcy financing past Friday, when an agreement between the two parties is scheduled to expire.
Regards,
USA320Pilot
PITTSBURGH (Post-Gazette) - US Airways tried to sweeten its cost-cutting offer to the 8,800-member International Association of Machinists, the last holdout in the company's pursuit of $1 billion in labor cuts. The offer still seeks to save $268 million annually and shrink the number of mechanics, baggage handlers, stock clerks and cleaners from about 4,600 to 2,603. But a new provision would ensure that any employees furloughed from outsourcing will have access to an additional three months of health-care benefits beyond the seven months they get and allow furloughed employees to cash out accrued sick time up to $5,000, get lifetime travel privileges for workers with more than 15 years of service and receive professional job-searching assistance. Airplane cleaners, the group standing to lose the most jobs, also will be offered full- or part- time positions as Philadelphia baggage handlers if they worked there previously. The company will delay any outsourcing until March 1 in hopes of vacancies resulting from early retirements. Employees who retire before March 1 will pay less for health coverage and be covered until they are 65.
US Airways is recalling furloughed baggage handlers from the Pittsburgh area and sending them to Philadelphia, where the company is short 150 to 200 positions.
The federal Air Transportation Stabilization Board expects to extend US Airways' use of more than $700 million in bankruptcy financing past Friday, when an agreement between the two parties is scheduled to expire.
Regards,
USA320Pilot
