January 10, 2005 - The cavernous U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Alexandria, VA was filled to capacity as Judge Stephen Mitchell delivered the order granting US Airways’1113(c) motion to terminate labor agreements covering nearly 8,500 IAM members at the nation’s seventh largest airline. The order covers Fleet Service workers in District 141 and Mechanic & Related workers in District 142.
The judge directed both US Airways and the IAM to maintain status quo, however, and his order will not take effect until voting by IAM members is completed on a pair of “final offers”. The Fleet Service Negotiating Committee received a final offer from the company on Jan. 5 and the Mechanic & Related committee received their final offer on Jan. 6.
Each District also reached agreements to modify, but not eliminate, retiree insurance benefits.
Full details of the company’s offers and an explanation will be provided to members prior to voting. Ratification and strike authorization voting is expected to be completed by Jan. 21.
If the offers are approved, they will become the new collective bargaining agreements. If the offers are rejected, the collective bargaining agreements would be dissolved and the company’s “final offer” would be withdrawn. The company would then impose whatever pay, benefits and working conditions it chooses.
