Flight attendants for US Airways won an arbitration decision yesterday to block hundreds of layoffs.
The Association of Flight Attendants successfully argued that its union contract requires the airline to offer the flight attendants furloughs as a first alternative to layoffs. A furlough means employees retain their right to be recalled to their jobs.
“We will comply with the decision and implement a voluntary leave program for these flight attendants,” said David Castelveter, US Airways spokesman.
The layoffs and furloughs, which were scheduled to begin yesterday, would have affected 119 flight attendants from the Washington area and 552 companywide.
The move was intended to make room for 360 flight attendants returning from voluntary furloughs.
The company offered the furloughs last spring as an alternative to layoffs while it slashed expenses amid a sluggish economy, poor ridership and emergence from bankruptcy.
Arlington-based US Airways also reached a new labor agreement with the AFA that required offers of voluntary furloughs before layoffs.
Last week, the AFA sued the airline in federal court to stop US Airways from eliminating some flight attendants to make room for others returning from furloughs.
About 200 flight attendants would have been laid off and more than 300 transferred from voluntary furlough to involuntary furlough.
The airline argued that its contract with the union did not require a voluntary furlough program because it was not reducing the size of its work force.
After the lawsuit was filed, both sides agreed to submit the issue to arbitration.
The arbitration ruling means flight attendants with seniority have the option of taking voluntary furloughs so a junior member is not laid off.
“It’s very simple for the company to follow the contract agreement,” said Dawn Deeks, an AFA spokeswoman. “If they’re going to reduce the work force, they have to do it in the right way.”
She denied that the arbitration ruling would cost the company any additional money.
Union leaders were pleased with the decision, but resentful that it required a legal judgment.
“US Airways’ treatment of our flight attendants during this furlough is just another example of management’s blatant disregard for our contract and our rights,” said Perry Hayes, AFA US Airways chapter president. “Since the arrival of CEO Dave Siegel and CFO Neil Cohen, management has focused more on harassing employees rather than getting this airline back on track.”
The union represents about 5,200 US Airways flight attendants.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.