Unions Oppose United, US Airways Merger

WASHINGTON —  The union representing nearly 60,000 employees at United Airlines and US Airways said Wednesday it will oppose a proposed merger between the two carriers.

Executives from United, the world’s largest airline, met with representatives from the International Assn. of Machinists and Aerospace Workers on Tuesday and last week. The union--which represents mechanics, ramp operators, reservations agents and customer service representatives--demanded protection from layoffs, relocation and seniority losses if the merger goes forward.

“We have no choice but to formally oppose the merger as currently structured, and we will take immediate steps to make our position known to legislators and officials at the U.S. Justice Department,” said Randy Canale, the president of IAM’s District 141, which represents about 37,000 employees of the two airlines.

“United made significant moves in these discussions to address these issues,” said United’s executive vice president, Andy Studdert. “Unfortunately, the IAM subsequently chose to add totally unacceptable conditions.”

Studdert said the carrier offered “unprecedented protection” against being furloughed or required to move because of the merger. The airline also proposed guidelines for resolving seniority issues between employees of the two airlines once they are merged, he said.

He said the union was trying to use the merger as leverage toward goals that, absent the deal, would be “simply unrealistic and unattainable.”

Among the workers represented by the IAM are 14,000 United mechanics whose contract impasse with the airline represents its biggest unresolved labor dispute. Despite federal mediation, the two sides have not held face-to-face talks since Dec. 13.

Federal regulators were expected to announce their verdict on the $4.3-billion merger of United and US Airways on April 2. But the two airlines extended the deadline to provide more information to the Justice Department about a deal between United and American Airlines.

In order to address antitrust concerns about its deal with US Airways, United agreed to allow American to provide competitive service on some routes where United and US Airways are the only nonstop carriers.

Federal approval of United’s proposed merger with US Airways would give it about a quarter of all U.S. passenger traffic and shared domination of the domestic market with American Airlines.

Meanwhile, United’s 26,000 flight attendants continue to be a potential obstacle to the merger. The Assn. of Flight Attendants scheduled a news conference Thursday in Rosemont, Ill., to discuss plans for a possible strike.