Flight attendants against UAL-US Airways tie-up
MINNEAPOLIS -- Some of the biggest unions at United Airlines and US Airways are signaling opposition to the idea of combining the two carriers.
The union that represents flight attendants at both airlines called the idea of combining them "absurd."
The United and US Airways units of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA said the carriers should focus on current issues, including new contracts.
The union said its opposition was because of unresolved labor issues at both carriers, which are both negotiating contracts with their flight attendants.
"Our current management needs to address the problems they have created at each airline before contemplating any other joint venture," the union said.
United pilots have said they don't oppose a merger that helps the careers of United pilots, but said a deal with US Airways doesn't appear to meet that standard.
The situation with US Airways pilots has been cited as one of the key roadblocks to a deal. That airline is a product of America West's purchase of US Airways in 2005, and the pilots still function as separate groups, although they're represented by one union. The former America West pilots have sued the union, the US Airline Pilots Association, over issues related to merging the two groups.
USAPA is potentially open to a deal with United, union spokesman James Ray said on Friday. He said the union's president called US Airways Chairman and CEO Doug Parker about the talks, which have been widely reported but not confirmed by either company.
President Mike Cleary told Parker "that we're open to working together, that we'd much rather be allies than adversaries," Ray said.
So was that enough to get a confirmation out of Parker about talks with United?
"Doug Parker appreciated the comment, but he didn't share any details with our union president at all about talks. He wouldn't comment," Ray said.
Shares of US Airways fell 30 cents, or 4 percent, to $7.25 in afternoon trading. United parent UAL Corp. rose 16 cents to $20.39.